I completely agree! :D That is.......Right after North Carolina! Which I believe is getting commissioned in the next year! AND we have great barbeque up here too!:up: :D Sorry, couldn't resist!;)

There's no question in my mind that it is MUCH more efficient to have 2 guys driving rather than 5. My question is whether we are as SAFE. I'm not convinced, but those guys are supposedly a lot smarter than I am, and I'm sure they have it figured out.

On a US submarine the COW/DOOW team has godlike powers, and is integral to the safety of the ship, the mission, and the crew both in normal evolutions and especially during casualties. IMO that knowledge and experience they have is a direct result of the time they have had as junior guys 'sitting sticks' in control and seeing how we operate the ship. The new system takes the junior guys out of the equation, and instead we have a couple of chiefs with touch screens and joysticks. I'm sure it looks really cool and all, but I want to know when it is they're supposed to get all of that experience and learn how to drive the boat.

Playstation? Maybe they've made a PS2 game for the Junior Officers called "drive the boat".:huh: :rock:

Them's fighting words!:arrgh!:

Great questions, thanks, fellows. I asked several of your questions during the media conference. Afterwards, I was asked by the President of the Navy League (Houston) to join him and the CO for lunch at the Yacht Club. What a day!

http://www.subsim.com/articles/articl11.jpg

Commander Litherland was outstanding, his command presence filled the room & he was courteous and interesting as well. Full report in the works, watch the Subsim main page tonight.

Thanks for your help.
Neal

Hey! I know that guy on the far left. http://www.subsim.com/house/articl14.jpg

And the Commander's XO grew up 15miles from me. Greenville was one of our school rivals. Just goes to show you... Small world...or at least small state (until you have to drive across it)

Hey Neal, do you get to go to the commissioning ceremony?

I know that I'm a bit narrow minded;) but isn't Litherland actually a Captain? Or do you mean by calling him "Commander" that he is commanding the USS Texas?

Neal would it be possible to you to arrange a meeting for us too? :hmm: Let me explain lol... I mean, for example 1 hour chat meeting for all of us interested, in the (virtual) presence of the commander...
Here in Switzerland we have similar "virtual meetings" with different personalities, up to the highest politicians and so on, where anyone can ask anything, and some moderator to be sure that all works smoothly...

Maybe this is a ridicolous idea... but to ask costs nothing... and it would be great :yep: :yep: :yep:

While he is the captain of that ship, his rank is that of Commander. All US Submarines (with the exception of the 4 SSGNs) are led by Commanders.

Yep, he's a full Captain as well as captain of the ship. I thought he was a Commander, but the shoulder boards don't lie.

It's a great idea, I don't think it is possible with Capt. Litherland at present because the commissioning is coming and I got the impression there are a million details and responsibilties he has to attend to. But, at some future point, I think it would be a marvelous idea to get a sub captain chat set up.

Sorry you missed the 2005 Subsim meeting in Galveston, we had Capt. Zeb deliver a lecture. He was captain of the USS Shark and USS Sam Houston, a real man's sub skipper.

cheers
Neal

What rank leads the SSGNs? Rear Admiral?:o

Yeah, baby!:yep:

Neal gets to do the coolest things:|\\

Captain (O-6)