Have you ever been in a submarine?

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

What's it like? I've been in a helicopter, but I imagine it's quite different.

Henry...

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly wrote: »

What's it like?

Deep

Smee_Again

Cramped.

fits

Much less space than you’d even imagine. Very tough environment to be in for extended periods of time.

Pinch Flat

Been in the Submarine bar in Crumlin. Does that count?

Thespoofer

Yes. Claustrophobic.

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

Do the Irish Navy have any submarines?

ForestFire

Yellow

Fils

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly wrote: »

Do the Irish Navy have any submarines?

35 of them.

Timberrrrrrrr

Once wayyyyy back in the day, 18 days and it felt like 18 years. Basic everything and cramped as fùck with a constant fear over every single clang, bump, or pop. Not much scares me but even now if I'm in a confined space it brings back memories.

Esse85

Thespoofer wrote: »

Yes. Claustrophobic.

Like being in jail I'd say.

lintdrummer

Never on one that actually dived but been on a couple of military ones that are museum pieces. Cramped is an understatement. Don't know how people on the nuclear subs spend so long on them.

Fils

Esse85 wrote: »

Like being in jail I'd say.

Soap, fingers and other body parts up your bottom.

dublin49

theres one in the canaries for day trippers ,in Mogan.pretty tame really ,has windows but view was murky ,novelty but wudnt do it again

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly wrote: »

What's it like? I've been in a helicopter, but I imagine it's quite different.

I don't think they are any different, to be honest.

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

Deleted User wrote: »

I don't think they are any different, to be honest.

I thought as much. Thanks.

banie01

Was on the USS Growler museum ship alongside the USS Intrepid in New York.
I'm a tall lad, and by Christ the thing was cramped!
I'm not at all claustrophobic but the thoughts of being entombed with @90 others and breathing their stink while hot bunking too?
Is the stuff of nightmares.

Incredibly cramped, zero personal space, I think your "private" space amounts to 3 square feet along with a bunk you share with 2 others on a shift basis.

Obviously newer nuclear subs are bigger and more spacious, but space is still a huge premium.

embraer170

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I don't think they are any different, to be honest.

There was a Russian (I think?) submarine docked in Cork in the early 1990s. We were there randomly with my dad and got to visit it. Quite an experience.

Cookie_Monster

One german/soviet, one Swedish and one US one, all museums. The soviet one was cramped as hell but the other 2 weren't nearly as bad.

Wonda-Boy

Was in the decommissioned one in New York the USS Growler, its in perfect condition and quite impressive. But I can only imagine being at sea in one with 20/30+ men.....very scary but they are extremely cool.

Mr.Crinklewood

Thespoofer wrote: »

Yes. Claustrophobic.

It was full of people dressed as Santa?

YFlyer

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

Once wayyyyy back in the day, 18 days and it felt like 18 years. Basic everything and cramped as fùck with a constant fear over every single clang, bump, or pop. Not much scares me but even now if I'm in a confined space it brings back memories.

Wow you should do ask me anything?

RobMc59

I remember going onboard one as a lad.It was docked in Birkenhead,just remember it was very cramped.
There's a U boat(one of only four remaining in the world)at the Birkenhead ferry terminal which is worth a visit when all this covid madness is over!

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

RobMc59 wrote: »

There's a U boat at the Birkenhead ferry terminal

Is that the one that operates a daily service to Drogheda?

Man Vs ManUre

I spent a few nights in a capsule hotel in Yokohama. It’s practically the same thing as being in a submarine.

Signore Fancy Pants

Have been on a few museum ones, wouldn't like to have spent actual time in one.

I was also in a tourist one with windows in Hawaii, was actually really good. Sea was clear, turtles, sharks, fish and a few sunken Japanese WW2 aircraft to be seen.

RobMc59

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly wrote: »

Is that the one that operates a daily service to Drogheda?

Hey,how dare you,my Mrs is from Drogheda!

Leg End Reject

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

Once wayyyyy back in the day, 18 days and it felt like 18 years. Basic everything and cramped as fùck with a constant fear over every single clang, bump, or pop. Not much scares me but even now if I'm in a confined space it brings back memories.

I've a fairly even temperament, no phobias, thankfully no history of mental health issues, but I think I'd have a complete breakdown or psychotic episode on day 2 in those conditions. The fact that you've so much water around and above you means that death is a certainty if anything goes drastically wrong.

It's a definite no for me.

dxhound2005

A submarine is just an underwater helicopter.

katiek102010

Yup, I'm small 5ft and I found it cramped. It was retired s in Dock. Its been used in a few films.

CelticRambler

Yep. Many years ago, there was a French naval sub berthed in Galway harbour, and they were letting members of the public have a bit of a nose around, so I did. Very cramped, and all quite boring really - lots of control panels, lots of dials and knobs and lights and stuff, and a periscope. Didn't get to see the torpedo or engine room.

There was a regular cargo ship tied up behind it, and the lads there seemed to jump on the "open day" bandwagon, so I went up there afterwards. Much more interesting - got to see how a.b.s.o.l.u.t.e.y m.a.s.s.i.v.e was the engine there :eek: (four storeys high) and how the rudder hydraulics worked and several other parts of a ship that you'd never see on the ferry to France.

gogo

Leg End Reject wrote: »

I've a fairly even temperament, no phobias, thankfully no history of mental health issues, but I think I'd have a complete breakdown or psychotic episode on day 2 in those conditions. The fact that you've so much water around and above you means that death is a certainty if anything goes drastically wrong.

It's a definite no for me.

This ^^ plus 100… thoughts of it, gives me anxiety!

YFlyer

Manic Mason must have?

Timberrrrrrrr

Leg End Reject wrote: »

I've a fairly even temperament, no phobias, thankfully no history of mental health issues, but I think I'd have a complete breakdown or psychotic episode on day 2 in those conditions. The fact that you've so much water around and above you means that death is a certainty if anything goes drastically wrong.

It's a definite no for me.

It's when they explain to you that if you see even the tiniest bit of water you report it because a small leak can literally cause this massive submarine to be squashed as easily as a beer can due to the massive amount of pressure on it from the water above.

rn

Only in museum ones. Was on one in NYC. Another us navy ww2 one in San fran that saw action in the Pacific. And a German ww2 uboat in Chicago. They're tight spots. Never sailed in one.

Leg End Reject

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

It's when they explain to you that if you see even the tiniest bit of water you report it because a small leak can literally cause this massive submarine to be squashed as easily as a beer can due to the massive amount of pressure on it from the water above.

Well ... that's reassuring.

I'm actually panicking imagining it, I'd assume the lack of daylight and outside noises must add to the horror?

FR85

Was on USS Growler in NY and USS Pampanito in San Francisco.
Growler felt more cramped in my opinion.

I think I'd be more of an aircraft carrier kinda guy.
Went to Midway in San Diego and Intrepid in NY, Midway was a much better tour, staggering how much space there is and again these are small in comparison to today's carriers!
They are fascinating bits of equipment!

Timberrrrrrrr

Leg End Reject wrote: »

Well ... that's reassuring.

I'm actually panicking imagining it, I'd assume the lack of daylight and outside noises must add to the horror?

There's lots of outside noises though, you would be surprised at how much you hear.

Capt'n Midnight

Fils wrote: »

35 of them.

They’re secret submarines, no one will ever know.

- Lord Buckethead

Leg End Reject

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

There's lots of outside noises though, you would be surprised at how much you hear.

I bet they're not calming and reassuring noises though!

I feel sick thinking about it, I've obviously discovered my phobia. Space would be another one actually, couldn't cope with that at all.

Timberrrrrrrr

FR85 wrote: »

Was on USS Growler in NY and USS Pampanito in San Francisco.
Growler felt more cramped in my opinion.

I think I'd be more of an aircraft carrier kinda guy.
Went to Midway in San Diego and Intrepid in NY, Midway was a much better tour, staggering how much space there is and again these are small in comparison to today's carriers!
They are fascinating bits of equipment!

Aircraft carriers are amazing, decent food, fresh air and oh so much space

Also, just to clarify there are no McDonald's restaurants on aircraft carriers, you have no idea how disappointed I was when I found this out:(

Capt'n Midnight

Watch Das Boot sometime




ALARM!!

YFlyer

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

Aircraft carriers are amazing, decent food, fresh air and oh so much space

Also, just to clarify there are no McDonald's restaurants on aircraft carriers, you have no idea how disappointed I was when I found this out:(

Will you do an ask me anything for your sub experience? It be more then farts.

Timberrrrrrrr

Leg End Reject wrote: »

I bet they're not calming and reassuring noises though!

I feel sick thinking about it, I've obviously discovered my phobia. Space would be another one actually, couldn't cope with that at all.

No, but then the crew of the sub thought nothing of it because they are used to it.

Timberrrrrrrr

YFlyer wrote: »

Will you do an ask me anything for your sub experience? It be more then farts.

Nah lol for the most part it was sleeping, eating and exercise as we moved from one place to another, I was a passenger not a crew member and it was a "don't ask too many questions" situation.

Larbre34

Likewise, museum ships. I'm 6'3, I wouldn't have done well on them.

They are a masterpiece of design though, no space wasted. Although modern subs are larger and somewhat more spacious, the biggest have a crew of 150 or so across 400-600 ft, though many non-nuclear subs are smaller.

YFlyer

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

Nah lol for the most part it was sleeping, eating and exercise as we moved from one place to another, I was a passenger not a crew member and it was a "don't ask too many questions" situation.

Ah ok. Thought it be an interesting topic to explore.

lintdrummer

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

Nah lol for the most part it was sleeping, eating and exercise as we moved from one place to another, I was a passenger not a crew member and it was a "don't ask too many questions" situation.

Can you at least tell us how you came to be a passenger on a submarine doing an 18 day voyage? Not something that most ever get to experience.

Speedline

dublin49 wrote: »

theres one in the canaries for day trippers ,in Mogan.pretty tame really ,has windows but view was murky ,novelty but wudnt do it again

I was in the one in Lanzarote a couple of years ago. Not a bad experience, though utterly different to a 'real' submarine.

YFlyer

lintdrummer wrote: »

Can you at least tell us how you came to be a passenger on a submarine doing an 18 day voyage? Not something that most ever get to experience.

That be wonderful.

Dank Janniels

In a town where I was born