Posted on 03/30/2020 6:30:15 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
LE PECQ, France - Of a world in coronavirus turmoil, they may know little or nothing.
Submariners stealthily cruising the ocean deeps, purposefully shielded from worldly worries to encourage undivided focus on their top-secret missions of nuclear deterrence, may be among the last pockets of people anywhere who are still blissfully unaware of how the pandemic is turning life upside down.
Mariners aboard ballistic submarines are habitually spared bad news while underwater to avoid undermining their morale, say current and former officers who served aboard Frances nuclear-armed subs. So any crews that left port before the virus spread around the globe are likely being kept in the dark about the extent of the rapidly unfurling crisis by their commanders until their return, they say.
They wont know, said retired Adm. Dominique Salles, who commanded the French ballistic submarine squadron from 2003-2006. The boys need to be completely available for their mission.
Speaking exclusively to The Associated Press, Salles said he believes submariners will likely only be told of the pandemic as they head back to port, in the final two days of their mission.
Those who are at sea dont need this information, said Salles, who also commanded the nuclear-armed French submarine LInflexible.
The commander, I think, is doubtless informed about what is happening. I dont think hell have all the details, he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
What is a ballistic submarine squadron?
Ballistic means aimed and unguided, i.e., point it in some direction and hope for the best.
I was in the Air Force, not on a submarine and as far as I know, the Air Forced doesn’t even have any submarines. But I find it very hard to believe the officers wouldn’t share that information with the crew.
Having said that, I knew a guy who worked in navigation on a submarine and he told me that most of the crew didn’t really know where they were most of the time, even though it was posted on some sort of board every day.
Its been more than 40 years since I’ve been out but from what I can tell from various FB groups, they are aware of this.
You served on subs for three years.
Do you still do everything in triplicate?
“On the Beach”
I thought these days they have email communication (at least part of the time).
It was just a Coke bottle resting on the key
I assure you US crews know what’s going on.
There’s a feed of news in addition to standard fleet broadcast in the radio shack.
I have been in the radio shack on a boomer (early 80s) and saw the news feed arriving on the printer.
Even the boomers hiding under water for a couple months? I don’t know the bandwidth of their radios, but I doubt they are getting Netflix streaming.
Nuke subs underway have a way to communicate. Unconventional. Not high speed, but there.
They may not know details, but my guts tells me they know.
” I dont know the bandwidth of their radios, but I doubt they are getting Netflix streaming.”
Text.
Small amounts.
They'll be restored by the time these guys hit land again........
VLF Bump!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.