12. Triton encountered several crises in the region of Cape Horn
On March 1, Triton suffered what appeared to be a potentially major casualty. The ship’s fathometer failed. Without the fathometer, the submarine could not follow the contours of the seabed, used to both confirm its position by noting known seamounts, and to guide the vessel through waters which were less well-charted without fear of grounding or collision. Readings on the reactor controls indicated a problem serious enough to warrant shutting down one of the reactors. And one of the crew, Chief Radarman John Poole, suffered the first of a series of attacks of kidney stones, a medical emergency with which the ship was ill-equipped to contend. Only two weeks into the voyage its success was severely threatened by the three problems.
Technicians among the crew repaired the fathometer and corrected the reactor problem within a few hours. Poole’s situation was more problematic. His symptoms were sporadic, and after consultation, Beach decided to continue the voyage toward Cape Horn and the Pacific. Two days later, Triton prepared to perform a photographic survey of Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands, using the periscope. Poole’s condition worsened that day, and Beach reversed course, racing northeast at flank speed. A radio message was dispatched informing the Commander, Submarines, Atlantic (SUBLANT) of the situation. The heavy cruiser USS Macon was sent to rendezvous with Triton near Montevideo, Uruguay on March 5.