Keeping the blogosphere posted on the goings on of the world of submarines since late 2004... and mocking and belittling general foolishness wherever it may be found. Idaho's first and foremost submarine blog. (If you don't like something on this blog, please E-mail me; don't call me at home.)
COMSUBFOR announced yesterday the commencement of Ice Exercise 2011, which this year will feature USS New Hampshire (SSN 778) and the world's most powerful attack submarine, USS Connecticut (SSN 22). It looks like Navy Live will be posting about ICEX, so that will be a good source of official info. As always, any mention of the Connecticut in the Arctic gives me a chance to post one of my favorite pictures of my old boat:
posted by Bubblehead at 5:39 AM
I'm Joel Kennedy -- a married, 50-something year old retired submarine officer and esophageal cancer survivor with three kids who has finally made the transition to civilian life. Politically, I'm a Radical Moderate. (If you don't like something on this blog, please E-mail me. Don't call me at home.)
20 Comments:
Fred!!!! My brother was CO when this picture was Taken. Loved hearing about it at the time... Good times.
Reid
3/16/2011 5:54 AM
Gotta love the "Hungry Polar Bear" pic. I always wondered what he was doing back there.
3/16/2011 6:12 AM
I was the Docking Officer when we docked SSN-22 for an emergent repair before they went on a mission up North. Soon after undocking this photo hit the internet.
I always wondered what boats did when they went up North.....I guess it was to feed the polar bears!
BT
Bob Clark is awesome!
3/16/2011 6:19 AM
Polar Bear Brain: "Coulda swore I smelt fish..."
3/16/2011 8:06 AM
Polar bear brain: Mmmmm, fritos and rotten feet!!
3/16/2011 9:11 AM
My organization participated in this ICEX and the bear shown in the picture and maybe others provided some added excitement to the camp. We were racked out one morning to the two or three blast alert, I cannot remember the signal that was discussed during our Ice Camp orientation that meant a bear was sited. We did not know if we were better off to dive back into our bunks or head to the main tent.
The bear played with a hydrophone that was deployed and sent the guy who had been in a remote hut flying into camp on a snowmobile. He did not leave the camp again until the plane took him back.
While the bear was playing with the boat, as shown in the picture, three of my colleagues were on the boat for an exchange of ICEX patches and plaques. There short visit turned into a long one as they could not leave the boat until the bear decided to move on. Not being submariners they actually complained about being bored; I envied their chance to be on platform and told then that they should have enjoyed it.
3/16/2011 11:27 AM
Assignment of one of our finest and largest ever investments to another ICEX suggests much more than training in an Arctic environment to refine and validate procedures and novel equipment.
It telegraphs to U.S. friends and foes alike a tacit intention to maintain arctic rights.
Some wishful thinkers, no doubt, will try to misinterpret the assignment as suggesting an absence of a more pressing role currently for USS Connecticut, a STEALTH sub with a very unique motto.
3/16/2011 12:51 PM
Cool photo.
3/16/2011 4:19 PM
Anybody taken wagers on who comes out of this epic battle of the Artic. As a former member of "Deuce Deuce Power and Light" I'll have to put my money on the aresenal of the fucking nation.
HOO-YAH CONNECTICUT
3/16/2011 4:45 PM
I was on board for that ICE EX had a blast ive still got all those pictures lol...my wife bought me a ceramic polar bear and the card said heres a little fred for you...it was cute.
former Double Duece Power and Lighter MM1 Garis
3/16/2011 5:18 PM
Clue for you: there ain't no more pressing role.
That one isn't particularly pressing either.
3/16/2011 5:23 PM
Anon @ 3/16/2011 5:23 PM
You underscore the veracity of most anonymous commenetrs -- the lack of average credibility.
Moreover, dumbass, you helped Vigilis prove his point as to U.S. -hating "wishful thinkers"
Now, isn't past your bedtime, you @*%@%$ law school student?
Rex
3/16/2011 7:15 PM
USS Hawkbill (SSN 666). ICEX 1-86. Mar-May 1986. First 3 ship Rondevous at the pole (us, Archerfish, and Ray).
My bunk was in 18 man (fwd compartment lower level) on the botton. Frikin ice formed up along the bulkhead and started icing the inside of my bunk. I still hate the cold to this day.
Still, a great trip and a unique experience. How many guys in the world can claim to have stood at the North Pole? 2500 out of 6 Billion?
3/17/2011 12:29 AM
Cool pic . I love it..
3/17/2011 2:23 AM
The Connecticut is only the most powerful submarine because it can actually get underway. They even made it to Pearl Harbor last summer. BZ!
3/17/2011 1:26 PM
I would take NHS over JC's parts boat any day of the week...
3/17/2011 5:29 PM
Forgot all about the "Double Deuce Power and Light" nickname. Great times on that boat and would love to take a trip back up north!
3/18/2011 6:13 AM
still have the test tube of Artic water from that icex the CO gave us....Great picture
3/18/2011 7:07 AM
I remember cranking when that pic was taken. We were serving dinner and everyone started clambering down the fwd LET and gathered around periviz to watch the polar bear.
3/21/2011 5:35 PM
Wow, there is a lot of useful data above!
3/29/2012 2:34 PM
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