crazy topside watches
did you know any? i know, stupid question. if you served on submarines, you knew, or yourself were, one of the crazys that kept our boats safe in port.here are a few from my 575 days.
i'd like to hear some sea stories, dudes. all this politics on the web and surrounding us 24/7 is getting old. and we have 9 more freaking months to look forward to. so lets get some of those old dusty memories out of their corners. it's time for sea stories, dammit.
Labels: sea stories
posted by bothenook @ 6:03 PM
3 Comments:
Here is my favorite Topside Watch Story. The Commissioning crew of a new 637 class Sub was on their second day on board the in service sub. Submariners know there are standard warning phrases that all topside watches are trained to announce on the general announcing system (1MC) at periodic intervals. Here is what the 'freshly minted' topside watch announced..."There are men working on the sailplanes..(very long pause) don't fool with them." Not very nautical but it got the point across despite the Duty Chief's mild chewout for improper announcement.
I was standing the midwatch POOD on my 1st boat, out of Holy Loch. It seemed like I always had the midwatch. Anyway, I was scanning the Loch, as I always did, when I saw a head bobbing up and down in the water, about a hundred yards out. I looked again, and it was definitely a head - I could discern a face. I got a bit nervous. I didn't know if it was a diver or someone who had gone overboard, perhaps trying to commit suicide. Just as I was about to call away man overboard on the 1MC, keeping my eye on "Oscar", of course, when I caught a glimpse of fins and a splash as it dove under the water.
It was a seal, and I was glad I never made it to the 1MC.
I was on The USS Pogy SSN 647. We made a port call in Darwin Austraila. We were anchored in the harbor due to sever tide change, 22 feet. When the topside watch went to take a foward draft reading. As he cleared the sail. He spotted a rather large alligator lounging on the bow. We had be instructed that this might happen. Not to shoot them as they are concidered protected animals. So the topside watch was secured and became a periscope watch for the next few hours. Even made the local paper warning locals to be on the look out for a glowing alligator.
SK3/SS Gillette
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