Galt's Gulch

A tour of the ballistic missile submarine Redoutable (photos)

Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 9 months ago to Technology
49 comments | Share | Flag

Interesting tour of the only ballistic missile submarine in the world that is a museum preservation.
SOURCE URL: http://www.cnet.com/pictures/a-tour-of-the-ballistic-missile-submarine-redoutable/56/

Add Comment

FORMATTING HELP

All Comments Hide marked as read Mark all as read

  • Posted by Herb7734 8 years, 9 months ago
    To Nick & Salty:
    Thanks. You were able to do something for me that I couldn't. I have a close friend who spent 20 years in a sub. He considered the type of ship illustrated as being "luxurious." However, he's even older than me.
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ TomB666 8 years, 9 months ago
    The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry has a captured German sub from WWII and the Nautilus, the first US nuclear sub, is on display in Bridgeport Conn.
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  
  • Posted by dukem 8 years, 9 months ago
    My college buddy gave me a tour of the nuclear sub he commanded (attack, not ballistic) when it was docked at a west coast port. Although large for a submarine, once inside, it is amazing how claustrophobic I became. I asked him how they knew beforehand the crew would not suffer from that. Turns out they are very highly trained and examined in many situations, many designed to induce claustrophobia, before they are allowed to be a crew member. It was truly a taut ship with a taut crew, and they were all very young (to me). It was an amazing half hour.
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  
    -
  • Posted by $ allosaur 8 years, 9 months ago
    That's probably the first look I've had at a real submarine that wasn't a movie set.
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  
      -
    • Posted by woodlema 8 years, 9 months ago
      The thing that is very interesting to me, is the claim by the leftie loonies that Nuclear Power is unsafe.

      Air Craft Carriers, and Nuclear subs where everyone is confined and out to see 6 months or more at a time, in rough oceans and how many accidents?

      How much safer are the ones on solid ground. Shows the ignorance of the left. they have no clue.
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
        -
      • Posted by $ Thoritsu 8 years, 9 months ago
        Zero accidents, and less radiation than a transatlantic flight.
        Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
          -
        • Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 9 months ago
          PWRs (Pressurized water reactors) are inherently safe, I lived around them for 20 years, and the Navy nuclear program is very hard on them, as far as both maintaining and dealing with emergencies. Annually you have a Nuclear Reactor Safeguard Exam whener the whole crew had to do interviews and quizzes, for both safety and security. Even the duty chief (who is responsible for forward of the reactor compartment) had to pass oral exams on how to deal with emergencies. The real issues all stem from companies who want the efficiency of nuclear power and not do the safety and maintenance end of it, and almost every accident can be traced to a failure and improper response. 3 mile Island is a perfect example of where they misread the cues of what was happening and actually ignored an alarm because they had had false ones. There are no false alarms on navy reactors, if they do have one, whatever causes it is replaced, in the civilian side, they ignore it, thus melting down their reactor. Rickover was a hard man, but he was 100% right in how to run them.
          Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
          • Posted by VetteGuy 8 years, 9 months ago
            " in the civilian side, they ignore it"

            This may have been true pre-TMI. These days the safety-conscious atmosphere at commercial nuclear sites (that I have seen, at least) borders on fanatical. The Institute for Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) has very high standards (in addition to the NRC) which, for a variety of financial reasons, are treated as regulations by the utilities. And part of INPO's philosophy is to constantly raise the bar on plant safety.
            Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
          • Posted by $ Thoritsu 8 years, 9 months ago
            Indeed. "What is a warning for? What is the operator supposed to do? Alarm yes. Indicator, yes. Warning, no"

            No reason this safety record can not be carried into the private sector.

            Still gotta learn more about these Thorium reactors that Jan brought to my attention though.
            Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
    -
  • Posted by CircuitGuy 8 years, 9 months ago
    I wonder what the window-looking things in the floor of the bunk room are.

    The whole boat looks claustrophobic.

    It makes me want to go to the museum.
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  
      -
    • Posted by $ Thoritsu 8 years, 9 months ago
      If you think an SSBN is claustrophobic, try an SSN. Then go into a modern diesel electric, or an old diesel electric (the Silverfish is on display on the west coast of Michigan). The present German U209 design is tiny. To save energy they turn off AC etc, and the crew go around in underwear (or less) sometimes. The torpedo tubes are often filled with food.
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
        -
      • Posted by $ jdg 8 years, 9 months ago
        Pearl Harbor has a WW2 sub, USS Bowfin, that you can go aboard and tour. I'm astounded that anyone could ride that thing submerged -- it's tiny AND has a diesel engine, which is competing with the crew for air.
        Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
          -
        • Posted by $ Thoritsu 8 years, 9 months ago
          The diesel is only run on the surface or when snorkeling at periscope depth. When the sub is submerged it runs on batteries and DC electric motors.
          Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
            -
          • Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 9 months ago
            I served on USS Wahoo (SSAG 565) and USS Gudgeon (SSAG567) when they were "research" subs. I learned you respect the WW2 vets and anyone who served on a diesel boat, as the conditions were terrible compared to a nuke, but we had some good times. Went up the Sacramento river with Gudgeon to Sacramento.
            Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
              -
            • Posted by $ Thoritsu 8 years, 9 months ago
              Just touring a couple of diesels (one WWII, and a couple of modern ones), I would have to agree with you. My old boss at EB used to wax nostalgic about the fleet boats, a whole different era! Nowadays, a US submarine is probably the most survivable platform in wartime, bar none.

              BTW, they put the sail of the NR-1 over in New London with the Nautilus. Another cool Rickover contribution.

              I wonder what Rickover thought of Ayn Rand.
              Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                -
              • Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 9 months ago
                I would say he was at least in the same train of thought, he followed his own mind first, and was basically someone who used whatever tactics were necessary to succeed. Never saw anything addressing the topic though.
                Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                  -
                • Posted by $ Thoritsu 8 years, 9 months ago
                  Did you ever meet him? I've meet most of the following NR 4 admirals, but not Rickover or McKee.

                  The stories from those that did are something else. I had retired NRRO guy that worked for me that went out on sea trials all the time. Rickover liked him for some reason. The stories he had were very cool.
                  Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                    -
                  • Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 9 months ago
                    Nope, but PBS did an excellent special on him about 6 months ago, did you see it? I was a Coner, I was up front, and only mingled with the nukes when I either need something as a duty chief, or they needed something from me, or field day in the engine room. The guy you met may be a guy that a friend of mine (who was a nuke) sent me alink to a youtube video on, he was the guy who basically was able to convert Rickovers vision into working mockups, he built a mockup of the Enterprises engine room so they could build all the pieces and actually run and maintain it, and Rickover liked him and had him as one of his "go to" guys. He did go out on a lot of sea trials to see how things worked for the sailors and took their feedback into account for the next design.I can find the video if you want.
                    Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                      -
                    • Posted by $ Thoritsu 8 years, 9 months ago
                      You mean the Rhode Island PBS thing, with an actor playing Rickover? That was awesome! I need to get a copy.

                      If you find the YouTube video, I'd love to see it, but that is a different guy. My buddy was a NRRO (NR version of Supervisor of Shipbuilding). These are the guys at the shipyard overseeing construction.

                      I was just now talking to another retired NR buddy of mine at work. He now consulting for Bath Iron Works where we supply a bunch of equipment. He was a Rickover guy.
                      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                        -
                      • Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 9 months ago
                        The PBS thing was really good, the guy who played him was really impressive. The one I am thinking of I will have to delve through my FB page, to locate, but it was also a 60 minute one, that was really interesting, especially in how he solved the issues.
                        Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
            -
          • Posted by CircuitGuy 8 years, 9 months ago
            "When the sub is submerged it runs on batteries and DC electric motors."
            That would be scary, esp having seen batteries fail.

            I think Das Boot gives you a feeling for the level of scary.
            Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
              -
            • Posted by $ Thoritsu 8 years, 9 months ago
              Big ass 2,000 lb lead acid cells, all in series. Not sure if any had two sets of batteries or not.

              Those old subs were basically surface ships that could slink (sink?) away. That is why the old hull shapes were funny looking, for stability on the surface.

              Any kind of fire was real bad (still is). Imagine all the brush dust from the DC motors and generators! No vfds back then.
              Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
              • Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 9 months ago
                Nukes have one set of cells, and diesels had 2 (fore and aft) as that was the only power source submerged, unless snorkeling. Nuke batteries have one main purpose, to restart the reactor if needed, along with the diesel.
                Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
              -
            • Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 9 months ago
              Submarine batteries are a whole different take on batteries. The cells are about 6 feet tall, 24" square, and usually were at 1.5-2 volts, and carry a bizzilion amps. I have seen some cases where people bought used ones for home power storage, using wind or solar to keep them charged. Guy had 6 of the for 12 volts and ran them to an inverter and could run his house for 3 days with no recharge.
              Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                -
              • Posted by johnpe1 8 years, 9 months ago
                did he have to call the power company and ask them to
                put another generator online, when he needed to recharge? -- j

                p.s. like in that Chevy Chase Christmas movie?
                .
                Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                • Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 9 months ago
                  Nope, he actually had a bizarre set up made from old car alternators rigged up to wind, and he used an inverter he built to handle the conversion, it is on a web site something like "American Home Power" or something, that tells you, shares stories and stuff on how to. Actually a AR type of site because it also tells you how to fight the battle with power companies who try to tell you you can't do it.
                  Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
    -
  • Posted by SaltyDog 8 years, 9 months ago
    Thanks for that stroll down amnesia lane, Nick!

    I spent a large part of my life in submarines. Naturally I know that our crews and boats are the best in the world!
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  
      -
    • Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 9 months ago
      So did I Dog, I didn't know they had actually save an SSBN from anyone, would be a great idea for the US had they done that for one of the 41 for freedom.
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
      • Posted by SaltyDog 8 years, 9 months ago
        I agree...it would be cool to see a boomer or two preserved in this way. Unfortunately, the wisdom of our political system has shown itself yet once again.

        Years ago, the set up a deal to give some money to Hawaii. Old nuke boats are hauled over to Hawaii th have the reactor dismantled. So a special ship is chartered to bring the reactor back to the states for disposal, and the rest of the dismantled boat gets cut up and sold for scrap. There's efficiency for ya, huh?

        In any event, they do have Nautilus on static display in Connecticut.
        Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
    -
  • Posted by johnpe1 8 years, 9 months ago
    Nick, could you recommend movies for accuracy about the
    nuclear Navy? . both subs and -- maybe -- carriers? -- j
    .
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  
      -
    • Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 9 months ago
      John, let me think on that, but a surprisingly good place is You Tube, I have found some amazing stuff on there that I had no idea existed. Poke around for "Aircraft Carriers, or Nuclear Submarines".
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
        -
      • Posted by johnpe1 8 years, 9 months ago
        right now, we're watching Under Siege ... love them sailors and their ships!!! -- j
        .
        Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
          -
        • Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 9 months ago
          Oh, thats an oldie. Be carefule, they always take some liberties. Battleship was one of the most egregious, along with Crimson Tide. CT had the unending small arms locker, I kept expecting them to drive a tank out of, and the passageway from hell that went on forever. Thats because they filed it on a French Aircraft carrier after the Navy told them no way were they making it on a Trident. The Navy had agreed to use the USS Florida, until they saw the script and went "WTF?".
          Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
            -
          • Posted by johnpe1 8 years, 9 months ago
            Nick, I have an operations question. . the sub tries to turn -- roll --
            in the opposite direction when the prop is engaged. . how in the
            !@!@@##$# do you keep that from happening? . spin the prop
            and invert the sub? . are there thrusters or something,
            when starting off from zero speed? . the planes can't correct
            for the prop spin until you're moving through the water!!! -- j
            .
            Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
              -
            • Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 9 months ago
              There is acutally very little torque apparent to the ship, and it is all opposed by the opposite plane, as well as the sheer bulk of the boat. It has never been apparent to me and I was a Diving officer on Tridents. Going to periscope depth on the EPM at 2 knots, now that was messy. I think that the fact your propulsion is right down the center may be part of it, you have reduction gears hooked to the shaft so there is a lot of cushioning effect from them.
              Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                -
              • Posted by johnpe1 8 years, 9 months ago
                EPM? . at 2 kts you have very little roll control, because of low
                water flow across the planes, right? -- j
                .
                Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                  -
                • Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 9 months ago
                  Emergency Propulsion Motor about 325 HP electric.2-3 knots with a tailwind. By roll you mean pitch, as in up or down? Side to side was always driven by sea state, if you had more than a state 2 sea, odds on, you were getting sucked up to the surface and broached. You always wanted them about 30 degrees of the bow to minimize the suction from the surface, as your planes had little effect, in fact at 2 knots or below you had what was called stern planes reversal where they actually acted backwards, mainly because drag is a bigger factor than lift, just like an airplane.
                  Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                    -
                  • Posted by johnpe1 8 years, 9 months ago
                    Thanks! . roll in the airplane world is like rolling a cigarette -- around
                    the long axis. . pitch is nose-up or -down, and yaw is turning left or right.
                    if you suddenly gunned the prop at slow speed, it would seem that the
                    boat would roll the opposite direction (prop clockwise; boat CCW)
                    kinda out-of-control because of the lack of water flow across the planes.
                    or so it seems. -- j
                    .
                    Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                      -
                    • Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 9 months ago
                      Mass is the key, even with the huge power available, it is rarely seen, the most often that I am aware of is when an SSN is at very high speed and you have to be careful how much rudder you use, but that is due to the fact as you lean into it, the planes start to act like rudders and the rudder like a plane. Overall the bulk stops any issue like that, IMHO.
                      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                        -
                      • Posted by johnpe1 8 years, 9 months ago
                        like in aerobatics -- inverted, you push forward to rise;;;
                        on a wing-down turn, the rudder becomes a wing.

                        I had just heard, from a submariner, that roll control
                        is difficult in a sub. . I bet that it's a real bitch when
                        sitting still !!! -- j
                        .
                        Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                          -
                        • Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 9 months ago
                          High speed is the hard part, when you are still, the ocean has complete control, I was in a Trident broached in 30 ft waves taking 30-35 degree rolls. I have been deeper in the North Pacific with rolls from storms up top. We had an XO once who tried to get the CO to let him experiment with blowing only one side of the ballast tanks, we luckily put the kabosh on that brilliant plan. And they let them play with nuclear reactors! I knew it was time to retire.
                          Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                            -
                          • Posted by johnpe1 8 years, 9 months ago
                            no thrusters for personnel comfort. . rolling sixty degrees back and forth.
                            there could be some nausea involved!?!

                            the ballast tank idea is pretty stupid, it seems to me. . even if you
                            could time the blows tight enough, you would sink. -- j
                            .
                            Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  

FORMATTING HELP

  • Comment hidden. Undo