The Seawolf-class boats I'm familiar with have something similar; the best part is that you can just push icons on the screens to move weapons around the room and into the tubes without any application of muscle-power at all. What do you old TMs think of this development in submarining?
Virginia-Class Sub Pictures
The press availability accompanying the delivery of PCU New Hampshire (SSN 778) to the Navy provides an opportunity for all of us Submariners no longer on active duty to check out all the bells and whistles. This article has a lot of good (albeit small) pictures, and this one has a fairly good picture of the Weapons Launch Console in the Torpedo Room:
The Seawolf-class boats I'm familiar with have something similar; the best part is that you can just push icons on the screens to move weapons around the room and into the tubes without any application of muscle-power at all. What do you old TMs think of this development in submarining?
The Seawolf-class boats I'm familiar with have something similar; the best part is that you can just push icons on the screens to move weapons around the room and into the tubes without any application of muscle-power at all. What do you old TMs think of this development in submarining?
When Nerds Attack
Due to a combination of work and school schedules this week, were weren't able to get to the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle like the boys and I did last year. Since PAX is attended by several tens of thousands geeks and nerds, however, they're good at posting timely reports on YouTube, so we can kind of pretend we're there. As expected, it looks like a highlight of the first day was the Jonathan Coulton concert; check out this video of JoCo performing "Re: Your Brains":
Yes, nerds can get into good songs as much (or more) than anyone else!
Yes, nerds can get into good songs as much (or more) than anyone else!
Submarine Song -- Out In The Wild
G-Man over at USS Dolphin has discovered that what many submariners have feared would happen has come to pass -- the sacred "Submarine Song" has been posted on YouTube (very, very Bad Word warning):
I guess I knew it had to happen someday. I don't blame these Submariners for posting it -- it's important that our heritage be recorded for posterity. That being the case, I should point out that this version is normally the one you "sing" when there are skimmers in the bar and you want them to punch you. (Remember: Don't sing it to skimmers unless they outnumber you by less than 2:1 -- while all Submariners can beat up two skimmers at a time, it gets dicier when it's 3 on 1.) The normal version chanted when there are just Submariners present ends thusly: "...gobble gobble goo; we're Submariners, who the f___ are you?"
Another Submarine secret goes by the wayside. Since it's not tactically important, I guess I'm OK with it.
I guess I knew it had to happen someday. I don't blame these Submariners for posting it -- it's important that our heritage be recorded for posterity. That being the case, I should point out that this version is normally the one you "sing" when there are skimmers in the bar and you want them to punch you. (Remember: Don't sing it to skimmers unless they outnumber you by less than 2:1 -- while all Submariners can beat up two skimmers at a time, it gets dicier when it's 3 on 1.) The normal version chanted when there are just Submariners present ends thusly: "...gobble gobble goo; we're Submariners, who the f___ are you?"
Another Submarine secret goes by the wayside. Since it's not tactically important, I guess I'm OK with it.
Sen. McCain Picking Idaho Native For VP?
It looks like Sen. McCain might be making a bold selection for Vice President in picking Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. She apparently has good conservative credentials and seems to be very pro-drilling, but the choice kind of throws out any "experience" advantage Sen. McCain might have had. (On the other hand, it didn't matter for the first President Bush in running Dan Quayle against Lloyd Bentsen.)
Gov. Palin was born in Idaho, and graduated from the University of Idaho in 1987, so this probably locks up Idaho's electoral votes for the GOP. (/sarcasm) Still, I can't help but seeing a little bit of a Geraldine Ferraro effect in her selection. I'm still backing Sen. McCain (identity politics-wise, I really have no choice, with a retired Navy officer running with someone with Idaho connections), but I think he could have made a better choice. Having someone go from former small-town mayor to being one heartbeat away from the Presidency in two years is a little extreme, IMHO.
Update 1314 29 Aug: While Gov. Palin might not be the best choice from a political standpoint, I think it's absolutely great from the perspective of looking at who would bring out the most humorous reactions from others. As someone who thinks both candidates for President are acceptable (for very different reasons), I'm not as interested in the results this time as I am in the process. I'm excited to find out many completely absurd statements can be made in the shortest time. Will it be the "social conservatives" tripping over themselves to say that they've always thought it was perfectly fine for the mother of young children to be working outside the home? Or will it be the DUmmies and KOSsacks who end up saying ridiculous things the Obama campaign will eventually have to condemn? (The best one I've seen so far: This DU thread discussing the likelihood that Gov. Palin didn't really have her 5th child, but that it's really her teenage daughter's.)
Mainstream Democrats will be trapped by their own fear of appearing to speak badly of any person belonging to a "minority" group (for fear of offending others of that minority) that Sen. Biden may end up pulling his punches in the VP debate. I look forward most, however, to Democrats who won't have any problem wondering how any woman could ever choose to have so many kids (especially those with disabilities) and making snide little jokes about "I bet McCain can't wait to drill Palin". I expect 9 weeks of absurdity galore!
Gov. Palin was born in Idaho, and graduated from the University of Idaho in 1987, so this probably locks up Idaho's electoral votes for the GOP. (/sarcasm) Still, I can't help but seeing a little bit of a Geraldine Ferraro effect in her selection. I'm still backing Sen. McCain (identity politics-wise, I really have no choice, with a retired Navy officer running with someone with Idaho connections), but I think he could have made a better choice. Having someone go from former small-town mayor to being one heartbeat away from the Presidency in two years is a little extreme, IMHO.
Update 1314 29 Aug: While Gov. Palin might not be the best choice from a political standpoint, I think it's absolutely great from the perspective of looking at who would bring out the most humorous reactions from others. As someone who thinks both candidates for President are acceptable (for very different reasons), I'm not as interested in the results this time as I am in the process. I'm excited to find out many completely absurd statements can be made in the shortest time. Will it be the "social conservatives" tripping over themselves to say that they've always thought it was perfectly fine for the mother of young children to be working outside the home? Or will it be the DUmmies and KOSsacks who end up saying ridiculous things the Obama campaign will eventually have to condemn? (The best one I've seen so far: This DU thread discussing the likelihood that Gov. Palin didn't really have her 5th child, but that it's really her teenage daughter's.)
Mainstream Democrats will be trapped by their own fear of appearing to speak badly of any person belonging to a "minority" group (for fear of offending others of that minority) that Sen. Biden may end up pulling his punches in the VP debate. I look forward most, however, to Democrats who won't have any problem wondering how any woman could ever choose to have so many kids (especially those with disabilities) and making snide little jokes about "I bet McCain can't wait to drill Palin". I expect 9 weeks of absurdity galore!
PCU New Hampshire (SSN 778) Delivered
Barely five years after the contract to build her was issued, the Virginia-class submarine New Hampshire was delivered to the Navy earlier today -- $40 million under budget. An impressive performance by all involved, but those involved in the well-deserved backslapping have to be careful not to make their claims too extravagant. From this article in Foster's Daily Democrat:
Eight months ahead of schedule and $40 million under budget, the New Hampshire will officially be turned over to the Navy today at a special shipyard ceremony held in Groton, Conn.[Emphasis mine] That last part's not in quotes, so I'm going to assume that the EB VP was actually saying it was the most quickly-built submarine of "modern times", and not the "fastest". Clearly, it's not anywhere near as fast as a submarine delivered as recently as December 2004, and even slower than one delivered in 1998. (The fact that I was the first Eng on both those Seawolf-class boats in no way influences my objectivity.) I've said it before and I'll say it again: Stealth is nice, but speed is life when it come to submarine combat. Luckily, all four classes of U.S. subs have enough of both to outclass any potential adversary.
The New Hampshire is the nation's newest and most advanced nuclear attack submarine and the fifth ship of the Virginia Class.
Will Lennon, vice president of General Dynamics Electric Boat, said the submarine is a prime example of how dedicated and experienced his workforce is when it comes to delivering first-rate submarines to the U.S. Navy...
...The New Hampshire marks the third Virginia Class submarine that Electric Boat has delivered, and is by far the cheapest and fastest submarine built in modern times, said Lennon.
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