Quote:
Originally Posted by The Bandit
If a sub were to dive in this state (i.e. opening the vents to re-flood the tanks after the blow before recharging the compressed air tank) wouldn't that still be quite dangerous since the emergency blow system would be inoperative (little to no air) along with the torpedo tubes (assuming we're not talking about swim-out weapons)?
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You are confusing peace time operational procedures with war time realities.
US Submarines do not use the EMBT blow system to routinely surface the ship. They drive to the surface and start the Low Pressure (LP) blower to blow the water out of the ballast tanks.
So, if in a war time scenario, you actuated the EMBT blow system, got the casualty under control, you can now re-submerge and start an air charge. You most likely will not 'blow until equalized'. You are going to have some air left in the tanks. Plus, unless absolutely necessary, you are not going to go back into battle.
You can also do the blow, decide that you do not need to surface and vent (open the MBT vents) on the way up.
With the air charge going, you are drawing air from the 'people tank' and when necessary, go to Periscope Depth (PD), raise the snorkel mast and 'equalize ship pressure', bringing vacuum down and putting a small pressure in the ship, and go deep again. We do this all the time.
You CANNOT pull air from the ballast tanks.