Friday Facepalms
Some news items about submarines (and those who wish they could be Submariners) from around the globe:
1) In which a non-technical British "Defence" Minister attempts to explain to a bunch of non-technical MPs why a FEF in a prototype reactor will result in the early refueling of their boomer fleet. Hilarity ensues.
2) Did you ever complain about the shipyard maintenance availability that seemed to go on and on? Just be glad you're not an Indian Submariner on this boat.
3) In skimmer news, it looks like they want to start a "Top Gun"/"Perisher" type course for skimmer officers. I can imagine the topics now: "How to contact the OPFOR submarine and get them to make more noise so you have a hope of finding them"; "Scheduling wardroom meetings at 1900 while in liberty ports"; "No, we can't just submerge under the heavy seas to make the ship stop rolling".
posted by Bubblehead at 9:35 AM
4 Comments:
Only Vanguard's refueling is assured - the other money sounds like potential long lead items in case they have to refuel the others. In my mind that means they don't yet know if it is a problem with the cladding material itself or just a manufacturing problem. Either way - not really a good thing for our closest ally.
Apparently they not only still use a modified S5W plant (which we sold them) but they use the same one in both the Vanguard and Astute classes - potentially quite a few refuelings and yet another problem in the long line of astute difficulties.
3/07/2014 6:30 PM
3) It has been rumored that leading grads of each skimmer "Top Gun" class will return to his/her ship with DOD athoritizations for; an undercoating of metamaterial with a top coat of radar-absorbing material (above the waterline), and; anechoic coating below the waterline.
Hence, the only time their ships would provide significant target datum would be during weapons exercises.
3/08/2014 10:19 AM
Joel, this might might this Fridays list
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/mar/14/warship-fires-torpedo-nuclear-submarine-dockyard-wharf
3/14/2014 1:24 PM
RE; the Indian submarine marathon yard period: I know of a few US Submarine Sailors who would jump at the opportunity to be in the yards forever. Back in the late 70's and early 80's when ROH's of a planned year or more were the norm there were a nmumber of folks who simply jumped from hull to hull. They didn't get much/any actual sea time but they were generally appreciated because they knew their way around the yard. They served a purpose.
3/20/2014 2:29 PM
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