Photo Du Jour
I saw where the new subs have a special hatch for the SEALS to exit and enter underwater. Prevents the SEALS and submarine from having to do silly
like hanging around on the surface offshore a hostile place.
Posted by Oink
01/25/2006 at 07:24 PM
I doesn’t get any sweeter than that, Skipper. Thanks for the photo—you made my day.
A couple of things: The Virginia class is the newest submarine, with Virginia in service and Texas due to be commissioned this year.
The Virginia class submarine has a nine man lockout chamber to enable submerged access/egress to divers.
The Jimmy Carter has a 100 foot ‘wasp waist’ extension inserted that is used for “special missions”. The phrase “ocean interface” has also been used. I’m inferring that it has a diving lock as well as space for the equipment that SEALs use when “going ashore”.
Search this guy’s site. He used to serve aboard the Carter. Good links.
Re the picture, didn’t Tom Clancy have Jack Ryan do this move when he was trying to save the Red October? I seem to recall that Dallas had to come up and retrieve him, and they weren’t too happy…
Does “The Jimmy Carter” fly a permanently affixed white flag?
Posted by Oink
01/26/2006 at 09:14 AM
158 cruise missiles! Now that’s what I call firepower....
re 8:
The “Jacques Chirac” flies the permanently affixed white flag, OUR J.C. packs a wallop and kicks (enemy) ass
Rat: But the symbolism, the name .. why not the USS Chicken or USS Sheep ??
Example- A tank named the Jacques Chirac should only have reverse gear.
Posted by Oink
01/26/2006 at 10:55 AM
Surprised no one commented on how calm the sea is in the photo.
Imagine trying to do the same manuever in 10-15 foot seas, with 20-30kt (or more) wind gusts bouncing the chopper around. “Brass balls” doesn’t even begin to cover it.
I think that’s probably the other reason for having the underwater ingress/egress capability...amazing how calm the water is down 50-60 feet, even in a storm. Doesn’t solve the problem of getting ashore, but at least they won’t get banged up just getting out of the boat.
I think rebuilding the older Boomers into SEAL delivery subs was a good idea. Love to see some photos of them.
Glad to be of help, Phobos. Subs have always been an interest to me, indeed were once a passion. I joined the Navy specifically to serve on subs but my eyesight disqualified me. I just wish they’d told me that before they got me to extend my obligation to six years.
If you’re “connected” to the “right people”, OCM, you can get a ticket to ride a sub. Maybe Tancredo can help you out there.
I got three rides while I was in the Navy, the first on an old diesel boat, the other two on Polaris “boomers”, one being a Brit boat. Those were some of the high points of my time in the service. The diesel boat skipper let me look through the scope at my own ship off of Gitmo. They wouldn’t let me torpedo it, though.
Experiences I wouldn’t trade for anything.
DAS BOOT-- must-see movie about a WW2 German submarine crew. Best no-bullshit move about life on a pigboat. See the English dubbed version—I think the movie was filmed in a way so that it could be seamlessly dubbed—I was halfway thru the flick before I realized it was.
Just like real world combat, the German crew knows nothing & cares nothing of politics; they’re just fighting to stay alive and for their crewmates. Often in the face of crazed bullshit orders from above.
Posted by Oink
01/27/2006 at 07:04 AM
I read the book, Oink. Another one I mean to get is “Blind Man’s Bluff”. I’m told that it’s about the silent war between U.S. and Soviet subs under the Arctic ice. Shit happened, nobody talks about it.
01/26/2006 at 09:24 AM
