Would You Feel Safe in a 40-Year-Old Submarine?

National Interest (Australia) ^ | March 7, 2016 | James Goldrick

[Pan_Yan]

The current controversy over Australia’s Future Submarine Program, its schedule and the associated life-of-type of the current Collins class has resulted in much hyperbole as to the difficulties associated with keeping elderly boats in operation. A quick survey of the state of affairs in the major submarine operators overseas may provide some context to concerns that the Collins class will have to run for well over thirty years of service.

In the United States, four Los Angeles class nuclear powered attack submarines (SSNs) are scheduled for decommissioning in 2017 after thirty-six years’ service, while the hull life of the Ohio class nuclear powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) has been extended to forty-two years. There have and will be earlier removals from service, such as a thirty-three year old Los Angeles class unit in 2015 and a thirty-one year old boat in 2016, but it’s likely that thirty-four to thirty-five years will be the average as the SSN force changes over to the new, but less numerous Virginia class. The French are in much the same position. If the Barracuda class SSN program runs on time, the first of the earlier Rubis class will be replaced in service after thirty-four years in commission. If the current fleet of SSBN is replaced on schedule, this will happen around 2035, when the first of the Le Triomphant class will be thirty-eight years old.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

As safe as I felt in a 40 year old airplane.

[TexasTransplant]

**** “I wouldn’t feel safe in ANY submarine” ****

Get the right crew on a US Sub and you would be fine! Afterwards you would be Proud as Punch

Now if it was Russian Sub you would also Glow in the Dark and know that your Family will be taken Care of after your early demise. Slight modifications of your DNA may result in 2 headed Offspring but hey 2 is better than 1.

USSR vs USA Sub Tech 101

[TruthWillWin]

Dont know about the submarine but feel safe in a 35 year old airplane.

[TexasTransplant]

**** “ I have fairly serious claustrophobia “ ****

ME TOO! I have it so bad I need a Window Open in any Vehicle that I am in Open Doors in Offices and Open Winows at my House. In South Texas that means no AC and Room Sized enclosures are not normally a problem.

I smoke Cigars and use it as the excuse for the open window in my Office and Truck.

Do you know when or how you obtained or developed same said Claustrophobia?

I know where mine came from and even knowing I can’t feel comfortable in a tight space worse yet being hand cuffed, even in practice in the Military I would DEMAND Handcuffs to come off after about 30 seconds of demonstration (and I never volunteered to be That Dummy)I have placed Hand-cuffs on people and it still traumatized me.

I am not a Nut Wagon but I have to have my arms free and at least window somewhere ... and I know why.

[ArmyTeach]

How about a WWII diesel-driven sub? :-) Modern subs are luxurious by comparison.

[Dilbert56]

Heard the term “Plank Owner” came from the old wooden ships where the members of the initial crew would designate one of the softer deck boards as their sleeping spot.

[atomic_dog]

On the LA in Naples in 1977 during her first, an as far as I know only, Med cruise..

Here are those fairwater planes today rusting on a pier in Long Beach.

Rode her through the Panama Canal in 78 to Pearl. Served on a tired old 594 long hull before her and getting on her was definitely moving on up to luxury. Later served on USS Omaha (SSN-692). I sometimes dream about them. I would get on any one at any time and go anywhere.

Here's a picture of a submarine Steam Plant Control Panel (SPCP) from an exhibit the Smithsonian put on about subs. I was a pretty good throttleman and spent years of my life standing at panels like this.

[Bubba Gump Shrimp]

ahhh, make sense, thank you :)

[Bull Snipe]

True. But remember, it is a law of nature, that what goes up, must come down. The reverse is not a law of nature, what goes down, does not have to come up. That’s why aircrew carry parachutes, submariners do not.

[yarddog]

I never thought I had claustrophobia until around 1975. I was attending a trial of Sam Fiorella in Birmingham. At the time, I worked for a Federal agency.

Two U.S. Attorneys and I were riding the elevator in the Federal Building. It got stuck between floors. After a few minutes the attorneys had to be in court so they pried the door open.

There was about a 4 foot drop to the floor and we all jumped out. I did not think anything about it until maybe 10 seconds later I almost passed out. I then realized just how bad I had it. I guess while in the elevator I was able to control myself but when I subconsciously relaxed, it hit me.

I am not quite as bad as you but I do not like to be in a closed room with no windows.

[Pan_Yan]

Amazing that the Los Angeles was in service for 34 years and the Baltimore was decommissioned after 16.

[atomic_dog]

A bunch of 688’s were scrapped before their last scheduled refueling so the Navy could spend the money on another program. SSN-21 if my memory is correct.