Steel Boats, Iron Men and their stories (plus a bit more)
Thirty years is a long time for a ship to remain active. The Von Steuben is an excellent example of a submarine that was built to last and flexible enough to transition through a number of weapons systems as technology improved. She represented a system in flux. The earlier missiles which were pushed into production […]
Read More Fidelity, Industry and Courage – The USS Von Steuben SSBN 6321967 – Five years before I raised my right hand for the very first time This article was written for the Navy Magazine ALL HANDS. As I look back at the history of the submarine force and what was happening during 1967, it is easy to understand why the Navy would want to put such […]
Read More “Why do Navymen volunteer for Submarine Duty?” one story from 1967Surrender “in the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress.” There are very few heroes from America’s early history that have as much color as Ethan Allen. Growing up, I remember reading stories about his exploits in the public school that I attended, but frankly, his actual story is so much more interesting […]
Read More Surrender “in the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress.” USS Ethan Allen SSBN 608When the Polaris program was first conceived, the technology to make it all work did not exist. Neither did the submarine platforms that would need to carry the new weapons. In fact, the George Washington was a strange creature that evolved from the world of Fast Attacks that in and of themselves were revolutionary. Gone […]
Read More The Hero of the Two Worlds (Le Héros des Deux Mondes) USS Lafayette SSBN 616Nuclear Submarines at Ten Years This article from ALL HANDS MAGAZINE did a very nice job capturing the development of the Nuclear Submarine Navy during the first ten years. Looking back nearly fifty five years later, it is stunning to see what was accomplished considering the technology they had available at the time. Think about […]
Read More Ballistic Missile Nuclear Submarines in 1964I have been a member of USSVI for a long time now and recently joined the Naval Submarine League. The problem with both has been proximity. Since I live in a rural location away from submarine homeports, I am reliant on a USSVI base that is neither convenient for travel or receptive to new ideas. Don’t […]
Read More alt.submarine veterans … I wonder how many others are out there looking for a base?Oro en Paz, Fierro en Guerra – The San Francisco Story (Post #711) Over the years, I have heard many submariners say that a boat changed their life. For some, it was because the boat was their qualification boat. The completion of a hard and grueling period in their life when they were required to […]
Read More I left my heart… on the San FranciscoThe old Submariner The old Submariner knows a thing or two about what Submariners are all about. But the definition is generational and the definition has changed a time or two. The original old Submariner remembers clothes smelling of sweat and gasoline. The air was putrid and the battery acid ate right through his clothes. […]
Read More Who are you calling old?USS Patrick Henry “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death.” As a sailor who sailed on a number of submarines and ships, I can assure you there is no sweeter word that “Liberty”. I have to be honest with you and say that […]
Read More USS Patrick Henry SSBN 599 – Give Me Liberty or Give Me death!
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