What did the Kittiwake do?

[Divetech Cayman]

Since the sinking of the Kittiwake in 2011, her big claim to fame is that she recovered the black boxes from the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986. Except for one little problem - the Challenger was not equipped with black boxes.

So what did the USS Kittiwake do during her time with the US Navy? Divetech's Tony Land digs through the archives to examine her service history and finds some interesting tidbits.

https://www.divetech.com/post/what-did-the-kittiwake-do

 

[KathyV]

Since the sinking of the Kittiwake in 2011, her big claim to fame is that she recovered the black boxes from the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986. Except for one little problem - the Challenger was not equipped with black boxes.

So what did the USS Kittiwake do during her time with the US Navy? Divetech's Tony Land digs through the archives to examine her service history and finds some interesting tidbits.

https://www.divetech.com/post/what-did-the-kittiwake-do

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Very interesting, thank you!

 

[Glenn Williams]

Thanks for your story, as a former soldier what I think is very cool as they left a steam uniform press inside the ship. Any of you whoever had to press a BDU know. Haha

Glenn

 

[Jonn]

From the handful of sailors I’ve had the privilege of meeting who once served on her, she had a varied and interesting career, and they all loved her.

Varied and interesting career... doing what? Finding the booster fragment (not non-existent black box!) was cool and all, but what about the other 50 years? For being so detailed the stories kinda light on detail.

 

[Divetech Cayman]

Varied and interesting career... doing what? Finding the booster fragment (not non-existent black box!) was cool and all, but what about the other 50 years? For being so detailed the stories kinda light on detail.

Hi Jonn,

We've heard lots of stories, rumors, and gossip of her career. Some of this information was found to be inaccurate, some was classified and not published. We didn't want to report anything we could not claim as documented fact.

From accounts we've heard from divers who once served on her, it seems like she did a lot of classified work with special ops branches of the military, but it was nothing we could substantially report as fact.

The main focus of this article however, was to dispel the black box rumor that is so prevalent.

Thanks!
Tony

 

[jonhall]

Thanks for sharing. The other tidbits of info are interesting also.

 

[Kharon]

When I dove her we were told that she recovered the Challenger & remains. Nothing about a black box.