USS Blueback Tour

ET2SN · 05-26-18, 11:53 PM

Sorry I missed this thread until now.

I served on the Barbel, one of the sister ships in the class (three were built).
If the tour runs forward to aft, the torpedo room features what we called "the six pack". Six tubes laid out in two rows of three. Also, notice how tall the torpedo room is. At the aft end of the torpedo room, you may notice two small ladders going up to a small mezzanine. This was added after the class switched from bow planes to fairwaters and that room contains the hydraulics and controls.
Control is fairly cramped but look around for an IFF control box. This has nothing to do with friendly patrol planes. The three "B Girls" were supposed to work with the early SSG and SSGN boats as a kind of radar picket. The SSG's would launch a cruise missile and one of the "B Girls" would steer the missile to its target.
Heading aft, be careful walking through the battery airlock on the way to crew's mess if you're taller than six feet. That stainless steel roof is low.

If you're lucky, the tour will continue past crew's mess to the engine room. You'll see three ND 38 8 1/8th diesel engines. These are the standard diesel engines that are still in use. Nukes get one, we had three.

Each diesel is connected to a large DC generator that feeds the battery wells. At the forward end of the engine room, look up and you'll spot the large air duct that feeds from the head valve of the snorkel.

Hopefully, the tour includes Maneuvering and the two large electric motors. It might not look like two motors at first, but they are mounted back-to-back around the main shaft. The motors could be wired to run individually, in parallel, or (rarely) in series.

Enjoy the tour.

05-26-18, 11:53 PM	#2
ET2SN ET2/SS Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 2,554 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	Sorry I missed this thread until now. I served on the Barbel, one of the sister ships in the class (three were built). If the tour runs forward to aft, the torpedo room features what we called "the six pack". Six tubes laid out in two rows of three. Also, notice how tall the torpedo room is. At the aft end of the torpedo room, you may notice two small ladders going up to a small mezzanine. This was added after the class switched from bow planes to fairwaters and that room contains the hydraulics and controls. Control is fairly cramped but look around for an IFF control box. This has nothing to do with friendly patrol planes. The three "B Girls" were supposed to work with the early SSG and SSGN boats as a kind of radar picket. The SSG's would launch a cruise missile and one of the "B Girls" would steer the missile to its target. Heading aft, be careful walking through the battery airlock on the way to crew's mess if you're taller than six feet. That stainless steel roof is low. If you're lucky, the tour will continue past crew's mess to the engine room. You'll see three ND 38 8 1/8th diesel engines. These are the standard diesel engines that are still in use. Nukes get one, we had three. Each diesel is connected to a large DC generator that feeds the battery wells. At the forward end of the engine room, look up and you'll spot the large air duct that feeds from the head valve of the snorkel. Hopefully, the tour includes Maneuvering and the two large electric motors. It might not look like two motors at first, but they are mounted back-to-back around the main shaft. The motors could be wired to run individually, in parallel, or (rarely) in series. Enjoy the tour.