Posted
on April 11, 2015
Way
back in 1900, the U.S. government bought its first submarine, the USS
Holland. It was on April 11, 1900, so today is Submarine Day.
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| Interior of a luxury submarine. |
What
I found out from my research is that your own personal sub
costs upwards of $2 million, if it's commercially built. The
manufacturers put the new owners through a three-week training course
so that they learn how to let just enough water into the ballast
tanks, and dive and drive and all that stuff.
I
also found out that some people build their own subs! Seriously, for
“only” about $50 thousand, hobbyists cobble together submersibles
in their backyards and garages. They have to get Coast Guard approval
before diving at sea (although they can explore lakes without approval –
but they are still urged to contact the FBI before doing even that!). This sort
of submarine is more dangerous; people have died when their homemade
vessels cracked from the water pressure in the deep. (There has
never been a recorded death in a commercially-made private or tourist submarine from the sub cracking at depth. Of course there have been deaths associated with submarines being attacked during a war!)
While
I was finding out about private people owning submarines, I ALSO
started wondering about those “Navy guys” serving on subs. My
nephew is one of them, and I remembered that there are no women
on his crew. It turns out that, because of the cramped quarters and
lack of privacy, there are no women currently assigned to any U.S. Navy submarine
crews. But of course there are some women who have been on subs for
short periods of time. They include civilians who were
experts at testing specialized equipment, family members, and female midshipmen getting training.
And
while I was researching all of that, I discovered that submarines are painted black because studies have shown that black helps
subs hide better than any other color.
At
any rate, you are likely NOT an owner of a private sub, likely NOT
serving on a nuclear submarine, likely NOT living near any tourist subs.
Still, happy Submarine Day! And what could be happier than watching Yellow Submarine?
Also
on this date:
Plan
ahead:
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out my Pinterest boards for:
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