Theodore's World

I climbed around the USS Bowfin at Pearl Harbor a few years ago. I am 6'1" and 190 lb. and there is no freaking way I could have crewed a WWII sub... or a Sherman (Ronson) tank! It is staggering just how tiny those old boats were!

My hat's off to ANYONE who has the guts to crew even the most modern submarine. I'd be stark raving mad and secured in chains and tranquilizers the fist time the boat submerged.

Our Navy submarines have big brass ones!

I am sure glad the Swedes are sharing this new technology with our Navy. I don't know if it can be applied to nuclear subs, but at least our guys ar learning how to apply ASW methods to it.

I'm like you Billy Ray. I don't like close cofines. I went nuts in an MRI machine.

go sweden! go usa!

Never been aboard a Sub. I've been aboard the USS Turner Joy many times, it amazes me just how small, narrow and tight everything is aboard that ship, relying totally on 'blind navigation' in the control room, I can't imagine how cramped a sub must be and with no visual reference.
Like Billy Ray says, it's amazing how cramped all ships are.
I did visit the gun mounts on the Turner Joy, I had moments in there just like those inside that iron coffin I drove, it was cramped in there, no room to get around and for sure too close to live ordinance. I spent some claustrophobia time in the whole body count room at Kadlec Hospital, three times before I learned not to Uh Uh!!! I can't imagine what that MRI must be like Tom. Yet I've crawled into what is typically called "The Bulls Ass" on GE Frame V, VI, VII Turbines ,wondering if I could ever get back out. No place for a fat boy, especially one that gets seasick on a floating dock.:)
I never experienced claustrophobia in armor when buttoned up but that would all change if I were submerged. The immutable law of gravity is sobering enough. I've worked with former Nuke Submariners, in the 'power' industry they are different, never saw one get flustered. Some folks jump out of perfectly flyable aircraft others go down in perfectly good ships, hat's off to better men than I, hence those big brass ones.

I'm with all you Gentlemen above. I enlisted as a "Mud-Marine". I can't take being confined...or on ocean...or in the air.

I always felt that if I'm going to meet my G_d, I want to be laying down, smelling dirt.

The Newer boats are huge in comparison. I don't understand the concern. Our FBM fleet is all nuclear and leave here for places unknown. (Years ago, the subs would float an antenna to copy the Fleet Broadcast, but they have much more sophisticated receiving equipment now.) And are under water for 4-6 months at a time. That is the nature of the FBM(Fleet Ballastic Missile). So staying submerged can't be the problem. It must be the Enemy Detection equipment. They mentioned ASW, Anti-Submarine Warfare, and we use to be the best at that. Especiallly, now with the new Burke Class Destroyers.

So it must be the stealth type Subs that they are worried about. So evidently this has cause for concern. Hopefully, there is enough money in Washington to pursue this.

But Subs are neat all by themselves. There are expansion joints in the decks(floor) and as they go down/submerge you can actually see the floors coming together. If you are closterphobic it's not the place to be. When you are under water you are not aware of the boat even moving, unless of course you hit something, the pier or a Tug pulling the boat out.

Billy Ray, I know what you mean. I was only a
kid and now I am 5'11" and it does make a differnce
when the ceilings are so low too.
As a kid it was fun, but I was glad to get
out of the sub.

I hated the feeling of being cramped inside.
It sure gave me a lot of respect for the
guys that do are on subs in the military.

Tom, I agree it is a good feeling to
see them doing this together.

Ditto big time on not liking to be
in an MRI and the sub too if I had
not been a little kid and the tour
been any longer then it was I would
have freaked out. We were only in it
for about 10 minutes.

I even have to have a window in whatever
room I am in. hahaa I can't stand 4
walls.

Hi Odin, yessss it is a good thing.

Jack, thank you for sharing, all these
things are also why I think people need
to really thank you Veterans and our troops.

The above and beyond kind of thing they go
through and put up with none of it the comfy
of home in ones favorite chair and then add
in all the danger and other sacrifices made
whew so many things. 24/7 and I just wish
we could thank each one personally.

Steve Gaston, USMC, LOL that made me
laugh, the way you worded that.
hhahahaa I agree !!!!!!! Love it.

When I die I don't want to be in a
metal can kind of place, I want to be
in an open area.

One of the times I was in Europe, I
had made reservatiions at a hotel and
made sure the room would have a window.
Nothing fancy but I always tell them it
has to have a window. When I got there it
not only didn't have a window but it was
a made over closet, they were booked solid
and said the language barrier caused them
to misunderstand. I did not get angry, but
I started to cry and shake and told them
please you have to understand I cannot
handle a room with no window. I will sleep
in the kitchen or anywhere but please oh
please can't you help me.
LOL I was shaking and really scared.

The guy was so kind, he got a key and walked
me himself to another room, I about fainted.
It was a huge 7 room penthouse, with a patio
a fountain on the patio and a kitchen, maids room
several bedrooms, dining room, living room, the
a person could have lived there. It even had a
handcarved Gun rack, empty but it was
beautiful. LOL hahaa

He said NO charge and please accept our sincere
apology. I felt so bad for him.
Later that night I invited the photgrapher we
were with and the other models including the
man at the desk for some wine, and cheese etc.
just to say thank you and get some use out of
the place. hahahahahahhaa

Mark, I sure hope so too, they better
stop with this cutting back on the things
our military needs and funds that need.