At Sea

Just_A_Mom

Just_A_Mom

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If you get the Military Channel, look for a 3 part documentary called "At Sea".
I ran across it last night and I am sure it will run again.
Part I - covers Naval Aviation and life on an Aircraft carrier.
Part II - covers Surface Warfare
Part III - covers Subs.
 
Part 1 the coolest NOT.
aircraft carrier = 2 strip over-maned floating airport that only 1 airline company flies into or out of. BORING.
Part 3 Submarine = sewer pipe with caps welded on each end.
designed to sink and hopefully resurface.

PART 2 The surface Navy it has the tradition, Old Ironsides.
It has the variety from a river patrol craft up to the behemoth battleships.something for everyone. The surface Navy has seen more action than the other two combined. In closing We hit better liberty ports.
 
Being an ex-bubblehead myself... I'd have to go with PART 3.

PART's 1 and 2 are merely about "skimmers".
 
I only saw the first few minutes of the Sub part. It was past my bedtime - but they began with two subs in the Arctic. Fascinating. It was the Annapolis and Helena and apparently they go up every two years for training. Showed the temporary base on the ice and subs below.
 
Having sailed on ships and (too briefly) subs, I can say with authority that there are two kinds of ships in the world.

Submarines........ and TARGETS.
 
Well, several countries have submarines, everybody has a surface navy, but to date, we are the only Navy in the world that can stick the pointy end into the wind every hour and a half and launch and recover 30-40 aircraft. And I can assure you that anyone that has ever been involved in this, especially at two o’clock in the morning, the last thing on their mind is boredom. And if they do become bored, it may indeed, be the last thing on their mind.

Granted, liberty may suck. However, the new on-board civilian MWR reps make organized tours and that sort of things very nice
 
The Brits have had carriers for ages. I remember that the USSR had launched the Kiev back in the late 70s. A quick check of Wiki found this:

"A total of 22 aircraft carriers in active service are maintained by nine navies. In addition, the People's Republic of China's People's Liberation Army Navy possesses the former Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag. "
 
Knarf -you may have misread mombee's remark - the question is can they....
stick the pointy end into the wind every hour and a half and launch and recover 30-40 aircraft
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?
 
Just_A_Mom... you are correct. I didn't read it that way. Unforatunately, I also have no come back for the "Can they do this..." argument that I can post publicly as Submarine capabilities are classified. Oh well, I guess it's back to the old Submarines & targets...
 
mombee said:
Well, several countries have submarines, everybody has a surface navy, but to date, we are the only Navy in the world that can stick the pointy end into the wind every hour and a half and launch and recover 30-40 aircraft. And I can assure you that anyone that has ever been involved in this, especially at two o’clock in the morning, the last thing on their mind is boredom. And if they do become bored, it may indeed, be the last thing on their mind.

Granted, liberty may suck. However, the new on-board civilian MWR reps make organized tours and that sort of things very nice
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mombee, do you have a personal experience that can help illustrate this point?
TYIA
 
Not so fast!!!!

[/QUOTE]Submarines........ and TARGETS.[/QUOTE]

As a SWO I resent this myth perpetuated by the "Silent Service"

Having served as ASWC Staff for a Battle Group and on various Cru/Des units during 23 years in the Fleet, I can honestly state that although formidable, submarines are NOT the only viable weapon systems out there.

ASW is an art and only if those who sail upon or fly over the seas concede to the submarine force the idea that they are invincible will your statement be true.

Fortes fortuna iuvat
 
Arete said:
ASW is an art and only if those who sail upon or fly over the seas concede to the submarine force the idea that they are invincible will your statement be true.

Fortes fortuna iuvat
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My ship snuck up on USS EISENHOWER one morning. We were the OPFOR. Snuck right up to visual range. Their flashing light querried us with, "Who are you?"

Our response? "WE ARE THE ENEMY. YOU ARE DEAD."

If a surface ship can do it, with the "enemy" being fully on the alert for us, then I posit that submarines, while hardly invincible, are a damned sight deadlier than we sea-skimmers are willing to admit.
 
Myth

[Arete: Sorry about that. When I say SubVet I am going back to when we were the ONLY offense in the Pacific. I realize I just gave away my age but what the heck. We're all in the same Navy
 
subvet said:
And always will be, right Z?
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You know, I'm not so sure anymore, and not because of any fancy stuff my SWO brothers of the Cloud Lice boys have come up with.

I've been reading DEEP BLACK, written by a guy named Burrows back in 1986 (yes, friends, that's 23 years ago). It's all about the history of aerial reconnaissance and spy satellites. I'm into the last chapter or so.

If what he was writing way back when was even remotely true, then it wouldn't surprise me to find out that the oceans have become quite transparent, at least down to the depths that subs normally run around in.

If it isn't already, it's going to be that EVERYTHING on or under the oceans will be a target, and whoever happens to shoot first and straightest will win, if only for a while.
 
subvet said:
When I say SubVet I am going back to when we were the ONLY offense in the Pacific. I realize I just gave away my age but what the heck.
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Sweet Jesus. :eek:

I bet you have some stories to tell, sir! :thumb:
 
Sub Reunion

Hey Z, I know ur faraway but come to the WWII SubVet reunion in Diego first week in Sept. Along with Intl Subvets (Germany, Japan,Brits) :biggrin:you'll get all the stories you need!
 
Sub reunion

The boat I was on is having a reunion that same week in San Diego to coincide with the SubVets reunion. If you see anyone from the Billy B (William H. Bates, SSN-680) tell them Freewheelin said hello. Apparently this reunion will cover many generations of Billy B. sailors (I was on from 74-82).

Anyway... it ought to be an interesting week.
 
Zaphod said:
If what he was writing way back when was even remotely true, then it wouldn't surprise me to find out that the oceans have become quite transparent, at least down to the depths that subs normally run around in.

If it isn't already, it's going to be that EVERYTHING on or under the oceans will be a target, and whoever happens to shoot first and straightest will win, if only for a while.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure the infrastructure is still in place, i.e. SOSUS, but Yes, “skimmers” and aviators did / do(?) have the ability to take on the “Tubes” IF they set it as a priority.

As I stated before, only IF they concede the advantage to the Submariners does the “Submarines and Targets” statement remain true.

One Surface CO I knew used to refer to ASW as “Awfully Slow Warfare”! No doubt he would have been a target!

As an old DESRON13 Commodore was fond of noting, “In ASW unlike other warfare areas, one needs to classify with ordinance!”

“Fortes fortuna iuvat”
 
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