Anyone spent time on a "boomer" and can talk about it?

[Buckeye 50]

By "boomer" I mean of course U.S. ballistic missile submarines.  Just interested to hear any stories you can tell as subs have always fascinated me.


Thanks,


Pat

[sqlbullet]

Need a popcorn emoji.  Looking forward to this.  I am gonna guess, unfortunately, that this thread will be as silent as an Ohio class submarine.  Likely we don't have anyone, and if we do likely they can't say much.

[crazywednesday]

I was on the USS Michigan which has been refitted to some other class of sub, but can help you out a bit. Want to know what its like for junior to mid level enlisted? Well rent a really large apartment, black out all the windows, turn the temp in the bedroom to really cold and the kitchen really hot, and put yourself on an 18 hour day. For the first 6 hours of your day sit in the closet with an alarm clock, a phone, and maybe a few other electronic items that hardly change indication. Record their readings every half hour; or if your a roving watch station check to make sure the stove works, the temp of water coming out of the faucet, the light in the fridge still comes on, and the safe is still locked. Record your findings. Only use the bathroom when someone qualified to stand your watch station relieves you. The second 6 hours clean and repair appliances whether they need it or not. Change out heating elements, light bulbs, or wax the linoleum in the kitchen. Do this regularly to maintenance your fiscal budget for your department/sub. The last 6 hours, you get to sleep if you are qualified all watch stations for your rate and rank. If your not, you better be studying not sleeping. In addition to your normally scheduled 18 hour day, follow along with senior enlisted and officers 24 hour day. 3 days a week for 2-4 hours regardless of what your supposed to be doing, simulate and practice fire drills, flooding, battlestations, launching missiles, launching torpedoes, loss of electrical power, ect ect. Lastly on wednesday and sunday spend 2 hours deep cleaning under your sink, in the cupboards, under your bed, and pretty much anything that is already clean. Remember, if the 24 hour schedule interferes with sleep on your 18 hours schedule you are to follow the 24 hour schedule. Thats pretty much it in a nut shell. I should say that once you have qualified all of your watch stations for your rate, there is time to do personal things. Unless there is something broke, no maintenance is performed on Saturday and Sunday, and your 6 hours of maintenance doesn't always take 6 hours. My experience was as an electrician stationed in Bangor, Wa. I can probably answer most of your questions. Granted, Ive been out for 15 years.

Justin

[Buckeye 50]

Justin;


Thanks for the reply - unfortunately I was never in the service but my dad was a Navy pilot in WW2.  I have a soft spot for the Navy.  I guess the routine and apparent boredom is something you want as compared to constantly in a panic like The Hunt for Red October and Crimson Tide!


Thanks,


Pat

[Quick 2]

CAS site ( Combat Alert Site ) Pershing Missiles (3 Nuclear warheads each 100 time more powerful that Fatman or Littleboy) on dry land U.S. Army. 6 months underwater with nothing but other men NO. Only time other than on the range did we ever have live ammo. Pulled patrols and guard duty. When an enlisted man was in the guard tower he out ranked a 5 Star General. But you had to know that after 3 hrs you were out of the tower and paid dearly for anything stupid you did. Germany 1981-83. 

[warren5421]

Your rack (bed) on the SSBN609 was 25" wide and 6' long.  The first 30 days home you mustered every 3rd day.  First 30 days back at the boat you worked your behind off fixing things.  I worked in the engine room area.  When you went to sea the lowest rated guys got to stand port and starboard watches (12 hours) till the new guys were able to stand watch. Your day became only 18 hours.  100 plus days not seeing the sun!  Everyone wore a one piece jump suit.  If you were in the nuke part of the Navy you were tested every watch to see how emergencies were handled. We had movies every night, ice-cream just about 24/7, stake and lob at once per patrol.  We did fall 300' before the "Chicken Switches" were pulled.  Seen guys that hadn't seen the whole patrol as our watches, sleep times, and off times were different.  Only red lights were on in the sleeping area unless it was cleaning time.  Had one ol'man that only held two field days one when we went to sea and one when we came back.  Only place in the military it was legal to gamble.  Boat took a percentage of all pots then put on one big party for the men and their ladies and one where the kids were welcome.