Saturday, August 15, 2020

One big underwater boat


6 comments:

  1. It's quite something to man the sail while transiting to diving depth. I've enjoyed dolphins riding the bow wave, endured waves breaking high up on the sail in the Sea of Japan, and a sunrise far from land out in the Indian Ocean. Outstanding.

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    1. I was on USS Flying Fish (SSN-673). I was the bridge 61-JS talker once and got to watch the dolphins play. They would play in our bow wave and then jump forward, swim down the opposite side and come back up to play some more. I watched this for awhile and then realized that the dolphins were swimming circles around us. We were doing over 20 kts!

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  2. My best boat was USS Dolphin AGSS555. We would surface in early evening to charge batteries. So all night motoring off of the Channel Islands. I spent many a night watch on the bridge as lookout and enjoyed the hell out of most. A lot of good conversation and learning took place. What memories!

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  3. Question: When raising the periscope how is water filling the tube prevented from making a burbling nose? Would such a noise be used as a signature for each boat?

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    1. Water filling what tube?

      A conventional periscope is a steel tube with optics inside. It doesn't normally flood or fill with water. When retracted, it extends from the bottom of the periscope well to just below the top of the sail via a sealed hull penetration. When extended, hydraulics lift it upwards until the bottom, with the eyepiece, is at the level of the control room and the top is way above the sail. Nothing should flood or "fill with water". If it does, something is wrong.

      I believe this boat, USS Seawolf (SSN-21), however, has photonics masts. These do not extend downward into the pressure hull, thus eliminating a hull penetration. There is a hi-res camera mounted on top.

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  4. It may look big, until you go below. Those things are cramped. The DE I sailed on was roomy by comparison. On a DE, you get to see more sunsets too.

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