PNW Hood Canal and Submarines ?

[Submariner]

Mr Martin, not sure about the newer boats, but every sub that I was on had a anchor! Usually a mushroom type about 4000 lbs and 6 to 8 shots of anchor chain. I have fished off a sub (usually due to being restricted to the boat) it's funny what you can catch with a chicken on a gaff hook and a heavy line. Bob

I actually researched this a bit, as I'd never heard of an anchor on a sub. The Ohio class submarines had none. Nor did the Permit class that I recall. So, probably just the newer boats which don't have one. Given the nature of their mission today, I don't know why they'd need an anchor. They won't run out of fuel. Food is the only limiting factor in their ability to remain at sea.

 

[ohioan55]

637 class had an anchor for sure. And so did early flights of 688s. In fact, I remember anchoring out once at Athens, Greece. And if I remember my days in the drydock right, the 637s had a fluted anchor. I think some of the newer ones use a mushroom type that fairs into the underneath when retracted.

 

[1Harrison]

I worked on all the Ohio Class and helped convert two of them to SSGN. I believe you will find the anchor in the aft ballast tanks.

 

[bob daily]

Well this does not look very good for the quality control of the submarine qualification system! Me being qualified on 598 SSBN's, 640 SSBN's and Skipjack-class SSN's which all had mushroom type anchors located forward and operated from the torpedo room. I do know that different class (newer) boats had major equipment placed differently. Bob
And yes the anchor is a system on board a submarine that should be on the qualification card, if not the qualification officer was not doing there job!

 

[Remedy2]

Transiting on the surface is not the only time these fine boats roll excessively. I made 6 patrols on USS M.G. Vallejo - SSBN 658 blue crew ('69-'72). Three of those patrols were in the North Pacific and I can remember at least a few occasions when we had to strap ourselves into our racks because the seas were so bad we had 30+ degree rolls at patrol depth (not sure if that's still classified, but fairly deep).

Having transited Hood Canal a few times, I never saw a boat surface, or on the surface. But I can tell you the young sailors on those actively armed patrol boats keep a very serious eye on you. Even the dolphin burgee on our bow didn't elicit any friendly waves.

Cheers,

Bruce

I have a home on the Hood just south of the bridge. We commute to/from our marina at Edmonds frequently. In the year I've been doing this- I've seen four subs coming/leaving the Hood. Always flanked by two large tenders and Patrol Boats buzzing everywhere. Each time they come next to me and tell me to get as far as possible. 500 yards is the rule. You're correct- they have ZERO sense of humor. We just motor as close as we can to shore and wait till they will pass.

 

[Toki]

I'll throw my PNW submarine story out there:

I was sailing in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, transiting between Pt Townsend and the islands. We hit a thick fog bank that caught us by surprise. My navigation at the time was maps on a laptop and a GPS puck. Along the line, the battery went out on the laptop. Did my best dead reckoning with the paper charts, compass, knot meter, and current tables. Then Channel 16 blared "US Coast Guard Puget Sound hailing the blue sailboat on our starboard bow". Looked around, saw nothing, decided they must be hailing someone else. After a couple repeats of the hail, we saw the bow of a big CG ship emerge from the fog. Got on the radio and was instructed that we were entering an area of submarine traffic, and we were to dowse our sails, fire up the engine, and hug the ship to safety. Of course, while we were doing this any hope of dead reckoning was lost, we weren't even paying attention to compass direction. After 20 or so minutes of max speed in god knows what direction, the CG thanked us for our cooperation and left us. Had I been smart, I would have asked for coordinates before they split. As it was, we spent a very scary morning in the fog attempting to re-establish position while staying off rocks and beaches. Finally the fog cleared, we were OK, and off we went.

Later I was talking to a couple coasties who said it was very common for CG to clear a path for submerged subs that way.

 

[Kimberly Dawn]

Toki,

Right now I am nervously fidgeting in my seat at home just thinking of your story on that foggy, fateful day. Fog without electronics is very scary... In the path of the US Navy just adds to the tension!

Bob
Kimberly Dawn

 

[ohioan55]

Well this does not look very good for the quality control of the submarine qualification system! Me being qualified on 598 SSBN's, 640 SSBN's and Skipjack-class SSN's which all had mushroom type anchors located forward and operated from the torpedo room. I do know that different class (newer) boats had major equipment placed differently. Bob
And yes the anchor is a system on board a submarine that should be on the qualification card, if not the qualification officer was not doing there job!

What Bob? You never had to find the bitter end on the anchor rode? I qualed on 637s and 688s and worked at NAVSEA after the Navy, so I've spent my time in drydock with a rubber mallet inspecting. The anchors are not very noticeable by design. Low flow noise thing. I've only seen one trident class in drydock (EB) and that's because it was sharing that space with both a 637 and a 688. Didn't take time to look it over. I can tell you the size was intimidating sitting there next to those smaller classes.