They were volunteers
Why were the sailors, or weren't they, on board this particular submarine? A few witnesses remember.
Below are verbatim accounts from people who recalled the accident. These comments were received on this site, published on other sites, even in the press, or addressed directly, whether by email or in conversations. Some of these testimonies are also visible on the "Comments" page and in the 50th anniversary speeches.
Only the names of those who publicly posted their comments are listed. When these testimonies were not visible on the Internet, only the first name is listed.
Daniel MARCOT
http://www.anciens-cols-bleus.net/t25159-minerve-sm
“One of the missing from La Minerve, Jean-Pierre NAUDIN, was with me on the Junon submarine. At the time of our transition to the rank of second-in-command, one of us had to stay on La Junon and the other embark on La Minerve. This submarine was, after its operational readiness, to join Lorient to join the Atlantic squadron. At his request, I agreed to stay on the Junon because NAUDIN, originally from Morbilhan (Belle-Île), was having a sailboat built in this region. »
Jean-Raymond LAUPENIE
"In 1967, I was on board the SM Gymnote as second-in-command electrician (January 1967 promotion) when at the end of November, I received my designation to board the SSBN Le Redoutable, a designation that I been waiting for a year. A few days later, the LV FAUVE, commander of the Minerve, asked CC CAZENAVE, second in command of the Gymnote, now retired Admiral on the shores of the Atlantic, if he would agree to disembark me in order to get me on his "vessel" for the time of the tests. He was looking for young mates with 800 ton experience. He knew that I knew this type of submarine for having sailed 3 months as a survivor on the Minerve and for 2 years as a crew on the SM Doris.
CC CAZENAVE summoned me to his office to inform me of the desire of the commander of the Minerve to recover me during the tests. I was very reluctant. he reassured me by telling me that the decision belonged to me and that he would not intervene. He summoned the LV FAUVE who informed me of his intentions which I refused. He did not insist and I embarked as planned on December 13, 1967 aboard the SNLE Le Redoutable. »
Pierrick LERAY
"Quartermaster Daniel SCHULTZ had chosen the Minerve in Toulon easier for him to go to his family in Alsace in INGERSHEIM near Colmar..."
Vincent OUBRE
“My father-in-law was in Toulon at the time of the disappearance of the Minerve… He had to swap with the master of the central of the Minerve who would have gone on the Shark. In fact, my stepfather went on the Shark »
Gerard DESENCLOS
"Among the victims is the QM Guy ROPART. He was from the Maistrance promotion in BREST - year 1966-1967 - just like me. he wanted to become a rifleman, but following negative medical tests, he indicated that he wanted to go to the submarines. »
Jean-Paul KRINTZ
“I was responsible for the auxiliaries on board the Minerve on which I had embarked a year earlier.
The submarine sank on Saturday. 3 days before, we were at the quay. Our mission was complete. A naval air exercise was to follow. The second in command offered me not to participate. I was newly married and my contract was coming to an end. He thought that this permission would allow me to reflect on the pursuit of my career. So I had to go back to my post on Monday, but on Sunday the gendarmes came to get me. La Minerve had not returned. They asked me to stay with them to meet families and reporters. I had hope for 8 days. Then I knew it was screwed.
For 40 years I remained closed. I blamed. I felt out of place."
Jean-Marc X
My brother had joined the navy and had sought a posting in Toulon to put some distance between him and our father, with whom relations were very strained. After the disappearance of Minerva he felt guilty and carried this burden until the end of his days. He came to his mechanic shop and sometimes spent his day crying, motionless and prostrate. Grief eventually won out.
Robert X
I am his cousin. His father committed suicide a long time ago, no doubt eaten away by remorse for having encouraged his son to board the Minerve because he had been a submariner himself. Their family had been forgotten in the compensation. The error was corrected 30 years later.
Gabrielle Helies
Friends convinced my son Bernard to join the submarines, I tried, in vain, to dissuade him but he didn';t listen to me. After the tragedy, these friends never dared speak to me again, and anyway I couldn't have spoken to them.