2017 USS Razorback - #1 Engine Start - Rontini Submarine BBS

How in the world do you guys remember all that stuff? On the Queenfish (SS-393) we had Fairbanks-Morse main engines and they used some kind of pressurized air with which to start them. I know that I had to demonstrate an ability to start a main engine but I can't remember if I actually had to do it? I do remember an engineman getting a bit irritated with me, though. Don't remember why?

Some of the ship's crew weren't too patient with 9901's considering that we were promptly sent on to Nuke school shortly after qualifying and were just transients, kind of like reserves were. (On the Q-fish there was nothing lower than a left-handed, red-headed, NQP reserve; or so they would tell us.) But, when one is an 9901 ET striker in the deck gang some of the enginemen were occasionally a bit short with us. (OK, with me — couldn't have been my attitude, though, because I tended to keep my mouth shut . . . at that point in my career, that is. Later . . . not so much.) And, some did take the time to make sure we understood the how and why of the various systems. I wish I could remember who they were.

It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.~Abe Lincoln
SS-393, SSBN-610(B), SSBN-624(G), SSN-591
USSVI Life Member; Holland Club; Plank Owner, Smoky Mtn. Base

I think I recall our FM 38D 8 1/8 used 200lb, reduced from Ship Service 225lb.

Paul

ETN2(SS) 63-67

I am probably wrong, but I believe we started our Fairbanks with 800 pound air. There was, I think, an emergency start where you got five ET's to walk around wringing their hands because without power there would be no hot showers, and the Diesel Gods would start the engine. Or was it to motorize the generator to crank the diesel?

Walt,
Had I done everything right throughout my life, the World wouldn't have noticed.

Both of my boats were SSBNs; mid-80s to mid-90s. I was a bomb-nuke, but had to demonstrate that I *could* start the diesel (never actually got to do it). IIRC, the ginormous Fairbanks-Morse 12-cylinder we had on both boats was LP-Air start only. I could be wrong, like you, my memory is fading quick :(

MT2/SS
USS Simon Bolivar - SSBN 641 (B)
USS Henry M. Jackson - SSBN 730 (B)
USSVI - Wyoming Base

Sewer Pipe Snipe wrote:

What, no hearing protection? You can just about smell the diesel vapor.

They're all deaf anyway, so hearing protection is useless. How ever Walt, I did smell that exhaust, (got that high speed internet).

Nice job Razorback crew! BZ

DBF
Joe
SS485,CVA42
Holland Club
Mid-Atlantic Base