Essential equipment on fleet boats
 

Just started on Richard H. O'Kane's war patrol stories from the USS Tang (Clear the Bridge!) and just now realised that the standing joke about installing an ice cream machine wasn't just a joke after all. These guys actually did it before leaving for shakedown maneuvers. I never knew it was based on fact, and had a good chuckle when realisation dawned on me. The things you learn from books... :lol:

The cases of beer in the fridge are essential too. I think that was from Thunder Below! though, can't remember.

If you use the RFB mod, the ice cream machine is part of your equipment on your equipment screen :D

Does it affect efficiency when the crew loses their ice cream?

When I was on the Tennessee, we had an ice cream machine, right besides the plastic cow.More like a soft serve than regular though, and it wasn't the greatest, but hell, at least they tried. Lots better than the eggs. The navy ruined eggs for me forever more.

You don't even want to know what the ARMY did to them.:p

For me, the navy trained me to eat insta mash potatos and now I dont like my own mothers mashed potatos and would rather have instant, to put salt in my coffee rather than sugar, I call my daughter "Chuck", and I still think the only thing a surface ship is good for is target practice. Also taught me how to sleep anywhere, anytime, anyhow. Literally.

Ok, sorry bout the thread highjacking :)

Don't be, always fun to read these.

Ned Beach had quite a few things to say about the ice cream machine in the book "Submarine!". Ill try and find the passages later.

THe summation is that "submariners are born gadeteers". They made the machine from bits and pieces - it wasnt really authorized equipment to have onboard, just something they made themselselves and overlooked by the brass.

I've been trying to find that book online (new) since Christmas. Amazon has been sold out! O'Kane's book on the Wahoo is a great read btw.

Found mine in a used bookstore last month. Couldn't afford it 'till this month though. Hard cover edition really pushes the price up in good ol' expensive Denmark :-?

That's just brilliant. Does it have any function? ;)

Edit: Oh yeah, and I'm bringing mine to work! (Book, not ice cream machine)