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Master and Commander
Posts: 1890
Location: Patterson, New York | Subject: Test Depth Story
This is a story about an officer who was supposedly locked in his stateroom while the boat went to test depth.
I went to test depth at least six times during my time.
Each time it was an all hands exercise with everyone, including officers, assigned an area of the boat to patrol for any potential problems.
So, I have to wonder how this guy was not missed by the rest of the crew.
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/uss-boston-submarine-weapons-officer-recalls-when-he-remained-locked-in-his-stateroom-for-two-hours-during-test-depth-testing-the-door-wedged-shut-because-during-the-dive-the-hull-compressed-the-deck/
Edited by Thomas Courtien 2023-07-28 7:43 PM
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Plankowner
Posts: 9165
Location: Upper lefthand corner of the map. | Subject: RE: ...same for me
I went to TD at least 6 but probably more like 10 times as we were the first sub to be SUBSAFE certified. Everyone wanted to ride a new certified boat since everyone else was depth restricted. No one was locked in any space that I am aware of. though the first dive was a thrill and pop-rivets were exploding all over the place. We had one free standing partition bulkhead that buckled due to compression. Talking with some guys from the decomm crew that bulkhead was still like that at decomm. |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1455
| Subject: RE: ...same for me
Did that a few times during sea trails on two boats. During one of the events a deck mount bolt sheared and went by my LOS station with some velocity. There were a few other minor breakages and missile tube actuator leaks but all in all no big deal. |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1323
Location: Oxnard, CA | Subject: RE: Test Depth Story
Popping rivets all over the place? Why do I suddenly feel safer riding a minesweeper?
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Great Sage of the Sea
Posts: 853
| Subject: RE: Test Depth Story
Not bragging or beating my breast, just dont understand the few times people went to test depth. On SS490 it was not uncommon and no big deal. Rig for deep, sneak in, come up look around, sneak out, jam the can.
The same onboard Parche. Not at all uncommon and I do not remember any strange occurrences or pop rivet bullets |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1006
Location: NE Florida | Subject: RE: Test Depth Story
Seadragon had a flat vertical plate just aft of the fire control gear between the hull and the upper level deck. As we went down, it would bend, and as we came back up it would straghten. Finally we put a card behind it and calibrated it for use as a depth gage not connected to sea water.
Coyote
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Plankowner
Posts: 9165
Location: Upper lefthand corner of the map. | Subject: RE: Test Depth Story
We were a brand new boat and the hull was unstressed. Start compressing that hull and it puts pressure on all the sheet metal bulkheads and furniture. Pop rivets came under strain and sheared. When we got back to port you could see every frame in the hull. The 637's and Parche had a thicker hull than Thresher class boats and we had the same TD. What a difference that little added thickness can make. |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 2490
Location: East Coast of Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Test Depth Story
No biggie, We went to test depth after any yard or tender work thst breached the hull. Just
No biggie.
go down in increments of 100 feet , check for leaks and report.
Of course Entemedor was an old boat and proven over many years. Did enjoy her 5000th dive. Cook baked a cake. |
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Plankowner
Posts: 9165
Location: Upper lefthand corner of the map. | Subject: RE: Test Depth Story
Someone told me at one time how many dives Flasher had done in her life but it was nowhere near 5000. I'm pretty sure we hadn't even made 100 by the time I left the boat. Once we were down we were down for at least 60 days. Once we hit the fleet we were one of only few boats that was full test depth certified while the rest of the nuclear fleet were depth restricted. They worked us hard, over 200+ days a year. Wish I could remember the number I was told. |
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COMSUBBBS
Posts: 3671
Location: Kansas City Missouri | Subject: RE: Test Depth Story
10,000th dive and airless surface
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Test Depth Story
