Submarines On ('Net) Parade!
After checking out bothenook's latest Submarine Blogger Roundup, you should check out all the submarine stories and pictures that popped up on the official Navy website in the last couple of days. The CNO visited snowy Groton, and here's the pictures to prove it! There's also a story on the delivery of PCU North Carolina (SSN 777) to the Navy; the story mentions that the boat will be commissioned in Wilmington, N.C., on May 3, 2008. (The Mom of one of my old Topeka shipmates is the sponsor, so that's pretty cool.)
The Navy website also has a couple examples of submarine pictures that bring me mixed emotions -- Groton-based boats covered in snow. They've got one of USS Philadelphia (SSN 690) here, and here's one of USS Alexandria (SSN 757):
Why do these pictures bring me mixed emotions? Well, I feel sorry for the Submariners who have to put up with the snow, but I'm happy I don't have to be stationed in Groton during the winter anymore.
posted by Bubblehead at 6:27 PM
7 Comments:
Welp, at least it's not Ballston Spa....
2/23/2008 7:19 PM
I would have killed myself, if I had to be stationed in Groton. Especially after my six months at Windsor and SUBSCHOL, I had had enough of the place. I remember the ONE time, soon after I reported to The Floating Palace, we had some nuclear issue (hey, I was a nub and don't recall exactly was the issue), and had to pull into Groton in the winter, off patrol, to fix it. Since I was a non-qual, all I remember is the WEPS and AWEPS coming down from their surface OOD watches covered in ice from the spray. Well, I also remember trudging to the BOQ through 15 feet of snow (I exaggerate) for a couple days away from the ship while it was repaired. Of course, in those days, they didn't have that nice hotel there, so we had to stay in the rotten Groton BOQ, but, it beat the Palace.
Ahh, the fond memories. If I had only appreciated then the history and pageantry the area....I still would've gone to Charleston.
2/23/2008 9:19 PM
Call me crazy, but I actually enjoyed being stationed in Rotten Groton. The winters weren't nearly as severe as, say, Portsmouth NSY - and we actually -liked- having four seasons, as opposed to the eternal humidity we got in Charleston.
Add to that the decent dining (the Thai place in New London was pretty damn god, and I still mourn that the Bombay Spice (?) in Mystic shut down), and the beautiful surroundings, and we ended up having a blast.
That, and I *liked* coming down from the bridge caked in salt-ice. It was always a "quien es muy macho" contest.
2/24/2008 12:50 PM
As a transplanted inhabitant of SE CT, I am sorry that some of the previous posters did not appreciate the benefits of the 'Submarine Capital of the World'. The most recent snow storm was only the second that required any shoveling along the coast so this winter is well below average. I agree that it is cold on the bridge coming into New London but there is a charm to the place if you get to know it. I grew up in Sunny Southern California and I would not return there at all. The New England life style is much better and Winter is the price you pay for a beautiful spring, a warm summer and a fantastic fall. I am surprised the Idaho blog leader doesn't have a soft spot for New London/Groton since SE CT is the tropics compared to Idaho in the Winter. After three months of below zero temps we thought it was summer when the thermometer hit thirty five degrees in Idaho Falls. But, to each its own.
2/24/2008 3:33 PM
I was on the USS La Jolla before and after Commissioning. We came around to San Diego in the spring of 82. I remember standing topside, in February, with a hand impact wrench and a five pound sledge loosening sail plate bolts. We couldn’t use gloves and every time we would hit the wrench, our hands would shatter. The pain was terrible. It was when I was on top of the sail, doing PM’s on the Head Valve that I swore that I would do everything in my power to never come back to a boat in Groton. I liked everything about the place but working topside.
That Damn Good Looking Aganger From Iowa
2/24/2008 8:13 PM
If it's time for Groton memories, here's a few: I did my time on a boomer out of Holy Loch with off crews in Groton. This was in the mid-70s and military people in a military town were not well thought of. I was in sub school during the winter and didn't really care much for the area or the cold nature of people from the northeast. After a couple of patrols and off-crews, I met a local girl and her friends, and my whole outlook changed. The northeast was a great place for a twentysomething with a little money and a sense of adventure. Fishing, canoeing, and snowshoeing in New Hampshire's White mountains and Maine's Adarondacks. Tough to beat.
Then there was Great Oaks pizza delivery on base, the sub shop just outside of the main gate, disco clubs, the Dialtone bar in New London, and espically the Grotto bar on Rt 12 in Groton. Don't know if those places still exist, but they were exceptonally fun for young bubbleheads on off crew.
Birdie
2/25/2008 11:49 AM
Birdie, the Groto and Dialtone gave solace to the weary Fast Attack sailors as well.
Reuben Vigil
QM2 (SS)
USS OMAHA (SSN692) PRECOM UNIT
PLANK OWNER
8/20/2013 12:17 AM
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