USS Sandlance - SSN 660 ET1 Reactor Operator

Sub Sims - great fun but in most cases not terribly realistic.

Too easy. Too many targets. But then no one would play a really realistic sub sim - they'd get bored stiff and quit after the first 30 minutes. And then there's the things guys do in a sim would end up in real life with you dead or court martialed.

I've been on that sub too, it's only about 15 minutes from my house. It's docked at Long Beach next to the Queen Mary and only costs like $10-15 to enter. Nearly all of main body of the sub is open to explore, and there's a lot to see. There's a command compartment up a ladder that you cannot enter, unfortunately, but it's no reason not to make the trip.

The best part is that it is unguided, often there's nobody inside, and you can stay inside as long as you want. There's an annoying voiceover running the whole time, unfortunately, with an actor's cheesy russian accent making witty comments about each compartment and what life is like on the sub. It's really, really cheesy. Bring an iPod and a soundtrack of sub engine sounds with you to really enjoy the experience. :)

You can enter some of the rooms with bunks, the mess hall, sit down and really get a feel for what it's like to be there. The whole thing reeks of diesel fuel even though it hasn't been ran in years. They have a cheeky souvenier shop but it actually has some nice stuff, like replica crew wear (mostly just hats I think, no full uniforms or anything).

It's not the kind of thing you can schedule a whole day of activities around, even if you're sub-obsessed like us. But the Queen Mary is right next door to fill the rest of the time (costs a lot more though. You can always walk or drive a few minutes away and just hang out in the beautiful Long Beach marina to fill the day.)

I hear the sub may not be there much longer. http://www.russiansublongbeach.com/

If I'm not mistaken, I toured that same submarine when she was in Seattle....interesting boat and definitely worth the tour.

I would.

USS Tusk SS-426 1968-1969
Last of the Balao Class Boats, upgraded to GUPPY.
She had the North Atlantic type sail when I served on board as ECM tech.

Here is a link to a story about the USS Tusk and the USS Cochino. The Cochino was sunk and several men were lost from both boats. It is a New York Times link and you may have to "register" at NY Times to access it. The registration is free, at least it was when I registered. If you don't want to register or cannot for some reason, I have the story saved as a Word document file so forward me your email address and I'll attach the file and reply. The story takes place in 1949, a year after I was born.

http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/s/sontag-bluff.html?_r=5&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogi n&oref=slogin&oref=login

USS Jacksonville SSN-699
USS Gurnard SSN-662

I wish, though I would probably be claustrophobic after 30 min. Instead, flight medic for the Army, 16 years and counting...

NSDQ

I never actually served on a sub... But I worked at the Charleston Naval Shipyard for 10 years overhauling & repairing nuclear subs & 1 diesel sub ( Bonefish)... I worked mostly on Boomers and the occasional Fast Attack... What a darn shame the goverment had to shut it down... Alot of good people lost their jobs... I sure do miss that place !

I spent two years at Loring AFB in Limestone Maine.
That is more isolated than a sub!

Served on the USS Blackfin SS322, 1954 to late 1959, out of Pearl Harbor. Diesel Engineman 1st Class. Transfered to the USS Bang SS385, New London, Conn.
Made 3 West Pacific cruises on the Blackfin, went no where on the Bang except up in the Barrents Sea, and under the ice pack for a couple of days scouting.

Hit all major ports in Japan and cruised the inland sea going to Korea and that was a nice trip to see all of the islands around the south side of Japan. Made port calls in Korea, Tiawan, Hong Kong, Phillipines, Guam, Okinawa and in Australia, Brisbane and Newcastle. We had some good times in most of the ports.

Had to get out in 1961 due to sickness as I did want to stay in and make a career out of it but lady luck didn't hit me right. Met a lot of good guys and still keep in touch with a couple of the old boat guys.

Diesel Boats stank something bad from all of the fumes and it did get into your cloths. Sure could not wash that smell off of you.
Bert 68

Read the real life incident that happened to the Blackfin in the "Stories and Patrol logs" that I posted.
Bert 68

I wanted to, but was forced out of the Navy at 18 cause I'm color blind and MEPS screwed up my paperwork. Long story, but its not my fault. I do want to go back, but being colorblind makes it difficult.

I was a sub volunteer.

Also, thank you for your service to all of you, serving all of our nations, keeping the seas safe. Godspeed to you all

You betcha I served on submarines ... I sure didn't know so many others sub vets were in here too ...

I just posted a sea story over in general topic's ... we ought to start a sea story thread, uh?

Here it is for your viewing pleasure: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=112107

I served on the USS Salmon SS- 572 (63-65)
USS Ethan Allen SSBN 608 Blue crew (66-70)
USS Sam Houston SSBN 609 Blue crew (70-71)

Sonarman was my game and getting it right the first time was my aim, but we did lose a few wires while telling sea stories on watch ... those guys came right out of our baffles ... Honest sir :lol:

Nice to see so many true blue submariners here. It was a toss up for me between Navy and Air Force. Decided I didnt want to be cooped up on a ship for 6 months at a time so went Air Force. Retired a couple years ago.

I serve on a German frigate F 208 Niedersachsen. Our main job is to hunt subs. So does that count? :lol:

Wow, I had no idea so many brave men were out there in subsim land. Gentlemen, I salute you.

The closest I ever came to a sub, came out of a freakin' cereal box! How brave am I?

Does the sub Kraka count?

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...=106496&page=3

I once licked a sub...it tasted a little salty for my liking but my girlfriend thought it was okay.

Impressive!

Lots of real sub-guys here! Unfortunately i'm not one of them :know:

USS Stonewall Jackson SSBN634 (Gold) ("Stoney J"). Pork Chop, six patrols and a DASO out of Charleston and Kings Bay.

Dad was USS Bluegill SS-242 during her Guppy years. I recall straddling a Mk14 in the forward room at Christmas, 1962 while a greasy TM in a Santa suit handed out presents to the kids.