Kaye S.'s Blog (7)

There are two types of subs, "fast attacks" and "boomers." Attack subs accompany an aircraft carrier group and are there to protect it from bad guys. They carry mostly torpedoes (for attacking) and a few Tomahawk missiles (for bad guy ships). They are small and agile, easy to manuver. Crews are smaller and space is very tight everywhere. A regular schedule is generally a longer deployment (6-9 months) & shorter "at-homes" (3 months) because they must go where the mother ship goes. But… Continue

As far as the "messed up orders" are concerned, as much as we love the Navy, remember the American military is THE LARGEST BUREAUCRACY IN THE WORLD! Most of us adults have learned through years of tough experience how to deal with bureaus, but our kids have not. They are used to dealing mostly with schools, where eventually the mess straightens itself out because the paperwork exists to get them graduated and out (and Mom will always step in and solve the problem). They don't know how to advocat… Continue

Photo tour of a Trident nuclear submarine (a "boomer"), the USS NEBRASKA (unclassified photos) COMSUBPAC - Official website of the Commander, Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet. COMSUBFOR - Official website of the Commander, Naval Submarine Forces (also serves as Commander, Naval Submarine Forces Atlantic)… Continue

CLICK ON THIS: Wikipedia article: The Submarine Warfare Insignia Continue

Click on this link: Some Suggestions on How to Find an Ombudsman.doc Continue

Emails are possible to a deployed sub only when it surfaces to communication depths. Sailors will have written emails, which are stored in a big batch on a computer. When the boat surfaces, the batch gets sent to a computer "somewhere." Almost immediately, a big batch of stored emails from friends/family is sent from "somewhere" to the boat. After submerging again, those emails are printed off, scanned for appropriateness, and delivered to the sailors. Emails from friends/family might not be an… Continue

"Never-Ending Road (Amhran Duit)," Sung by Loreena McKennitt The road now leads onward As far as can be Winding lanes And hedgerows in threes By purple mountains And round every bend All roads lead to you There is no journey's end. Here is my heart and I give it to you Take me with you across this land These are my dreams, so simple and few Dreams we hold in the palm of our hands Deep in the winter Amidst falling snow High in the air Where the bells they all toll And now… Continue