Student, alumnus break ice for historic mission to North Pole

Aerial photo by Combat Aircrew Nine; air support by Patrol Squadron Sixteen (VP-16)

Commander Clarence E. Carter, from the Vanderbilt Class of 1980, is captain of the USS Scranton which recently broke through the ice at the North Pole as part of a scientific mission. By coincidence, Vanderbilt student James Dilg is serving as a midshipman onboard the Scranton this summer.

Studying history wasn't enough for Vanderbilt student James Dilg; he wanted to make it. Dilg, a member of the Naval ROTC, was aboard the attack submarine USS Scranton in mid-June when it became the first submarine of its class to surface through the ice at the North Pole.

Dilg, a midshipman, participated in a historic mission in June that tested whether the Improved Los Angeles Class submarine can puncture the thick ice at the North Pole. The ship surfaced in the rugged white terrain 450 miles north of Greenland.

A rising senior on a full Navy scholarship, Dilg is spending a month onboard the Scranton for his third and final session of Navy ROTC officer training. For the past three summers, he has trained in different aspects of naval service. The experience will help the history major decide what naval career path he'll take upon graduating next spring.

He requested to be assigned to a submarine to see if underwater excursions were in his future, and was selected for the rare polar mission. Dilg was one of only three midshipmen on the voyage to the Arctic. The chances were slim to be chosen for such a unique mission; one in 10,000 according to the U.S. Navy.

Dilg spent most of the two weeks it took to reach the North Pole from Norfolk, Va., studying the activities of the ship's crew. He said he will take a more active role in future exercises and will even try his hand at driving the ship. When Dilg returns to Vanderbilt this fall, he will be classified as a battalion executive officer.

The Scranton's commanding officer also has strong Vanderbilt ties. Commander Clarence E. Carter graduated in 1980 with a double-major in civil engineering and mathematics, and served as a manager of the Commodore men's basketball team. He's had the role of commanding officer for just over two years, a feat that took him 18 years to achieve.

It didn't take Dilg too long to adjust to living underwater and sharing space with 140 other people.

"At first I was a little scared; it's very, very cramped. After a while, you get used to it," he told the Register via satellite phone soon after the submarine surfaced in the North Pole. "Basically, it's like standing in your own home if you close the windows off."

Dilg said his interest in history was one of the reasons he decided to pursue a career in the Navy.

"It's the adventure. It's not your standard job. It's something I wanted to get involved in, making history myself," said Dilg.

Added Carter, "Control of the sea has had a major impact on the history of our country, and the world for that matter. My education at Vanderbilt has prepared me well to become successful in a very challenging career field."

Once the ship surfaced above the ice, Carter took time from enjoying the exceptional view to pay tribute to his alma mater. He hoisted a Vanderbilt flag in the midst of the totally white environment.

"It's good to bring a little bit of Vanderbilt to the North Pole," Carter said.

Both Carter and Dilg agreed the sight of virtually untouched terrain was incredible.

"It's very beautiful but very different, and you almost have to wear sunglasses. It's a total whiteout type of scenario," Carter said.

Added Dilg, "It's a definite feeling that you're on top of the world."

The North Pole is a rugged and desolate terrain that was approaching summertime temperatures of about 28 degrees when the submarine surfaced. Currently, the area is in a period of constant daylight, which will last for about half the year.

The ice surface is covered with a few inches of snow and large chunks of displaced ice on top. There's little chance one would see any wildlife, although there are occasional polar bear sightings Carter said.

"The most dramatic thing is how quiet it is," Carter said. "When the wind dies, its quieter than the quietest place you've ever been."

Although the Scranton is not the first submarine to surface at the North Pole, it is the first time any of the decade-old Improved Los Angeles Class submarines attempted to do so. The submarine was designed with a special sail made of hardened steel to force its way through up to six feet of ice.

The mission demonstrated the Navy's ability to operate anywhere, anytime. It also allows scientists a way to conduct important research in the isolated region. Scientists around the world will use the data collected on this for a variety of purposes, including predicting future climate trends.

The only feasible way for scientists to gather data from the North Pole is from under the surface. The Navy is the only body capable of reaching the desolate area via submarine, and has been committed to helping scientists safely reach the region since the early 1900s. In the past, other submarines loaded with civilian scientists made their way to the depths of the Arctic. Those submarines have been phased out over the years, leaving scientists without means to conduct experiments in the region. The Improved Los Angeles Class submarines will take over where the others left off. This class of submarine is the length of a football field and can top speeds of 20 knots (more than 23 miles per hour). The submarine weighs 6,900 tons submerged.

For its June mission to the North Pole, the Scranton had to pierce ice about four feet thick before surfacing. Air was blown out of the submarine's ballast tanks, making the ship very buoyant. It slowly moved up, using 7,000 tons of pressure. After surfacing, crew members were able to leave the ship and enjoy the scenery before moving on to other exercises the following day.

"It's nice to be the first to accomplish anything," Carter said. "[Surfacing at the North Pole] is something in particular that this very hardworking crew has trained for in the past months, and have now been able to successfully execute."