reply to post by Schaden
Good grief Schaden,
No I had not heard that story. I am however familiar with the VH system in the overhead having worked it many times. It is a bear to work in the
overhead as is the job of changing out a periscope.
You have to take on a lot of water to do that Schaden. I am thinking they need a better warning system or tell tail drain system for that. By the
sounds of that story it went down very fast when it did.
THere is also supposed to be in that system somewhere a water sensor ...to prevent excessive water from getting in and locking up the diesel engine.
It shuts the head valve. Sounds like that sensor was not working.
By the sounds of your story ..they were not running the diesel in that sea state. Probably a good thing..though the event was almost tragic in another
aspect.
Yes..Ive heard tales as well of sailors praying and crossing fingers at such events happening. Yard people as well. People locked behind watertight
bulkhead doors while the boat is going down before they could recover...pounding on the doors to get into the other compartment...but it wasn't
happening...people knowing this on the other side of the door but could not open the door....hearing them, knowing they are in panic through the door.
That is a tough call for someone to make..a real tough call.
There is a story here about a boomer in for overhaul and out on trials they lost propulsion power and were sliding backwards....deep....before they
could recover. When they got back here and tied up at the pier..the civilians/vendors could not wait to get off her and on to dry land. This is the
event where I heard of an old Chief mumbling a quiet prayer under his breath and crossing fingers...when standing their post in the engine room behind
the locked bulkhead door. The civilians went into panic and were beating on the bulkhead door. Not happening..no one was going to open it.
When you have an olde salty experienced Chief mumbling a prayer under their breath and crossing fingers...you know you are in Deep S---!!
One can get religion rapidly after such an event in thier lives.
You have to carry a serious set of gonads to do that kind of work day in and day out...and keep coming back. The wives as well. The average civilian
out here has a clue. They're out to lunch on this.
Thanks for the story Schaden,
Orangetom
[edit on 18-11-2008 by orangetom1999]
rian.ru...
Must be doing something right. Although there are things
both countries do not like to talk about. 
