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Saw a video on USS Virginia and there were no stands by scope for lookouts to stand on, and they were just sitting up there by scope the scope wearing harnesses. Looks like they would have a slow time getting below when command lookouts below is given. The sailors on the bridge seem to have a clear shot down the hatch when clear the bridge given. I wonder if the new boats have a slower time to dive now days.
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112x: Submarine Warfare Officer
112x: Submarine Warfare Officer
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 2
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I’ve been on the bridge in a bad storm. Took waves higher than the sail. Almost drowned the lookout. Actually washed one of his boots off his feet. Had to abort & get back belowdecks. May have been washed overboard were he not tied in. Storms in N. Atlantic are terrible times to attempt man overboard recovery.
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
Sounds as if a good reason. Does it slow down their getting below much when lookouts below is given? If they leave straps there, does it affect periscope operation? The picture I saw had the lookout sitting on the sail, not standing on the platform by the scope. I guess would just drop on to bridge so not as far to go to hatch.
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LT Rich Rowe
MAJ Ronnie Reams No. Harnesses have carabiners. Just unclip from hull & clip to harness. Lookout has his own “pooka” to hang out in if desired. If rails are up (normal underway) he can sit or stand on top. Scopes & antennas are behind the people in their own wells.
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The watch standers are tied off because things get slippery and you don't want anything like a stand to create a swirl (noise). Also, the sub only surfaces to enter a safe port, controlled photo op, etc. Crash dives today are pretty much a movie fiction. Rule 1: Never be in a position where you need to crash dive. Time to perform that action would be classified anyways. It takes a while to surface due to all the protocols and safety checks. Not following them resulted in me having to spend time out in Hawaii working the Ehime Maru incident.
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
Was that the one where a sub hit a fishing boat? Maru sounds like a Jap ship? Maybe did what this O did on the Virginia. I did note that when raising the scope, the JG did not get on the deck and do a 360 check as scope coming up to check for surface craft. My father had a friend that was an O on fleet boats during the war and told me a lot about how subs operate. He did tell me about the Christmas tree that has to be all green when you dive. Also, when Virginia dove, just a Dive and the klaxon. He told me it was Dive, Dive, Dive and then the klaxon.
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LCDR Jerry Maurer
MAJ Ronnie Reams - It was "Dive, Dive" Aooogah, Aoogah, "Dive Dive", on my boat. Sailors have plenty of time to go down the ladder; submarines aren't going diving fast, even in an emergency.
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