CHAPTER SIX
From Steam to Electronics
1950-1959

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In 1951 civilian employment levels jumped to 626 in response to an increased workload due to the onset of Korean hostilities.

The civilian workforce continued to rise during the decade, reaching a peak of nearly 1,000.

Numerous employee programs and recreational activities became annual events.

In the mid-50's, NTS extended its northeastern borders by filling in 2.37 acres of the north lagoon, making it virtually non-existent.

The civilian workforce gathers in front of Building #1 in 1954 for presentation of the Secretary of the Navy Award for Achievement in Industrial Safety.

Sam Watland proudly displays his first-place winning salmon in the first annual NTS Salmon Derby, sponsored by the Employee Service Association (forerunner of today's Recreation Association) in 1954. Sam, a worker in the Pipe and Storage Shop, caught his 19 pounder in the waters off Point No Point, Hansville.

Throughout the decade, visitors flocked to the Naval Torpedo Station. Groups representing chambers of commerce, Lions Clubs, historical societies, and more were treated to tours and presentations on the importance of the Navy and its contributions to the development of Kitsap County.

The Marine security force was replaced by a civilian guard force in 1958. The Marines had been part of Keyport since 1916 and had served on horseback in the early days, patrolled with dogs in the 40's, and performed as auxiliary firefighters.

Technical research expanded throughout the decade and the torpedo began to develop into a more complex undersea weapon.

More modern equipment and facilities were added. By the late 50's, the Keyport Range was all but retired as the Station began more and more testing of the deep

Visiting children enjoy an insider's view of the Diving Locker's hyperbaric chamber, which was built at Norfolk Navy Yard in 1930. The children were touring the chamber, one of the oldest in the Navy, during NTS' annual Armed Forces Day Open House in 1956.

water weapons. The newly established Dabob Bay Range began seeing full usage by this time.

The new range was set up, in cooperation with the Applied Physics Lab of the University of Washington, to track torpedoes and targets three-dimensionally.

In 1958 the USS Sargo (SSN-583) was the first submarine to work with the Station at Dabob Bay in tracking the underwater course of the newly developed acoustic torpedoes and their characteristic runs.

The Station's mission was revised in 1958 to take into account changes which, in essence, brought the Station from the age of steam torpedoes into the age of

Though times, equipment, and procedures have changed, one thing remains the same today: it takes a special breed of human being to volunteer to descend into dangerous depths of sea-a darker than dark abode full of reminders that you are somewhere you don't naturally belong.

The Torpedo Station has long been a source of top Navy divers. In 1919, Keyport held its first diving class with eight or nine enlisted men, under the direction of

Those first students were not taught the strict procedures that Navy divers follow today. In fact, it was common practice for those divers, working 40 feet down on the torpedo range, to do their job and "shoot" to the surface with little knowledge of the potential consequences. This practice stopped abruptly in 1926 when one diver developed Caisson Disease. "The bends," as the disease is commonly known, is a painful condition in which nitrogen gets into the blood stream as a result of rising too quickly from the depths.

Though Keyport now has a recompression chamber for treating the bends, in those days the nearest one was Victoria, British Columbia. However, because time is at a premium in treating such cases, those afflicted with the bends would be suited up and lowered into the deepest possible area, usually off Seattle where the bay was 200 feet.

By the 1940's the diving school had become fully equipped to train and qualify second class divers. The whole diving program was highly recognized for its expert

During the same decade, the Diving Locker, as it is called today, became home to the area's only recompression chamber. In fact, the Diving Locker also became equipped with a mobile chamber to be on hand wherever needed throughout the Pacific Northwest.

The diving operation of the 1980's is tasked to support the Station's ranges by assisting in the recovery of torpedoes and other test units, and by performing ship's husbandry. In addition, the Diving Locker assists in area search and rescue missions.

The Navy Diving Program has brought many divers to Keyport over the years, but there is one whose memory is bound to hang around for a while. He was known to some as the "Man of the Sea," and to others as "Aquanaut," meaning breed of man who is at home under the sea.

Master Diver, Robert C. Sheats was well recognized for his underwater work in the U.S. Navy. He enlisted in the Navy in 1935, qualified as second class diver in 1937 and became first class diver in 1939, followed by Master Diver in 1958.

Robert's life has held moments of danger and excitement that many of us would rather watch on the big screen than experience. During World War II, he was

His release from the prisoner of war camp in 1945 was the beginning of years to follow of underwater salvage work. As Master Diver at Keyport from 1958 to 1966, he faced many heartwrenching and honorable assignments which included recovering the bodies and black boxes from small plane crashes.

In 1962 he earned the title, Outstanding Enlisted Man of the Area, presented by the Federal Business Association of Seattle.

In 1965 he took a step into national notoriety as team leader in the Sealab II Project off the coast of California.

Today, Robert is a consultant on diving safety in Poulsbo, Washington.

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