First time inside a submarine - changed my perspective

[Dan D]

Well, the fantastic Danish hosts of the last intercontinental subsim meeting in Copenhagen/Denmark made it possible for us attending members to actually dive in a privately built submarine, the legendary UC3 Nautilus
http://uc3nautilus.dk/

I remember doing the first dive with Peter Madsen, Neal Stevens and Limkol.

When the hatches got closed, I felt like „omg, i don't want people to read in the news about me tomorrow „tragic indicent: subsim nerds accidently killed themselves in Copenhagen harbour with real submarine (Darwin award)“ or „day 3: rescue team about to make contact with crew of submarine“.

I even called my wife from inside the sub to tell her what I was about to do, and to say good-bye to her, just in case, later I forgot to call her back because I was so excited.

After closing the hatches (manholes), the ballast tanks were flooded with water and so we went down stern first, it was a trim dive, until we hit the harbour ground. There we sat for a while. Thankfully, we had compressed air onboard to blow the ballast tanks to pop up again.

The moment when I realised that the submarine came off the harbour ground and with its 40 tons weight was slowly hovering in the water, was a relief.

The sound and the feeling from the diesel engine running was great, too. The smell of fresh air and the sunshine was even greater.

@Horsa has documented the dives on video. May be, he or somebody else can repost them.

[Oberon]

They're not the most spacious of boats the Oberons, makes you realise what the early WWI and WWII submarine crews went through in even smaller boats!
Getting through the hatches between compartments is fun too, our guide demonstrated the traditional swing through, I decided to wuss out and went through sideways.
But yes, a special breed of men, and indeed women in this modern era.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Getting through the hatches between compartments is fun too, our guide demonstrated the traditional swing through, I decided to wuss out and went through sideways.

If I hadn't of previously met you in person I would have been wondering why

[August]

So what's worse?, being trapped in a confined space but sleeping on a warm bunk, wearing clean, dry clothes and eating hot chow?, or sitting in an open foxhole up to your knees in mud, soaked to the bone, wearing the same clothes you've had on for a month while sleet and freezing rain pelts down on your head?

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

Originally Posted by August

So what's worse?, being trapped in a confined space but sleeping on a warm bunk, wearing clean, dry clothes and eating hot chow?, or sitting in an open foxhole up to your knees in mud, soaked to the bone, wearing the same clothes you've had on for a month while sleet and freezing rain pelts down on your head?

It depends a lot about what sub you're talking about. If you where in a rusty old sewer pipe (AKA the S-Boats) you would be lucky to get any of those things mentioned.

[August]

Originally Posted by Kptlt. Neuerburg

It depends a lot about what sub you're talking about. If you where in a rusty old sewer pipe (AKA the S-Boats) you would be lucky to get any of those things mentioned.

Maybe, but i'd bet it would still be preferable than the vermin, fleas and phosgene of WW1 trench warfare.

The big difference between the Infantryman and the Flier or the Submariner is that for the Grunt the discomfort and danger is 24/7. Death may be close at times for the latter two but once the depth charges stop dropping or the fighters and AA stop firing life isn't all that bad whereas the suck continues for the Infantryman non stop.

[HunterICX]

Originally Posted by August

So what's worse?, being trapped in a confined space but sleeping on a warm bunk, wearing clean, dry clothes and eating hot chow?, or sitting in an open foxhole up to your knees in mud, soaked to the bone, wearing the same clothes you've had on for a month while sleet and freezing rain pelts down on your head?

I've red in one of my WW2 books how jealous the different units where in an army.
The infantry was jealous of their bomber crew flying overhead due their comfortable non-combat situation and flying up there in their eyes they regarded as less dangerous whilst the bomber crew looked at the infantry with envy as when they get shot at could seek cover in their foxholes whilst their bombers had to stick in formation.

Been stuck in a confined space in a combat situation has a great deal of effect on the human mind I'd wager. I for one would rather be stuck in the mud but at least free to make my own choices in a combat situation when it comes to looking for safe spots to seek cover and in turn help others.

[limkol]

Dan D's comments brought me back to the day of the dive in Nautilus. (Hello again Dan!). What I remembered most was the smell of salt water on steel, a sort of rust smell, when we opened the hatch on the surface. You could almost taste it. A memorable experience. And we had only been underwater for a short time, while in peacetime in a friendly port!

Even though I experienced this, I can still not imagine what it would be like to open the hatch of a sub filled with 60 men and the stink, fumes and bad air after surviving a depth charge attack. We are the lucky ones.

Thanks for your post Wizz and sharing your experiences and thoughts

[McBeck]

Originally Posted by Dan D

Well, the fantastic Danish hosts of the last intercontinental subsim meeting in Copenhagen/Denmark made it possible for us attending members to actually dive in a privately built submarine, the legendary UC3 Nautilus
http://uc3nautilus.dk/

I remember doing the first dive with Peter Madsen, Neal Stevens and Limkol.

When the hatches got closed, I felt like „omg, i don't want people to read in the news about me tomorrow „tragic indicent: subsim nerds accidently killed themselves in Copenhagen harbour with real submarine (Darwin award)“ or „day 3: rescue team about to make contact with crew of submarine“.

I even called my wife from inside the sub to tell her what I was about to do, and to say good-bye to her, just in case, later I forgot to call her back because I was so excited.

After closing the hatches (manholes), the ballast tanks were flooded with water and so we went down stern first, it was a trim dive, until we hit the harbour ground. There we sat for a while. Thankfully, we had compressed air onboard to blow the ballast tanks to pop up again.

The moment when I realised that the submarine came off the harbour ground and with its 40 tons weight was slowly hovering in the water, was a relief.

The sound and the feeling from the diesel engine running was great, too. The smell of fresh air and the sunshine was even greater.

@Horsa has documented the dives on video. May be, he or somebody else can repost them.

Yes, that Subsim meeting will always be special for me and it was an honour to host it and be able to give you guys a real experience in a submarine diving.

If we are lucky, Nautilus will be back in the water this year - Follow her on Facebook.

Heres a video of that day

[Kapitan]

To be honest I've never had any issue been on many submarines (not served on them) including an Oberon class so I can relate but having worked on some ships in the past it was easy for me to do and go anywhere i had no fear i even used to fall asleep in the steering gear room !

I was lucky enough to go to sea on two submarines and dive down HMS Turbulent and Torbay thinking back that was a long time ago !

Inside the Foxtrot by Blair shaw, on Flickr

I didnt find anything at the other end the door was closed! what you dont realise is these tubes are acctually quite long and im not exactly small and even my 140kg friend still had ample room to spare

[Wizz]

Originally Posted by McBeck

Yes, that Subsim meeting will always be special for me and it was an honour to host it and be able to give you guys a real experience in a submarine diving.

If we are lucky, Nautilus will be back in the water this year - Follow her on Facebook.

Heres a video of that day

Wow, I couldn't help returning to this thread with the recent news of Madsen's life sentence (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43894495). No doubt this topic has been one of serious discussion at SubSim (to say in advance my apologies if it's an issue that's required mods to intervene or manage).

That established, can anyone who visited the Nautilus provide any anecdotes or insight to the experience? It sounds like the visit was great referred to by McBeck, however my curiosity is spiked with this announcement.