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Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
How a WWII submariner took the fight directly to the Japanese
By the middle of 1944, United States Navy submarines had weathered hard times of unreliable torpedoes and a necessary learning process to matured weapons of war, aided by onboard radar. At the same time, their Japanese opponents had yet to fully address the threat that these underwater marauders posed to the ships that brought oil and other foreign resources from their far-flung empire. So fully developed were the American subs that Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, commander in chief of naval forces, Pacific (CINCPAC), had started the year off by adding destroyers to his priority lists, so as to accelerate the elimination of America's principal enemies. Like their German counterparts, the Americans were also operating in wolf packs of two or more, while the Japanese were modifying and arming numerous varieties of other ships, such as minesweepers, to make up their sub-hunter losses. A dramatic example of the situation in 1944 began in mid-June, when three boats from Submarine Attack Group 9, named 'Parks' Pirates' for their commander, Cmdr. Lewis Smith Parks, departed Pearl Harbor to prowl the waters from Formosa to Luzon. They were led by Cmdr. Lawson P. 'Red' Ramage on Parche, followed by Steelhead and Hammerhead. The Massachusetts native graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy as an ensign in July 1931, with his first attempt to get a submarine assignment initially blocked due to an eye injury. His second attempt, in which he memorized the eye chart, succeeded in getting him aboard S-29 in January 1936. He was a radio and sound officer at Pearl Harbor in March 1941, and he was there when Japanese carrier planes raided it on Dec. 7. On June 6, 1944, Parks' Pirates embarked on their first patrol, with modest initial results for Hammerhead: a sampan destroyed on June 9, followed by a coastal oil carrier damaged. On July 29, Hammerhead had to curtail its sweep when it came under air attack, returning for repairs at Fremantle, Australia, on Aug. 17. At 10:30 a.m. on July 30, Steelhead was off Formosa when it sighted smoke, which, upon investigation, revealed an enemy convoy escorted by aircraft. Unable to attack until nightfall, Steelhead maintained contact until 8:15 p.m., when it shot off a message summoning Parche, relaying the enemy's course and speed. Ramage responded at full speed, joining Steelhead at midnight to make surface attacks. The latter commenced hostilities at 3:32 a.m. with a bow spread of six torpedoes that struck a freighter, then a tanker. Steelhead then turned to launch four stern 'fish,' while two flares signaled the Japanese alarm. Ramage had been trying to set up a flank attack at about 3 a.m. when he encountered an escort vessel. Enemy flares revealed three such escorts darting about, two of which were between Parche and the convoy, and one bearing down on the sub. Ramage put his boat into a circular maneuver that brought it astern of the escort, confusing the enemy. 'Parche was now between the escorts and the convoy,' Ramage reported afterward, 'but while this maneuver was going on, the entire [enemy] convoy had reversed its field and now was headed directly at Parche.' Ramage aimed for an oncoming medium freighter, but he overestimated the range and suddenly found himself a mere 450 yards from his intended target. A hard right turn avoided disaster by only 200 yards. Ramage then shot off two torpedoes. His freighter target dodged them, but in so doing it blocked the advance of an escort, preventing it from attacking the sub while allowing it to get off two bow shots, one of which hit the freighter. Five minutes later, Ramage brought Parche into position to attack two tankers. All four of his bow torpedoes struck home on the first tanker, which sank immediately. The second tanker, hit twice, slowed but kept on moving. At this point, Parche was in the middle of a milling mass of cargo ships and escorts, all ships involved behaving more like patrol torpedo boats in their half-blind attempts to ram their assailant. As for Ramage, placing his boat in the center of it all, he too alternated his direction and launched torpedoes as the opportunity offered, while his torpedo crew rushed new ones into place. At 4:43 a.m., Ramage was preparing to dodge two escorts when he saw a small merchantman bearing down on him from the starboard bow, determined to ram. Ordering full right rudder, he avoided collision by just 50 feet, only to find two escorts at either hand and a passenger cargo vessel coming on to ram. Unable to dodge this one, Ramage went for broke and fired three torpedoes in a down-the-throat shot. His first fish missed, but the other two hit, stopping the ship in its tracks. Ramage turned hard left, then fired a stern shot that struck the cargo ship amidships. At 4:42 a.m., it sank. After a look around, Ramage reported: 'There were still several small craft and escorts around, but no worthwhile targets that we could see. I decided to put some distance between us and this hornet's nest.' While Parche was fighting its way into a fiery hell and back, Whelchel and Steelhead were also busy on the sidelines — sending four torpedoes at a troop carrier at 4:49 a.m. and another four at a freighter. Both subs subsequently disengaged, having suffered neither damage nor casualties in the 46-minute melee. A postwar assessment credited Steelhead with the 7,169-ton freighter Dakar Maru and the 8,195-ton transport Fuso Maru. Both subs were jointly credited with the 8,990-ton transport Yoshino Maru. Parche emerged from its solo torpedo duel with credit for the 10,238-ton tanker Koei Maru and 4,471-ton passenger-cargo ship Manko Maru. Both submarine officers were decorated for their outstanding performance that night. Steelhead's commander, David Whelchel, was awarded the Silver Star, while Ramage received the Medal of Honor from President Franklin D. Roosevelt on Jan. 10, 1945 — not so much for the tonnage his sub had destroyed, considerable though it had been, as for the wild way he had achieved it. Asked what drove him throughout the encounter, he simply said, 'I got mad.' Ramage continued to rise up the Navy ranks, reaching the command of Military Sea Transport in Washington and retiring in 1969 as a vice admiral. He died in Bethesda, Maryland, on April 15, 1990, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Minnesota Sea Grant again offers free steelhead identification decal
May 13—DULUTH — As spring fishing ramps up on Lake Superior, anglers are hitting the water in pursuit of steelhead, lake trout, coho and chinook salmon. To help protect wild steelhead, Minnesota Sea Grant (MNSG) is distributing free identification decals for a second year to help anglers distinguish between steelhead and other salmon species while they're out on the water. Minnesota fishing regulations require that all wild steelhead must be released. These are naturally reproducing fish and are protected by a catch-and-release rule. The decals are free, but recipients are asked to complete a five-minute survey at the end of the angling season. The survey provides information on the effectiveness of the decal and helps MNSG determine if there's interest in similar identification tools for other Lake Superior fish. Wild steelhead can be identified by their intact adipose fin — the small, fleshy fin located on the fish's back. Hatchery-raised steelhead have a clipped (missing) adipose fin and may be harvested, with a daily limit of three fish over 16 inches. In 2024, Minnesota Sea Grant surveyed 75 of the 150 or so anglers who requested a steelhead identification decal. Half of the respondents said they used the decal to identify the fish they caught. Most importantly, 19% of those who said they caught a wild steelhead also said they would have mistakenly kept the fish if they had not used the identification decal. "We're pleased to see anglers using the steelhead identification decals," Don Schreiner, Minnesota Sea Grant fisheries specialist, said in a statement. "Protecting wild Steelhead from harvest allows these fish to spawn, which helps increase the steelhead population." When asked where they fished, 67% of the decal users reported fishing on Lake Superior by boat, 37% in tributary streams, and 27% from shore, with a few anglers fishing at multiple locations. When asked about decal placement, 40% of anglers affixed it to their boat, another 40% to their tackle box and 12% to a cooler. The remaining 8% of respondents indicated that they had not attached the decal. Additionally, 76% of respondents said that others were interested in the decal and learned from it. More than 80% of respondents also expressed interest in receiving identification decals for fish of other species. "We thank everyone who participated in our survey and shared their experiences," Schreiner said. "We anticipate conducting another survey of decal recipients in late 2025." * On the web: For more information on Minnesota Sea Grant's Steelhead or Salmon? Which Did You Catch project, go to If you or someone you know fishes in Lake Superior or its tributary streams and would like a Steelhead identification decal, you can request one at this order link .
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lode Gold Executes Agreement with Axiom to Initiate Drill Targeting Plan Focused on RIRGS Targets at WIN and Golden Culvert in Yukon
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2025) - Lode Gold Resources Inc. (TSXV: LOD) (OTCQB: LODFF) ("Lode Gold " or the "Company") is pleased to report it has engaged the services of Axiom Exploration Group Ltd. ("Axiom") of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Axiom's primary role will be to supply geological and field technical staff, along with equipment for our forthcoming field program. This program will target four distinct RIRGS (Reduced Intrusion-Related Gold System) prospects named Border, Steelhead, Stingray and Camp. Among these, the Border prospect on the WIN property is the most developed, exhibiting RIRGS-style gold mineralization in sheeted quartz veins hosted within hornfels, along with high bismuth to gold ratios. Our efforts will concentrate on this prospect, aiming to identify drill targets at Border for drill testing in the later part of the season. The entire operation will be overseen by Buddy Doyle, Gold Orogen's Vice President of Exploration, a seasoned explorer with a 40-year career marked by numerous significant discoveries. Axiom is well-positioned to execute this work effectively, leveraging its team of diverse geoscientists with extensive experience gained across Canada and internationally. The company's professionals are equipped with cutting-edge industry knowledge and tools, ensuring the provision of reliable and accurate data. Additionally, Axiom's in-house field equipment and established relationships with suppliers offer cost advantages through volume discounts, benefits that are typically unavailable to individual junior companies. Left: Golden Culvert and WIN: 99.5 km² area spanning 27 km of strike length in the southern Tombstone Gold Belt. Four confirmed RIRGS targets highlight the district-scale potential of this high-grade gold trend Right: Boundary Zone Discovery Site: Gold-bearing sheeted quartz veins in hornfels-altered rockTo view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: "We welcome the increased exploration investment and our ability to apply a systemic, technical approach to our prospective Golden Culvert and WIN properties, in particular the added opportunities provided by the recognition of RIRGS in addition to the known orogenic styles of mineralization in the area," comments Jonathan Hill, Director and Head of the Technical Committee. "Prior exploration drilling has tested less than 10% of the overall >20km strike potential highlighted by our quality geochemical and geophysical datasets. We expect that the current work in 2025 will identify some compelling potential targets and progress them to initial drilling phases." The program is being executed in two stages. The first stage takes place at the Border prospect, a high-altitude site near an ice field that benefits from its close proximity to the all-weather Highway 10. The crews will map the extent of the sheeted quartz veins and collect channel samples across the vein system. Additionally, they will search for other vein swarms within the large hornfels roof pendant delineated by the QMAGT survey conducted in 2024. To maximize planning time for the drill program, samples will be expedited for gold assays to obtain rapid results. Concurrent work on other RIRGS targets is also planned, particularly during periods when weather conditions restrict access to the Border prospect. Phase 2 is scheduled to commence in August 2025, featuring a 1400 m drill program consisting of seven holes, designed to test the targets generated during Phase 1. About Lode Gold Lode Gold (TSXV: LOD) is an exploration and development company with projects in highly prospective and safe mining jurisdictions in Canada and the United States. In Canada, its Golden Culvert and WIN Projects in Yukon, covering 99.5 km2 across a 27-km strike length, are situated in a district-scale, high grade gold mineralized trend within the southern portion of the Tombstone Gold Belt. A total of four RIRGS targets have been confirmed on the property. A NI 43-101 technical report has been completed in May 2024. In New Brunswick, Lode Gold has created one of the largest land packages with its Acadian Gold JV Co; consisting of an area that spans 445 km2 and a 44 km strike. McIntyre Brook covers 111 km2 and a 17-km strike in the emerging Appalachian/Iapetus Gold Belt; it is hosted by orogenic rocks of similar age and structure as New Found Gold's Queensway Project. Riley Brook is a 335 km2 package covering a 26 km strike of Wapske formation with its numerous felsic units. A NI 43-101 technical report has been completed in August 2024. In the United States, the Company is advancing its Fremont Gold project. This is a brownfield project with over 43,000 m drilled and 23 km of underground workings. It was previously mined at 10.7 g/t Au in the 1930's. Mining was halted in 1942 due the gold mining prohibition in World War Two (WWII) just as it was ramping up production. Unlike typical brownfield projects that are mined out, only 8% of the veins have been exploited. The Company is the first owner to investigate an underground high grade mine potential at Fremont. The project is located on 3,351 acres of private and patented land in Mariposa County. The asset is a 4 km strike on the prolific 190 km Mother Lode Gold Belt, California that produced over 50,000,000 oz of gold and is instrumental in the creation of the towns, the businesses and infrastructure in the 1800s gold rush. It is 1.5 hours from Fresno, California. The property has year-round road access and is close to airports and rail. Previously, in March 2023 the company completed an NI 43 101 Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA"). A sensitivity to the March 31, 2023 PEA at USD $2,000/oz gold gives an after-tax NPV of USD $370M and a 31% IRR over an 11-year LOM. At $1,750 /oz gold, NPV (5%) is $217M. The project hosts an NI 43-101 resource of 1.16 Moz at 1.90 g/t Au within 19.0 MT Indicated and 2.02 Moz at 2.22 g/t Au within 28.3 MT Inferred. The MRE evaluates only 1.4 km of the 4 km strike of Fremont property. Three step-out holes at depth (up to 1200 m) hit structure and were mineralized. All NI 43-101 technical reports are available on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ ( and the Company's website ( QUALIFIED PERSON STATEMENT The scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Jonathan Victor Hill, Director, BSc (Hons) (Economic Geology - UCT), FAusIMM, and who is a "qualified person" as defined by NI-43-101. ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY Wendy T. Chan, CEO & Director Information Contact Winfield DingCFOinfo@ +1-416-915-4257 Kevin ShumInvestor Relationskevin@ +1 (647) 725-3888 ext. 702 Cautionary Note Related to this News Release and Figures This news release contains information about adjacent properties on which the Company has no right to explore or mine. Readers are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on the Company's properties. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements with respect to the completion of the transaction and the timing thereof, the expected benefits of the transaction to shareholders of the Company, the structure, terms and conditions of the transaction and the execution of a definitive agreement, the timing of submission to the CSE and TSXV, Gold Orogen raising an additional $1,500,000 and the anticipated use of proceeds. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "target", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which the Company operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. These include assumptions regarding, among other things: that the Company and GRM will be able to negotiate the definitive agreement on the terms and within the time frame expected, that the Company and GRM will be able to make submissions to the CSE and TSXV within the time frame expected, that the Company and GRM will be able to obtain shareholder approval for the transaction, that the Company and GRM will be able to obtain necessary third party and regulatory approvals required for the transaction, if completed, that the transaction will provide the expected benefits to the Company and its shareholders. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include adverse market conditions, general economic, market or business risks, unanticipated costs, the failure of the Company and GRM to negotiate the definitive agreement on the terms and conditions and within the timeframe expected, the failure of the Company and GRM to make submissions to the CSE and TSXV within the timeframe expected, the failure of the Company and GRM to obtain shareholder approval for the transaction, the failure of the Company and GRM to obtain all necessary approvals for the transaction, and r other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Whitman County imposes wind energy moratorium as developer plans a 45-turbine project near Kamiak Butte
Feb. 5—PULLMAN — The developer behind a wind farm project near Colfax says it has enough leases from landowners to move forward with 45 turbines, but plans to work with Whitman County as it writes new wind energy rules at the urging of upset neighbors. Harvest Hills Wind project has faced significant outcry for its proximity to Kamiak Butte, a county park and National Natural Landmark. Opponents say it will ruin the landscape. The county commission was about to vote on a cost reimbursement agreement with Harvest Hills early last month when instead, amid public pushback, the commission implemented a six-month moratorium to update the county ordinance. Harvest Hills' 45 turbines would each be approximately 600 to 650 feet tall, lead developer Shane Roche said. The configuration of each turbine has not been determined, but the project covers an area of private Palouse farmland between the towns of Colfax and Palouse, south of Palouse River and north and west of Kamiak Butte. While the project has enough leases to put up the turbines, it is not too late for interested landowners to join, Roche said. Steelhead Americas, the North American development arm of Vestas, the world's largest wind turbine manufacturer, is developing the project. The turbine components are manufactured at Steelhead's plant in Denver. Steelhead plans to sell the project but will continue to service it. Because the project is on private land and developed by private investors, it is not affected by President Donald Trump's executive order halting offshore wind and projects on federal land. That order stopped the Lava Ridge Wind Project near Twin Falls, Idaho, which some groups opposed for being near a historic site where Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II. Roche noted that Trump also declared a national energy emergency in another order on his first day in office. "We believe we are part of that solution," Roche said. Wind is a quick and affordable way to meet growing demand, he said. Harvest Hills is farther along than other projects in Eastern Washington and will be able to plug into the grid sooner, Roche said. Once construction begins, it is expected to finish in about a year. Other companies are exploring wind projects in southern Spokane County, Lincoln County and Garfield County. For comparison, Palouse Wind is an existing 105-megawatt facility that opened in 2012 in northern Whitman County with 58 turbines that are 426 feet tall. Vestas did not develop this project, but it used Vestas turbines. Palouse Wind sells its power to Avista Utilities. Roche said Harvest Hills' turbines would be about 30% larger and require three times more spacing. The larger, more powerful turbines would generate 200 megawatts. Roche said the moratorium gives Steelhead more time to work on the design phase. The company is focused on working with the county to develop the project while respecting property rights and benefiting the entire community, he said. Despite pressure from residents to stop the project entirely, the county has to walk a fine line while writing a stricter ordinance. Wind companies can choose to forgo the county permitting process and obtain a permit through the state's Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council or the Department of Ecology. "I think it is better to have a county code and run under it rather than the state," County Commissioner Art Swannack said at a public hearing Monday in Colfax. "I still think the state will run over the top of us if the code does not follow what the courts say." About three dozen people spoke at the hearing meant for the county to gather input on the ordinance. Most opposed the development, and many asked for greater setback requirements not only from residences, but also from property lines. Several homeowners complained that the county's zoning rules for building homes are extremely strict, yet the same rules would not apply to wind turbines, which are visually more intrusive. Others asked the county to make a special industrial zone for wind projects, rather than allow them under general agricultural zoning. The commissioners said they want to focus on updating decommissioning provisions. "The planning commission is going to have to work on this, and I expect it won't be quick," Swannack said. Harvest Hills hosted a moderated information session at Washington State University in Pullman on Tuesday where a panel of consultants discussed the project's economic, environmental and visual impacts. Terry Wirkkala, senior project manager at ECOnorthwest, who studied the expected economic impacts of the project, said that it was expected to spend $158 million locally. The construction phase would involve 150 jobs, while the operational phase would employ five workers. The project would generate an estimated $1.3 million a year in property tax for the county, Wirkkala said. James Hanlon's reporting for The Spokesman-Review is funded in part by Report for America and by members of the Spokane community. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor.
