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Old 03-12-18, 08:22 PM   #2
ET2SN
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Voice tubes were way before my time.

I did end up certified to do Subsafe inspections and maintenance (QAI) on scopes and hull penetrations (wiring and hydraulics), though. This is usually reserved for A Gang and M Div but I did shipyard tours on both ships I served on.

There's not as much keeping the ocean out of the attack center as many people believe. The scope barrel is rated to test depth since it contains the optics and a lot more. Think of the barrel as its own sub. The only physical connection to the sub are the lift cylinders and the electronics connections.

What keeps the water out is a packing gland mounted to the hull. Very similar to the shaft seals but much simpler in construction. As the outside water pressure gets higher the gland seals tighter to the scope barrel.

So, yes you could raise the scope at 400 feet deep or even at test depth. The action of the gland would make it tougher on the hydraulics to raise the scope but it would work (it also becomes much harder to turn the barrel).
The only reason to raise the scope is if you needed to fix something or, more likely, retrieve whatever was dropped from the scope stand into the scope well.

So, why do all of the games model scope damage if you raise it below X feet? Good question, I have no idea. In practical terms, being deep AND fast could lead to damage to the barrel and the packing gland, but it would be rare.
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