Finding myself in the path of a Submarine that was not “there” a minute ago.

[thunderhoof]

A few years ago I was motoring down Fisher's Island Sound around Groton, CT in an early morning fog. I heard a foghorn ahead so I gave a blast on my handheld horn. Several horns were returned so I slowed. As the fog parted I saw a submarine directly ahead surfaced with a man with a real gun on the deck. I took a really hard left and stayed clear. I recommend that if subs are operating in your area - stay very alert.

[sailpower]

Originally Posted by john61ct

Crewing eights in a regatta on the Thames in Connecticut, nuclear subs from Groton used to surface right under us all the time.

Kept the coxswain on her toes!

I spent 7 years in the USN nuclear submarine navy 1965-1972.

Nulear submarines were not then and are not now permitted to dive in less than 100 fathoms.

Think about the danger and risk of operating a 360+ foot submarine in less than 600 feet. They don't dive or surface level except for under ice operations.

My last 4 years were at Submarine Base, New London which is actually in Groton.

Also I was born in Groton as my dad was stationed there in his submarine days.

All that said, the Thames River is not deep enough to even submerge a nuclear submarines. The sail would be out of the water with the boat sitting on the bottom.

[SVOddity]

Originally Posted by sailpower

I spent 7 years in the USN nuclear submarine navy 1965-1972.

Nulear submarines were not then and are not now permitted to dive in less than 100 fathoms.

Think about the danger and risk of operating a 360+ foot submarine in less than 600 feet. They don't dive or surface level except for under ice operations.

My last 4 years were at Submarine Base, New London which is actually in Groton.

Also I was born in Groton as my dad was stationed there in his submarine days.

All that said, the Thames River is not deep enough to even submerge a nuclear submarines. The sail would be out of the water with the boat sitting on the bottom.

Now THAT would be funny with a bunch of confused sailors on the conning tower (except when the river starts slowly acquiring a luminous green sheen and the fish start spouting extra eyes and another row of teeth)




JUst added a new vid of the refit. There's no subs in it but I do have "some water" inside the hull.

[alansmith]

My father was a diesel boat submariner. Nuclear boats were for sissies they had it so easy.
Back in the 60's they were with a carrier group in the Mediterranean. It was when Rome hosted the summer Olympics. I can't remember if he was on the Sterlet, Tusk, Tunny, or Greyback. They went to surface and came up under the aircraft carrier's screws. Everyone thought 'we are dead meat.'

Apparently there are thermoclines between the different depths of waters. It messes with the sonar. It was a major F up. The carriers screws cut through the secondary hull and gouged the pressure hull pretty badly. It destroyed one propeller on the carrier. It was a major top secret for quite some time.

We also had a Navy fast attack nuke coming into Long Beach Calif surface between a tug that was hauling a barge. The conning tower snagged the tow cable. It sank the tug and barge with loss of life of all hands on the tugboat. Another major calamity.

My dad loved the sub service. Goodness, he was gone so much on patrols. His clothes stank so badly of diesel when he would come home. His mustache and beard made ZZ Top look like they copied naval submariners from days gone by. Proud of our Navy men. Go Navy!!

[SVOddity]

I almost forgot the most important thing of the all experience, When they surfaced and saw us, they were scared ! they had to be escorted of the place

[sailpower]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Used to run into a Trident Nuke now and then in Puget Sound. Man they push a big bow wave when on the surface.

Where did you find that picture?

I have never seen one of those.

Definitely not a USN SSBN (Trident) submarine.

[Bundyon]

Originally Posted by SVOddity

I almost forgot the most important thing of the all experience, When they surfaced and saw us, they were scared ! they had to be escorted of the place

ROFLMAO, I'm sure they were!!!!! Love your sense of humour, I'll have to go & subscribe to your YouTube channel now!!
If that was an Aussie boat, they probably would have invited you onboard for a beer! Well in my day they would have, but now with PC taking over the world as we know it, all our ships & boats are dry
DBF.
Stay safe out there! if you ever get to my part of the world, the 'fridge will be full!!

[SVOddity]

Originally Posted by Bundyon

ROFLMAO, I'm sure they were!!!!! Love your sense of humour, I'll have to go & subscribe to your YouTube channel now!!
If that was an Aussie boat, they probably would have invited you onboard for a beer! Well in my day they would have, but now with PC taking over the world as we know it, all our ships & boats are dry
DBF.
Stay safe out there! if you ever get to my part of the world, the 'fridge will be full!!

I hear you, this days I cannot diss the foreigners in the UK without being warned I cannot do that. And THAT is when I am DISSING myself.
I'll remember the beer! I never forget Beer!
And do subscribe, I promise you’re not going to get any saner or wiser

[hellosailor]

Of course they were scared.
"Captain Jones, I understand that when you surfaced you struck a yacht."
"Yes sir, that is correct but.."
"Captain Jones, I don't care why you struck that yacht. That submarine was just drydocked and received a whole new twentytwo million dollar stealth paint job. AND YOU SCRATCHED IT. That's gonna come out of your salary, Captain. Dismissed."

[SVOddity]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Of course they were scared.
"Captain Jones, I understand that when you surfaced you struck a yacht."
"Yes sir, that is correct but.."
"Captain Jones, I don't care why you struck that yacht. That submarine was just drydocked and received a whole new twentytwo million dollar stealth paint job. AND YOU SCRATCHED IT. That's gonna come out of your salary, Captain. Dismissed."

LOL that can be also be a valid argument, all tho we looked rather menacingly wearing our green hoodies.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by sailpower

Where did you find that picture?

I have never seen one of those.

Definitely not a USN SSBN (Trident) submarine.

I’m no Submariner, but wondered the same, it’s not a US boat I don’t think.

Looking at it better, I don’t think it’s real, may be computer generated?

[SVOddity]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I’m no Submariner, but wondered the same, it’s not a US boat I don’t think.

Looking at it better, I don’t think it’s real, may be computer generated?

I can't tell, it looks real but this days... anything is possible. I'm still in shock from learning Avatar is not real and was made on a studio.

[john61ct]

Video editing "photoshopping" tech is moving very fast now, AI assisted tools creating lipsync'd "deepfakes", realistic face-swapping in motion, disinformation / propaganda will soon be getting much harder to fight.

[senormechanico]

This photo IS real. It's the SS Pickerel on an up angle of 48 degrees off Oahu in 1952.
I was on that boat in the mid 60's and we never did anything like that !

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Used to run into a Trident Nuke now and then in Puget Sound. Man they push a big bow wave when on the surface.

Who took this picture?

I spent a few years (8 patrols) on a Trident that is now in WA. Was in Kings Bay GA when I was on board.

This pic is definitely not a Trident. All Tridents have sail plane control surfaces. As opposed to bow planes like 'fast attack' subs use.

US Navy wouldn't let us submerge until the water was 'deep'. We would run on the surface for many hours at 15+ knots before we ever submerged. Running into anything on a submarine is a multi hundred million dollar mistake.

These stories of submarines surfacing in shallow water are 'highly suspect'.

Regarding 'emergency blow' fast surfacing, it only looks cool in the movies to come shooting out of the water. People fail to realize that the momentum carries the sub back 300 - 400 feet deep thus being a 'bad idea' in a real emergency. Controlled up angle and 'bob' on the surface is the way to do it. I was qualified chief of the watch (COW) which is the one who throws the 'chicken switches' to port 400 psi air to open valves that allow 4500+ psi air into the ballast tanks. Ironically the air is already in the ballast tanks, just contained in a small area. One switch for forward and another one for aft tanks.

-Chris