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. 

Quotation of 2015 (first half)

Background (pertinent facts and official opinions)

• JUN 21, 2015 -  Assessing the U.S. Navy’s Arctic Roadmap   As outlined at the beginning of the Roadmap, the Navy expects the Arctic “to remain a low threat security environment where nations resolve differences peacefully.”  It sees its role as mostly a supporter of U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) operations and responder to search-and-rescue and disaster situations.   A report from the U.S. Naval War College on this exercise noted the following: The U.S. Navy is inadequately prepared to conduct sustained maritime operations in the Arctic region. ... Within the near-term (2014-2020), the Navy plans to have a limited Arctic presence, “primarily through undersea and air assets.”  Surface operations will only take place in open water conditions.

• AUG 29, 2015 - U.S. Is Playing Catch-Up With Russia in Scramble for the Arctic        

• AUG 31, 2015 - US submarine returns from 6-month 'under ice' Arctic mission   When they finally punched through the Arctic ice cap just shy of the North Pole, it took them five hours to break the ice off their submarine's key hatches so they could reach the fresh air.   USS SEAWOLF (SSN 21)  The Navy estimates the potential value of hydrocarbons in the U.S. Arctic alone exceeds $1 trillion."The Arctic is going to be a place of growing strategic importance. The Russians are active there," Defense Secretary Ash Carter told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in March.
  Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the same session that "the Russians have just taken a decision to activate six new brigades — and four of them will be in the Arctic."

• SEPT 1, 2015 -  Obama visits receding glacier in Alaska to highlight climate change 

• SEPT 1, 2015 -  Obama to Call for More Icebreakers in Arctic as U.S. Seeks Foothold   

The Quotation of the Quarter

"The U.S. has a secret weapon that most politicians don’t know about — an invention made in the Naval Research Labs — that can solve the world’s energy needs while actually lowering carbon emissions. If deployed, it could pull the wind out of Putin’s sails, improve the U.S. economy, and mitigate climate change. Unfortunately, government officials appear clueless and are not funding or focusing on this potential world-saving technology." - William Craig Reed, "Writing nonfiction more compelling than a great thriller for author", June 7, 2015.

 

W. Craig Reed served as a U.S. Navy diver, submarine weapons technician, and espionage photographer for special operations aboard nuclear fast-attack submarines, earning commendations for completing secret missions during the Cold War, several in concert with Navy SEAL teams. He is the author of the non-fiction books Cold War III: How the U.S. Navy can Defeat Putin and Halt Climate Change (RCG Publishing, 2015) and Red November: Inside the Secret U.S. - Soviet Submarine War (HarperCollins, 2010) and he is the only author invited by the U.S. Navy to observe recent ICEX operations in the Arctic.   

Reed's Concluding Speculations

"The U.S. Navy has a working prototype, but they lack funding and awareness to bring it to life. Perhaps it’s time for politicians to stop bickering and posturing for votes, and explore innovative ideas like this to help defeat Putin and halt climate change before it’s too late."  - from Reed's  Say Goodbye to the U.S. Petrodollar.

Submarines are always silent and strange.