ANSWERS: Submarine Q.O.T.W. - 28 OCT 2015

Background

There was no general theme to last week's submarine questions. Rather, we selected a variety of surprising tidbits we found interesting.  The mystery photo underlying Question 7 is  found in the original post.

Submarine Questions of the Week with ANSWERS

1 - In "the early 21st century" what typical chain of command (grade) connected with commissioned submarines reverted back to what it had been in the early years of nuclear propulsion ?   ANS: Commanding officers of SSBN crews reverted to O-5s (navy Commanders) versus O-6s (navy Captains) as had largely been routine in the 1960s. 

"In the submarine community, a captain typically commanded a ballistic-missile submarine (SSBN) until the early 21st century when the requisite rank for the position was downgraded to that of a commander. "

2 - With whose navies are "HMS" and "HMJ" associated ?  ANS (HMS): Since 1789, HMS is the British Royal Navy's prefix standing for "His/Her Majesty's Ship".  Within the Swedish and Saudi navies, HMS similarly denotes "Hans/Hennes Majestats Skepp" and "His Magesty's Ship", respectively.  ANS (HMJ): "HMJ" is American submariners' nickname for the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 730).

3 - Close to what significant U.S. infrastructure system have Russian subs been detected and recently reported ? ANS:  "vital undersea internet cables".

4 - On average, a submariner is medevaced from their sub every 14 days.
   (a) for what kind of health issues ? ANS: Mental Health.

Mental health issues account for about 30 percent of the unplanned losses — where sailors leave the fleet for reasons other than normal rotation or temporary assigned duty, Force Master Chief Wes Koshoffer said.

   (b) what is the approximate percentage of unplanned submarine crew losses related to this health issue ? ANS:  After a year when submarine crews out of Norfolk had 22 "unplanned losses" for mental health reasons, the program cut that number in the following year in 14, according to Capt. Matthew Hickey, the submarine force's chief medical officer.

Read more here: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/health-and-medicine/article42132684.html#storylink=cpy

 
5 - What two recent developments does Connecticut hope will assure the Groton sub base remains off the federal government's next list for possible base closure ?  ANS: 

• Courtney announces Navy, Electric Boat support for Dredged Material Management Plan 
• Undersea Warfighting Development Center Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.  Under the command of Rear Adm. Jeffrey E. Trussler, the UWDC became operational, Sept. 1, 2015.

6 - Fill in the blank: In the movie "The Hunt for Red October" the character "Seaman Jones" plays a pivotal role in his assignment as a  ___?___  technician.  ANS: "Sonar".
   (a) In particular, what did Seaman Jones notice ? ANS: an unusual sound.
   (b) In French navy parlance, what nickname would be bestowed on a technician with the prowess of Seaman Jones ?  ANS: l'oreille d'or (translation: golden ear).

7 - If you do not believe the image shown below is a 2-plus ton, bottom-crawling, anti-submarine mine launched from a surface craft, what is it ?  ANS: You would be correct. The object is a test sled launched into the James Rover by CVN-78's (the future Gerald R. Ford) Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS). 

Submarines are always silent and strange.