Floating Drydocks: A Noteworthy Innovation That Changed the Course of Two Wars

Floating Drydocks had been around for a long time before World War 2. But the scope of naval warfare during World War 2 and the Cold War that would follow would test the Navy’s ability to maintain vessels in faraway locations. This is part on of the story of docks like USS Los Alamos (AFDB […]

I love LA

Regular readers know that once upon a time when the world was still dark with fears from the Soviets, a little known base in Scotland served as a portable pier for our submarine fleet. Starting in 1960, units of the United States Fleet anchored in a small inlet called Holy Loch that was just up […]

A Bluejacket’s Memory

The Peacoat I can think of few images that better represent an American Bluejacket more than the famous statue of a sailor in his peacoat with the collar turned up and his hands in his pockets. I remember the controversy when the Lone Sailor was first unveiled. Purists were quick to point out that the […]

The Build – Reflections from an Old Docking Officer

The Build When you have sailed on submarines for most of your career, stepping outside of your comfort zone reveals many things about who you are. Most submariners have achieved a level of excellence that is demanded by the profession. You are operating a large ship that is designed to sink and do most of […]

Primus in Pace – USS George Washington SSBN 598

Post #598: Primus In Pace If you cross parts of the great American prairie, you can still see the ruts of the wagons that crossed the vast wilderness on their way to the west. Those ruts have been superseded by ribbons of concrete and asphalt that stretch from sea to shining sea and remind you […]

Post number 597… Submarine Number 597

An odd kind of submarine Today’s post is about an odd numbered submarine that played a unique role in the development of the nuclear Navy, the USS Tulibee. I am always reminded when I do stories about the nuclear submarine Navy that there has never been a point in my life that the United […]

Is Navy a color?

A colleague posted a story about two seven year old girls talking at a funeral. One girl told the other her uncle was in the Navy. The second little girl said that she thought navy was a color. Is Navy a color? In the eyes of a seven year old, maybe that is her […]

2017 – What a great year.

2017 was quite a year There have been a lot of changes in my life the last year. Health events, career events and just general life events have all added to the mix. Some of the events have been surprising to say the least and frankly you could look at what happened in 2017 and […]

Sinking of the F-1 on December 17, 1917

The F-1 Started out as the Carp (SS-20) The submarine torpedo boat Carp (SS-20), the latest and most efficient type of underwater fighter, was launched on September 6, 1911 at the Union Iron Works. Miss Josephine Tynan, little daughter of Joseph. J. Tynan, general manager of the Iron Works, christened the fish-like craft, and the launching was […]

Attack at Pearl Harbor by Japanese Planes on December 7, 1941 – Battleships, Battle Force After Action Report

A16-3/(0923) UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET BATTLESHIPS, BATTLE FORCE U.S.S. MARYLAND, Flagship December 19, 1941 From: Commander Battleships, Battle Force. To: Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Subject: Attack at pearl Harbor by Japanese Planes on December 7, 1941. Reference: (a) CO West Virginia ltr BB48/A16-3 of Dec. 11, 1941., with Combat ships lst end A16-3,(0974) of […]