How a Nuclear Submarine Officer Learned to Live in Tight Quarters | Hacker News Reader

How a Nuclear Submarine Officer Learned to Live in Tight Quarters

m.nautil.us

Discussion from original posting: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22864316

I've been a US submarine service member for 11 years, and these posts are always interesting. Not interesting as worth a read (for me), but that other people find my daily life interesting.

I guess because I live this life everyday and see every aspect of it, the cool shiny parts blend in with the daily drudgery

Tbh naval warfare posts, and in particular submarine posts, are probably my favorite category of articles I find on this website. Im an Army vet and barely interacted with Navy folks while I was in (except for that one time, on a FOB in a country far far away ...), and I’ve become quite enthusiastic about naval history and combat. Always fun seeing this stuff here and learning about the other side of the house, especially the more technical reviews of how operations run.

Thank you for your service and much respect. My grandfather was a submariner in WWII. From him I learned its a higher level of sacrifice and requires a particular mental toughness and ability to get along with others. You are among an elite group of folks who can and do that.

I googled around for the Navy psychological screen and found http://annex.ipacweb.org/library/conf/03/bing.pdf

.25 correlation between test outcome and and attrition. I wonder if they're doing better nowadays.

"Nuclear submarine", in the context of the US Navy, has been a redundant phrase since 1990, when the last non-nuclear powered sub was decommissioned.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Blueback_(SS-581)

However it emphasizes the point that they're underway for months at a time since most people aren't intimately familiar with the naval fleet.

That being said, are there ANY countries still running diesel subs? I can't imagine what the point would be in modern times. Not everyone can afford nuclear subs, but on the other hand you'd be crushed so fast by a nuclear navy I can't imagine why'd you even bother trying.

Most non-nuclear (==conventional) subs run on electric engines with batteries that are recharged by diesel engines. They are much smaller, which can give some stealth advantages, on top of being quieter.

Conventional subs make superior attack subs, and when a sub yet again "sinks" an aircraft carrier in a training exercise its a (often German-built) non-nuclear sub.

Nuclear subs of course excel in staying hidden for months with multiple nuclear missiles. No conventional sub could ever match them at that. But that's not the only thing subs do.

How a Single Swedish Submarine Defeated the US Navy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saCdvAp5cow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L26RZdmQ2nE

> often German-built

Credit to the Swedes for repeatedly schooling the USN with their Gotland-class AIP submarines.

Diesel-electric is quieter and smaller, which means superior in most scenarios, and the most common: for coastal patrol. Few countries have a need for oceanic intercontinental scenarios.

Describing nuclear as superior betrays a lack of post cold war updates. Nobody serious maintains this position, except in the very narrow use case of global navigation and ICBM launches.

Germany has submarines powered by hydrogen fuel cells. They get like a 30 day range with all the advantages of a nuclear sub, but not the problems of running a nuclear reactor. They are even more silent due to no reactor noises.

Non-nuclear AIP diesel submarines have regularly defeated USN submarines in wargames. The US went nuclear because the subs are out on patrol for months at a time, all around the world. You don't need a nuclear-powered sub to defend your own coastline.

Diesel-electric subs are quieter and cheaper, and, yes, some countries still run them.

Here's an article about a new lithium-ion one:

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/37083/japan-just-launc...

Argentina, Brazil, Iran, Chile, Taiwan. Australia, Canada, South Korea, Germany, and several others. A umber of these are older.

South Korea just launched the ROKS Ahn Mu, the second sub in its class, in November.

Australia's Attack class is beginning construction, with 12 subs to be delivered. They are planned to be in commission from 2030-2070.

I worked with a fellow who joined the Navy and dreamt of serving on submarines. Since he was about 6'5", the Navy thought otherwise and made him a Seabee.

Ironic the URL.

I get the sense this is a submarine article.

For the uninitiated:

http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html

Thanks.

Nice link.

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