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Great Sage of the Sea
Posts: 877
| Subject: Prairie Masker
Looking for information on Prairie Masker on submarines.. for part of my CATFISH/SANTA FE research effort. During my last run to the Archives in College Park, MD, I came across the Booklet of General Plans, Submarine SS-339, from the 1960 timeframe, when CATFISH received her plastic sail, was given a chin dome, and had her no. 2 engine removed with the space being used for Prairie Masker.. (I've searched on the Internet and the only things coming up deal with Prairie Masker on surface ships..) |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1431
| Subject: RE: Prairie Masker
I seem to recall a fine bubble emission system that boats emitted to improve sub evasion capabilites from surface sonar. I'm not sure that the "Prarie Masker"you refered to is tied to this system. |
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COMSUBBBS
Posts: 3673
Location: Kansas City Missouri | Subject: RE: Prairie Masker
I'd like to learn more regarding that as well, it's mentioned here http://www.usstusk.com/history.htm although not in detail. |
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Senior Crew
Posts: 226
Location: San Diego, CA | Subject: RE: Prairie Masker
The Barbel had a Prairie Masker. We used it when we were snorkeling and didn't want the engine noise to radiate into the ocean for the "other"guys to hear.
The Prairie Masker system consisted of a air pump that was located in the engine room, a band of air emiters that ran down the back of the sail, around the hull/superstructure forward of the engine room, and on the leading edge of the screw blades. It was basically a big air bubble machine that provided "white" noise.
You can see the air holes on the screw if you visit the Blueback in Portland, OR.
Edited by C Stafford 2009-04-15 6:09 AM
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COMSUBBBS
Posts: 2672
Location: New Jersey | Subject: RE: Prairie Masker
On or about 1968, Sirago had #2 engine removed and a Prairie Masker installed. It was to be used to cover any cavitation or internal noise that may otherwise have emanated out to the sea. The bubbles were supposed to cover up the noise, which in some stealth cases was successful, but certainly not enough to quiet a snorkeling submarine.
I guess during this time frame all smokeboats were being used as Guinea pigs. Their time was over...It was the Nucs time in the sun, as it should be. Though to a man we may disagree.
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Plankowner
Posts: 5024
Location: Gulfport, MS | Subject: RE: Prairie Masker
I would guess that most Engineman that ever had one of those monsters to mess with have blocked all memories of those dazes... I know I have. I guess anyone in the seaman gang probably has too, as they had to plug everyone of the gazillion holes in the pipes along the roll chocks prior to painting when in drydock, and remove same when finished. |
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Old Salt
Posts: 489
Location: San Freakcisco CA area | Subject: RE: Prairie Masker
Maybe I was a lucky EN because the Auxmen got to babysit Prairie-Masker on VOLADOR! We called it "Lawrence Welk" as in "Turn on the bubble machine." I can recall at least two drydockings with P-M installed and the yard always had a huge skid box of standard civilian round toothpicks that ship's company used to plug the Masker emitter holes in the lawn soakers around both of our enginerooms. If our screws weren't pulled in drydock, then the blade tips were covered up by yardbirds using some special tape and long strips of the same sort of coated paper that piston rings came packaged in. |
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Prairie Masker
