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.
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Who Drives the Submarine?
- Thread starter Random8145
- Start date
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.
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.
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 The helmsman/planesman have been replaced by a pilot.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.
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 The helmsman/planesman have been replaced by a pilot.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
War Eagle!
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.
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
Registered User
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.
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?