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How many current, or former submariners?
- Thread starter Izzydog
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I didn't enlist because they wouldn't let me sleep with the window open.
olcop
Member
Submarines
I invented the screen door for subs, but it never seemed to catch on.
I invented the screen door for subs, but it never seemed to catch on.
Whitwabit
US Veteran
Talked to a few subs in my Job in the Air Force .. Mostly when I was at Thule on the top of the world ..
Very interesting group of guys !! And I guess now even women are on them ..
Very interesting group of guys !! And I guess now even women are on them ..
fiasconva
Member
You submariners are amazing. I'm so claustrophobic that they would have taken me out in a straight jacket after about an hour. My hat is off to you. With my luck, if the Air Force would have had subs I would have ended up on one. *s*
v_ger
US Veteran
Qual boat USS George Bancroft SSBN-643. Dolphins in 1975.
Through the American Legion and the VFW I have known a few submariners.
Like most folks I have fears both rational and irrational.
At the top is being trapped below decks or in a sub.
I joined the Air Force to honor my dad and because I was terrified of drowning.
To "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;..." my utmost respect and admiration.
Like most folks I have fears both rational and irrational.
At the top is being trapped below decks or in a sub.
I joined the Air Force to honor my dad and because I was terrified of drowning.
To "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;..." my utmost respect and admiration.
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Not I, however my Dad spent 6 months aboard a Sub during WWll but he never said much about his Navy years so I can't comment much beyond that. I do remember him making trips to the VA Hospital a few times (in his last few years) for his breathing problems possibly related to the Asbestos fire fighting outfit he had to wear on the sub during the drills. He assembled a few photo albums that my Brother has at his house so they are not available for me to look at now, but the next time I see him I will look at them.
Every single time I asked questions about the War, all he gave me were simple general answers and never went into any details. My Grandfather who served in the Army during WWI was the same and my Uncle who served in Korea was no different.
Every single time I asked questions about the War, all he gave me were simple general answers and never went into any details. My Grandfather who served in the Army during WWI was the same and my Uncle who served in Korea was no different.
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Leslie Sapp
Member
I have a friend who's a WWII submariner. He was a radio guy who got "volunteered" for sub duty. His first mission was also the Sturgeon's first tour and they endured a barrage of 200 or so depth charges from a Japanese destroyer.
He said what kept them alive was that the captain had held the boat at fifty feet, and the destroyer had set their charges to go off much deeper. His description of what it was like to be 18 years old and to hear a depth charge hit the deck above you and slide down the hull is chilling.
He said what kept them alive was that the captain had held the boat at fifty feet, and the destroyer had set their charges to go off much deeper. His description of what it was like to be 18 years old and to hear a depth charge hit the deck above you and slide down the hull is chilling.
Dolphins
On board the USS Sea Cat during the Cuban Crisis. Qualified subs and boomer dolphins on the USS Abraham Lincoln SSBN 602 (Blue crew before refueling, Gold crew after)!
jcelect
On board the USS Sea Cat during the Cuban Crisis. Qualified subs and boomer dolphins on the USS Abraham Lincoln SSBN 602 (Blue crew before refueling, Gold crew after)!
jcelect
I'm an almost was.
As a high school junior I signed up for the Navy's Delayed Enlistment Program. I was scheduled to report August 25, 1981 - a couple of months after I graduated.
I scored highest in my testing class on the ASVAB, and they offered me nuke training school. I was going to be a machinist's mate on a nuclear sub.
Unfortunately, during my senior year in high school I got 6 traffic tickets. When I went to report they said I couldn't qualify for the clearances to go to nuke school and they refused to give me the waiver - said I was too irresponsible to work on a nuclear reactor (and I certainly was).
That was the end of my going into the Navy to become a submariner. I figured if they could pull my schooling that easy it wasn't going to be the thing for me.
As a high school junior I signed up for the Navy's Delayed Enlistment Program. I was scheduled to report August 25, 1981 - a couple of months after I graduated.
I scored highest in my testing class on the ASVAB, and they offered me nuke training school. I was going to be a machinist's mate on a nuclear sub.
Unfortunately, during my senior year in high school I got 6 traffic tickets. When I went to report they said I couldn't qualify for the clearances to go to nuke school and they refused to give me the waiver - said I was too irresponsible to work on a nuclear reactor (and I certainly was).
That was the end of my going into the Navy to become a submariner. I figured if they could pull my schooling that easy it wasn't going to be the thing for me.
Benchrest1
Member
My Dad road subs back in the 60's & 70's while they were testing his "gear". He never could tell us what that gear was or what it did.
All I did was track subs, had some fun with a few of ours.
My thoughts were why would you go on a ship that was made to sink or jump out of a good plane!
My thoughts were why would you go on a ship that was made to sink or jump out of a good plane!
OMCHamlin
US Veteran
I am NOT a bubblehead, but I spent near 20 years working on them, either in Groton, Charleston, or, on occasion, in LaMaddalena Italy and Guam.
I worked periscopes, masts and antennas on boomers, ancient (41 for freedom class) all the way to Ohio new, and fast attacks, from the Nautilus to the Sea Wolf...
Only been underway on them twice (I'm good with that...)
I worked periscopes, masts and antennas on boomers, ancient (41 for freedom class) all the way to Ohio new, and fast attacks, from the Nautilus to the Sea Wolf...
Only been underway on them twice (I'm good with that...)
Qualified on USS John Marshall SSBN-611 Gold crew in 1966. Did 9 Polaris patrols and then spent almost 2 years on Nautilus SSN- 571.. It was the 1st NUC.. She's now moored in New London at the Submarine museum..
Couldn't give me a million bucks not to have done it.... wouldn't do it again for that same million... Guess I'm just too old for that stuff....
JIM.....
Couldn't give me a million bucks not to have done it.... wouldn't do it again for that same million... Guess I'm just too old for that stuff....
JIM.....
USS T.A. Edison, SSBN 610 in 1969 and 70. Left the Navy in 73 and spent 17 more years in the Army. Swore the only sea-going vessel I'd go on needed stewards serving drinks and have a swimming pool!
Stubborn Dutchman
Member
Qualified in 1966 on S.S.572, the Sailfish. Her sister sub was the Nautilus! I made it to Enginman 2nd class. Loved those old twelve cylinder Fairbanks Morse engines! Also did two patrols on S.S.B.N. 618! Had a great captain who allowed a slot car track set up arround all the missile tubes. He even had his own slot car!
