Who Drives the Submarine?

[Random8145]

This is just a question that's been bugging me for awhile, but who exactly drives those nuclear submarines? Is there a specific MOS for the guy at the steering wheel, and is that something one specifically applies for, or is it just assigned? BTW, if any of that stuff is OPSEC, I understand.

 

[scoober78]

Unless you are a Nuc...when you show up on board you will qualify dive and drive. The qual is available to anyone on board.

ps...drop the nuclear...it goes without saying WRT our submarines...

 

[et1nuke]

Usually the most junior person on board the sub sits the "sticks." This applies only to the non-nuclear trained personnel on board they would usually never drive the sub. Since I'm a nuke (at least for a few more months) I never had the "luxury" of actually driving the boat. I spent my days pushing us

There are two personnel on the sticks when the ship is submerged and then when rigged for the surface you only require one watch.

From what I understand though this is evolving with the newer subs they are making and sliming down the numbers of required watches.

 

[haubby]

If your a forward guy (non-nuc) you will qualify to drive the boat as your first watchstation usually. I found the watch to be rather boring and I was happy to go back to sonar and qualify those watches.

The Virginia Class does not have the same setup as the LA/Ohio. The helmsman/planesman have been replaced by a pilot. This new watchstander is not a junior guy. Its limited to a very senior 1st class or a Chief. Its pretty neat to see someone driving the boat with the use of a joystick and flat panel displays.

 

[vicariousrider]

Actually, only a few rates on the subs normally drive the boat - some of the rates don't drive because their jobs require them to be at their watch station learning instead of driving the boat.

 

[skim]

My wies cousins husband was a Yeoman, and told me that he was assigned to driving the Sub sometimes.

 

[Afterburner76]

Usually the most junior person on board the sub sits the "sticks." .

Not necessarily. As a former YN2 (SS), I sat sticks my entire time aboard. Becasue YN's and SK's don't have other "watches" they can stand (until they qual as Chief of the Watch or Diving Officer) they will train as drivers and the good ones will be Battlestations and Maneuvering Watch helmsmen/planesmen. We had one guy qual as COW as a 2nd class, but usually it's PO1's and above...

 

[FLYTPAY]

I wonder if they accept UAV washouts to pilot the subs.

 

[haubby]

***Deleted for Content*** /

SSBN=3 knots to nowhere thus a very boring watch.

Now when we converted to do SSGN ops. I still never liked spending time in control. You are right in those littoral situations Control is super intense. I enjoyed being the sonar supervisor though when we did those ops. Every watchstation has its own level of stress in those situations and make for good memories.

 

[haubby]

Not necessarily. As a former YN2 (SS), I sat sticks my entire time aboard. Becasue YN's and SK's don't have other "watches" they can stand (until they qual as Chief of the Watch or Diving Officer) they will train as drivers and the good ones will be Battlestations and Maneuvering Watch helmsmen/planesmen. We had one guy qual as COW as a 2nd class, but usually it's PO1's and above...

We had alot of YN's and SK's qualify basic sonar watches after standing sticks for awhile. It was just a matter of where they were needed and if the watchbill could support them standing a different watch. One of my favorite watch sections included a certain SK1 and he was probably a better broadband operator than many ST's out in the fleet.

 

[boobcheese]

One thing that sucks about having junior guys on the sticks is that when you go from ahead-flank to all-back-emergency, they don't recognize that inputs are reversed. You then find yourself at a 70 degree down angle and breach ass backwards. Good times.

 

[et1nuke]

Not necessarily. As a former YN2 (SS), I sat sticks my entire time aboard. Becasue YN's and SK's don't have other "watches" they can stand (until they qual as Chief of the Watch or Diving Officer) they will train as drivers and the good ones will be Battlestations and Maneuvering Watch helmsmen/planesmen. We had one guy qual as COW as a 2nd class, but usually it's PO1's and above...

Hence my use of the word usually in my previous post.

 

[scoober78]

One thing that sucks about having junior guys on the sticks is that when you go from ahead-flank to all-back-emergency, they don't recognize that inputs are reversed. You then find yourself at a 70 degree down angle and breach ass backwards. Good times.

Then your Dive was a total boob....wow.

 

[Random8145]

Coolbeans, thanks for the information; one other thing though, so the dive and drive qual is available to anyone, enlisted or officer, or you mean just any officer aboard?

 

[scoober78]

Officers don't sit the sticks. It is an enlisted only watch.