HomeMy WebLinkAbout11102022 Historic Preservation LAYDOWN USS Alaska SubmarineHistoric Preservation LAYDOWN 221110 USS Alaska Submarine
MEMO
To: HP Commissioners Date: Thursday 10/13/22
From: Commissioner Art LeMaster Subject: Meeting with Alaska Submarine
Memorial Board
Introduction:
I met with Russ Floreske and Carll Hunan on Wednesday 9/14/22 at Rez Art and listened as
they described concepts for a memorial of the USS Alaska submarine (SSBN-732). Russ is
the president of the Alaska Submarine Memorial Board of Directors and Carll is their
secretary. Russ and Carll are retired Navy veterans both having served on the Alaska.
Background:
USS Alaska (SSBN-732) is a United States Navy ballistic missile submarine commissioned
in 1986. She is 560' long with a 42' beam, and has 24 missile tubes and four (4) torpedo
tubes. Her crew is 13 officers and 121 enlisted. She is the first boomer submarine to
complete 100 missions and is highly decorated. Her home port is Naval Submarine Base
Kings Bay, Georgia.
The Alaska is scheduled to be decommissioned in 10 years, but this is dependent on funding
of a replacement boat and other variables. Once she is decommissioned parts of the boat
will be available from the Navy for a memorial. However, it may be 15-20 years before parts
on loan from the Navy can be made available.
Purpose:
Russ and Carll were in Seward to introduce the concept of a memorial, and they spoke to
the Chamber of Commerce, the Seward Library and Museum, assistance city manager
Stephen Sowell, Planning & Zoning, and folks at the American Legion. Currently they are
developing options, reviewing lessons learned from similar projects in other L48 cities, and
seeking support from the city of Seward and the State of Alaska.
Plans and Cost:
The concept is to salvage and reuse the conning tower (more properly the "sail") to create a
memorial plaza 60'x60' honoring the boat and her accomplishments. Other ideas include
displaying a 42' diameter ring of steel showing the beam of the boat, her rudder, and a 16'
diameter ring of steel showing the approximate size of one of her 24 missile tubes.
The memorial plaza would be located on property convenient for a walking tour along
Seward's waterfront.
Russ and Carll will return to Seward in April 2023 to present options, pros and cons, cost
estimates, and would like community feedback. They would like to use the HP Commission
as a sounding board, and need community members to help.
A similar project in Phoenix AZ is costing $2.5M.
Recommendations:
In the short term we, as HP Commissioners need to keep in communications with the Alaska
Memorial Board and share that information with the community. In the longer term, I suggest
we figure out how best to support this effort as a community development project.
Bcc.: Sue McClure, RBHS AL 9/16/22
Jason Bickling, Community Development Director