I was just browsing through the Internet this evening and came across these pictures I wanted to share with everyone... those of you who have served onboard submarines would appreciate some of these
The 688 "Los Angeles" class submarines will always hold a special place in my heart. I have served onboard three of them in my 26 year Naval career (
USS Baltimore SSN704, USS New York City SSN696, and USS Augusta SSN710) All three of these submarines I have sailed on are now decommissioned and stricken off the active list.
When you want to take a swim on a cruise ship all you have to do is go to one of several pools or jacuzzis. When you want to take a swim when onboard a submarine, you surface the ship, station shark watches armed with M-16 tactical assault rifles in the sail and let the crew come topside and jump off the sub...
This was a serious morale booster for us sailors
I remember doing this when I was stationed onboard USS Augusta and there was over 1500 fms (9,000 ft) of water beneath us while we were swimming around the front part of the boat. It was an amazing experience knowing just how far the bottom was!
This view is from a middle level passageway outside crew's mess (where the crew eats and gathers for movies and training) looking into the missile compartment. Life on these boats is pure luxury compared to the 688 fast attack submarines. Lots more room here
And the business end where I worked when I was stationed onboard the subs...
The Sonar Control Room, or Sonar Shack as we referred it
This is where you could hear dolphins and other sea creatures that made lots of racket underwater. This is where all the action is when you're looking for something....I was lucky to be on these boats during the cold war when there was a lot of interesting things going on.....nothing I can really talk about but it was a lot of fun
Loved the blue lighting we used to have in our Sonar Shacks....now they are reduced grey lighting....
Something I never got to do when serving onboard subs....go to the polar ice pack and surface the boat thru the ice.... I've always wanted to do this....
Anyway, as an retired Naval Submariner,
I wanted to share this with everyone (didn't take these pictures however). I can honestly say this is a young man's game. As we get older, our bodies can't sustain the steel decks and harsh living conditions our sailors endure each and every day while they are out to sea. My hats go off to them and the hard work they all do each and every day they are out to sea! These are the true underwater warriors at play and work