July 4th 2019 Post Number 776 – USS Ulysses S. Grant SSBN 631

July 4, 2019. This is the 776th Post on theleansubmariner blog. Sometime in the early morning hours of this day, the blog counter for number of “visits” went over 500,000. A half million visits to the site since its founding in 2011. The number of followers on the web site, Facebook and Twitter has really […]

USS Stonewall Jackson SSBN 634 – Unwavering Courage

USS STONEWALL JACKSON (SSBN 634) Today is July 2nd. In 1863, a great battle in and around a small town called Gettysburg was in its second day. This is not meant to be a story about the battle but the second day was a day when Robert E. Lee surely could have used the talents […]

USS Abraham Lincoln SSBN 602 – Pax Per Tridentum

USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (SSBN 602) I am writing this on July 1, 2019 which is the anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. It’s interesting that the next four days will be dedicated to members of the 41 for Freedom Family who all had a direct connection to the Civil War […]

How low can you go? (an unclassified accounting of the term Test Depth)

Test Depth Note: No classified material is contained in this unofficial story about submarines and the place in the ocean we call “Test Depth”. Every time someone hears that I served on submarines, one of the first questions that is always asked is “How deep can you go?” My answer is always the same: Not […]

MEN AGAINST ICE – ALL HANDS January 1947 USS Sennet SS 408 and Operation Highjump

In 1947, the United States Navy was the predominant Navy in the entire world. The buildup of American naval forces during the Second World War resulted in an excess of ships when the war was finally brought to a conclusion. The quiet revolution that came to be known as the Cold War was just beginning […]

Tribute to a WW2 and Cold War Warrior – USS Sennet SS 408 (2019 Reunion Information included)

Every once in a while, a request comes across my desk that I just can’t say no to. Submarine reunions are one of my favorite past times since I know that the men who gather (and their ever faithful ever suffering wives) are going to get a chance to relive some of their younger […]

What’s in a name? : USS Clamagore SS 343

What’s in a name? : USS Clamagore SS 343 It’s been hard the last few years seeing the struggle of the Clamagore. There are so few submarines from her era still afloat and even the thought of losing one is hard for those of us who know their place in history. These articles are from […]

USS John C. Calhoun – Keeping the Peace

The ballistic missile submarine John C. Calhoun was launched on June 22nd 1963 at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Virginia. By September of 1964, she would take her place in the ever growing fleet of submarines that had been sought after by the Navy for over a decade. These vessels […]

Why it mattered – Voices from the edge of the Abyss (June 1969)

Why it mattered – Voices from the edge of the Abyss (June 1969) Looking back over the years we called the Cold War, the danger and consequences are easier to see now than during the time they were occurring. During much of the period, there were so many changes and movements that pulled our attention […]

Welcome aboard the USS Henry Clay SSBN 625

As visitors and riders come on board a submarine, they are normally herded to a safe place where they will be able to rest while the sailors and officers prepare the ship for underway and a dive below the surface. This visit is rare and has been one of the best ways for the Navy […]