They swing down and somewhat out of the way.

Update - It was also the proto-type boat for the spherical bow sonar array, and as a result, a midship torpedo room with the tubes canted out port and starboard to clear the spherical array. This arrangement has been used on all classes since.

As the only BuubleheadNuke I ever liked said down. The forward area on a 688 where the OOD usually is just above the sail trunk it splits in half swinging to port and starboard for each half. The give you something to lean against as well when you are exhausted from standing there for four hours possibly swaying to the seas. On the port just behing this area is a spot for one guy about a third as wide and half as deep as the OOD slot with a cover that wings port/outboard.

Underway the lookout will often be back here. Especially is someone other than the OOD and lookout are on the bridge. The warm air dowsn't blow up from the trunk there so I would usually do my best to get OOD to let me hang up front. Also note there is a plexiglass window that is normally mounted when surfaced in front of the forward hole. Also the radar is actually between the two "recesses". Well known as a good way to loose appendages if you are not alert.

Thank you for the better explaination. I never rigged that part of the boat for dive and I only went up there a few times. Normally I was too busy aft to worry about it.

The only time I ever got to ride up top was on my last underway on the way back into Norfolk in the dead of winter. I did not stay long as it was cold and wet.

OK so does that mean the first guy comes up the hatch from the trunk darkness, flips some catches and the covers swing down and into the side of the recess?

I'll do a little sketch so I understand correctly. I want to get the models right.

Is:arrgh!: there a way to create a graphic for say dw to where you can hit a button and create like some figures appear on the bridge when the sub is surfaced? Like the OOD and say 1 or 2 look outs and maybe a flag.

No.

Yes, essentially the first man up opens the hatch and climbs up onto the grating they stand on above the hatch. He pulls the pins from the "clamshells" and swings them down and out. He then helps mount the windshield as the OOD gets relieved below and climbs to the bridge where he will assume the watch back from whoever momentarily took the conn from him as he climbed to the bridge. He would usually retain "the deck" or charge of the sub, but would relinquish "the conn" or responsibility for the manuevering of the boat until he was on the bridge and established satisfactory comms there.

There is an electronic comms box which would be passed up with the windshield that has to be plugged in and tested. It allows IC circuits and alarms to be interfaced by the bridge. It takes usually a good 15 minutes from opening the bridge hatch before it is ready for the OOD to shift his watch up. A lookout is usually the first guy up and starts performing as a lookout as soon as he pins the clamshells back. The ICMAN on watch will normally take care of the bridge box being mounted and tested. It is actually quite an enjoyable thing to be involved in when you haven't been surfaced for a few months.

The lookout recess will sometimes not be opened at all unless you are heading into port, then the room will be needed and at some point stantions for the "flying bridge will be passed up and assembled. This makes it possible to have a bunch of people actually stand ON the sail as you see in most pictures when the approach the dock.

Rip

:|\\

New version 10 is out:

http://www.commanders-academy.com/fo...ad.php?t=33544

Please send feedback to CADC if possible.

New version 11 is out:

http://www.commanders-academy.com/fo...ad.php?t=38083

Please send feedback to CADC if possible.