RUN SILENT RUN DEEP QUESTION

THEBERBSTER · 04-30-13, 10:45 AM

Hi Guys
I was watching this WWII film and I noticed a large amount of crew randomly smoking below deck. Was this a common practice on American submarines in WWII?
Best wishes Peter

BigWalleye · 04-30-13, 11:39 AM

Yes. Read Fluckey or O'Kane. Smoking was permitted whenever minimum safety considerations permitted, even when submerged. O'Kane talks about the air getting so foul that it was physically impossible to get a cigarette to stay lit - but the sailors kept trying anyway! You might think that this was not a good idea when pinned down by DC-dropping escorts and forced to stay deep for who knew how long. But they were willing to trade the release of tension against the extra breathable air. (Although, from what I've read, the term "breathable air" barely applies to the stuff inside a WW2 submarine, even on the surface!)

gap · 04-30-13, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THEBERBSTER

I was watching this WWII film and I noticed a large amount of crew randomly smoking below deck. Was this a common practice on American submarines in WWII?

Probably yes, and it was still allowed until recently:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_smoking..._in_the_movies
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...mes-force.html

THEBERBSTER · 04-30-13, 01:52 PM

Hi Guys
Thanks for the explanation. It's a good job it is not factored into SH4 otherwise staying submerged would be even more limited.
Best wishes Peter

BigWalleye · 05-01-13, 06:41 AM

I don't know if the CO2 build-up rate is adjustable at all, If it is, I would guess that RFB uses historical data for the rate of air exhaustion ("CO2"). The RFB team tried to be as historically accurate as possible. Then smoking is probably built in. So sit back, light up a Camel, and relax!

Sailor Steve · 05-01-13, 10:47 AM

Just for future reference, Subsim has a forum dedicated to movies and books about submarines and just about everything else.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/forumdisplay.php?f=186

04-30-13, 10:45 AM	#1
THEBERBSTER Growing Old Disgracefully Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Hythe - Southampton Posts: 9,609 Downloads: 1133 Uploads: 0	RUN SILENT RUN DEEP QUESTION Hi Guys I was watching this WWII film and I noticed a large amount of crew randomly smoking below deck. Was this a common practice on American submarines in WWII? Best wishes Peter

04-30-13, 01:52 PM	#4
THEBERBSTER Growing Old Disgracefully Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Hythe - Southampton Posts: 9,609 Downloads: 1133 Uploads: 0	SMOKED OUT Hi Guys Thanks for the explanation. It's a good job it is not factored into SH4 otherwise staying submerged would be even more limited. Best wishes Peter

05-01-13, 10:47 AM	#6
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Just for future reference, Subsim has a forum dedicated to movies and books about submarines and just about everything else. http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/forumdisplay.php?f=186 __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

04-30-13, 11:39 AM	#2
BigWalleye Sea Lord Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: On the Eye-lond, mon! Posts: 1,987 Downloads: 465 Uploads: 0	Yes. Read Fluckey or O'Kane. Smoking was permitted whenever minimum safety considerations permitted, even when submerged. O'Kane talks about the air getting so foul that it was physically impossible to get a cigarette to stay lit - but the sailors kept trying anyway! You might think that this was not a good idea when pinned down by DC-dropping escorts and forced to stay deep for who knew how long. But they were willing to trade the release of tension against the extra breathable air. (Although, from what I've read, the term "breathable air" barely applies to the stuff inside a WW2 submarine, even on the surface!)

05-01-13, 06:41 AM	#5
BigWalleye Sea Lord Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: On the Eye-lond, mon! Posts: 1,987 Downloads: 465 Uploads: 0	I don't know if the CO2 build-up rate is adjustable at all, If it is, I would guess that RFB uses historical data for the rate of air exhaustion ("CO2"). The RFB team tried to be as historically accurate as possible. Then smoking is probably built in. So sit back, light up a Camel, and relax!