Official Photo of the Day (Potentially NSFW) -- NO CARS

[cakM3]

Very Cool Charlie. pic

The last pic of the Polar Bears checking out the Sub is pretty cool!

I thought that was cool as well. I have heard lots of stories from the guys that have gone up to the polar ice caps....

[NoVAphotog]

daniel - you got the end of the rainbow in the falls - nice job!

PS - how cold was it?

peter

Thanks Peter! Here is a better a shot of it:



And it wasn't too bad...24F?

Really awesome being there in the Winter though, the mist coats everything around the Falls with a thick sheet of ice as you can see with that tree.

[NoVAphotog]

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

This is awesome Charlie! Thanks for sharing!

[cakM3]

This is awesome Charlie! Thanks for sharing!

[UdubBadger]

Great stuff Chuck. Meeting those polar bears a woulda been awesome!


GoingHAM mobile

[cakM3]

Great stuff Chuck. Meeting those polar bears a woulda been awesome!


GoingHAM mobile

Thanks Seth! Yeah seeing those polar bears would have been cool but not up close

[UdubBadger]

they look friendly

[Ryans323i]

Neat post Charlie. There so many things about life on a submarine that blow my mind, and I frankly have the " nope, nope" attitude towards. But my hat goes off to the men and women who have, will and are living that life. Thanks for sharing Charlie.

[johnrando]

+1 No way I could do that, but definitely hats off to those who do.

[3ZHPGUY]

Thanks for sharing Charily, Great Stuff!


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