Berthing on a Submarine 

Note: The nametag "Taylor" on the uniform in the Captain's stateroom is the name of one of the retired Navy officers (a LCDR) who was instrumental in bringing Blueback to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI).

3:52 "Now, in comparison, this is pretty "sub" par . . . " I see what you did there! 😆 Thanks for the tour!

Grandfather served on the Balao-class subs during WW2 in the Pacific. He often joked that every time he got home after a patrol there would be a can of engine degreaser and an abrasive brush waiting for him on the front porch. For good reason he worked on the diesels and electric engines while only being able to shower once a week. When I joined the U.S. Navy and served aboard the Ohio Boomers, he NEVER let me hear the end of it on how spoiled I am serving aboard today’s subs.

I’ve toured that boat, it’s an interesting tour. It made me appreciate the barracks I used to occupy as a firefighter.

Great video. Two things about the captain's stateroom. 1. A Lt-Cdr belonging to "Taylor's" uniform does not have scrambled eggs on his hats. 2. Just like in the nuc attack boats, this captain's bunk folds up into the niche on the outboard wall to reveal a desk in the center and a seat at each end of the space below the bunk. 3. The sink also folds up into the bulkhead. It is a clever design developed for the WW2 fleet boats.

My Dad Malcolm Munsey was the skipper of the Blueback. Took Command in Bermerton SS581 Wa during overhal and to Hawaii then to a Westpac cruise. He was also the XO of the Bonefish SS582. The Blueback. Bonefish and Barbel were known as the B-Girls.

Looks like more room than we had for our three high “coffin racks” on the ship I was on in the USCG 😂

Thought that looked familiar. Worked at OMSI for 13 years. Crawled nearly every inch of that boat running cabling for networking, a/v, lighting for special events, etc. Been nearly 20 years since I left. Wonder how much of the stuff I installed is still there and in use. Was fun to stop people in the museum and ask how their tour of the sub was. They always asked how did I know they took the tour. Answer was always “I have a nose for such things”. They always smelled like old diesel fuel. 😅

Very interesting! Thanks for giving us the tour!

A lot more than we had on the old diesel-electric boats in the Old Navy!

Spent 20 years on submarines. Never heard the term "coffin" used in reference to a bed pan or a rack. Thankfully never had to hot rack.

So sad. In the army I slept on the ground or in a hole I'd dug, in a sleeping bag under a plastic sheet if it was raining wearing the same clothes I'd worn for weeks. I ate out of cans and packets and I got up in the middle of the night to stand a 2 hour machinegun picquet. I pooped in a hole I'd dug. Next day I'd tromp through the bush carrying a pack, weapon, rations, ammunition, water from a local stream, (sterilized with foul tasting tablets), and of course my sleeping bag, then that night I'd do it all again. So sad for the navy.

I used to work on North Sea oil installations and ‘hot bunking’ was still common practice on many of them, since the standard working pattern was two 12 hour shifts you would be getting up about an hour before whoever you were sharing the bunk with came off shift.

Nice tour. ⚓

I’m definitely visiting this next time I’m in Portland. Thank you for the informative video for the land dwellers.

Submarines are so cool just because they have to use the space given as efficiently as possible. thank you for this! always very cool to see the ways day to day life is different on these boats.

Good job shipmates! Welcome to the club of RU-vid channel submarines!

My uncle was given the Honor to represent Submarine Vets. He was on the USS SEAHORSE WWII. For this sub at the Omsi. When it was released to the public.

I remember sleeping on the Edson a while back with the others from Wolverine Division from the USNSCC it was hot, the a/c was out and we had a fan for all those bodies, most of us slept in just our undies and on top of our blankets and pillows, while I did enjoy the noise I did not enjoy the snoring coming from one of my bunk mates couldn’t tell who or where since it was completely lights out but let’s just say I won’t forget how it felt like to sleep on a destroyer

This brought back some memories...

thank you for your service my brother

I really like the fake wood bulkheads, definitely more cosy/homley, wish we did that on hour ships, lurs are very clinical.

Great video. We donated a few parts from Sturgeon to Blueback when they were getting her ready for museum duty in 93'. Sturgeon was being inactivated and all that is left of 637 is her sail at Keyport, WA. Same brown paneling on Sturgeon.👍

When I was in cub scouts I got to sleep on the USS Blueback in Portland Oregon that was more than 25 years ago I still remember it and my sleeping bag still smells like diesel as it was the last diesel electric sub in the US Navy. I remember the bed feeling very cramped and I wasn't 6ft 5in at 10 years old, I can't imagine how bad it would be now.

In the Portuguese Army of the eighties we had beds stacked in groups of three. (theoretically they could be stacked until reaching the ceiling 😀)The free room available to the bed above was probably identical, not taller than here. Mattresses were made in cheap foam but pretty comfortable.

I don’t have to wonder what “sleeping” or living in a submarine is like. I spent 5 years on a submarine in the US Navy, so I know from firsthand experience what being on a submarine is like! ETV2(SS) Glenn Scroggins

As a MIDN, I got to sleep on top of a Mk48 in an Oberon! True! Nowhere else on the whole boat, just one spare hot rack. Junior sailors spent all week taking the piss out of poor Mr UJ lol. Cheers from AU! ⚓

I was on a fast frigate in the 80's did 2 eight month med cruises with a rack like that.

Accommodations in combat zones are roughly the same. Spent years with my face 6 inches from the ceiling, inside a vehicle tophatch knees to my chest, or sleeping in a dirt hole.

I was serving as Messenger of the Watch, while I was the off-duty Helmsman-Planesman one early morning when the Officer of the Deck, peering through the periscope noted local sunrise. As one of the astrological/meteorological events that are mandated to be reported to the ships Commanding Officer, the OOD ordered me to report this event to the CO. As per regulations, I presented myself in front of the CO's cabin, knocked three times sharply, then entered the cabin. My Commanding officer, a Commander in the United States Navy, a veritable Father-Figure to me (I was 19 years-old at the time) and the man who literally held my destiny in his hand......... Stood there completely naked. He was just about to get into the shower when I made my report, which I did: " Sir, the Officer of the Deck sends his respects and reports sunrise" The Captain didn't bat an eye and said: "Very well", then went into the head for his shower. Almost 40 years later, my wife and I have a dinner with my old CO and his wife, usually around Christmas, near their home. He's still a father to me................

No…..I’ve never wondered what it’s like to sleep on a submarine 😂

You should show the berthing space on a gator freighter, aka, amphibious ships for Marines. The Marine berthing is drastically different from the sailors berthing. At least back in the 80’s.

They're the same size and height as we had on the carrier. I was middle rack which worked well for me because I'm 6'3". I slept on the opposite side of the light because on our 3rd night out I busted my forehead on it so I flipped sides pretty quick after that lol.

Aannnndddd this is why I’m glad I was usaf. At worst I slept on a cot during training and had even if briefly before getting a house with my then wife, I had a room with a proper bed to myself. Shared a bathroom tho. Downside was the dude I shared it with next to me was a different afsc and clearly he was night shift while I was dayshift. Had to ask him to keep his music down at night so I could sleep…kinda let it be known don’t make the guy who controls your entry and exit have a bad nights sleep lol.

Sounds delightful.😢

My dad stayed in the junior officer's stateroom where the stairs are now.

The only submarine I gsve visited us the cavalla in Galveston. Thus is a hilton compared to it. Thanks, i would like to visit this ship.

I was on 5 different Diesel/electric boats in the 60's and 70's. Berthing was NEVER like this for the enlisted man E6 and below.

I like the way everyone complains about the services they chose.. there is no draft. You know the army, navy and marines talking about living arrangements. I joined the Air force and was an imagery interpreter. Best food I ever had. One man rooms.. and once I broke a sweat in my work area and we were sent out until the air conditioner was fixed because we could not sweat with the materials we were handling. All I can say is you chose poorly.. Or… you are not complaining you are bragging about self abuse…

Ever wonder what it's like to sleep on a cot in a tent in the desert eating field chow and MRE's for a year?

I would think if the President was on the boat the Captain would be the one sharing a room with the XO

Spent an overnight in the Silversides. Never forget the smell of diesel that permeated the air.

Jeeze, compare that to 140 man berthing on an aircraft carrier. Same rack, but with curtains for the 4th wall.

had that on destroyer 3 high bunks had hammocks on cruiser 4 high

Speaking just for me, and couple million in Army green...Eff That! Rather be snoozing in rattletrap called an M-113! 🤣😂🤣

Probably moved due to the noise from the wardroom

0:10 I was really hoping you would explain what those openings in the bulkhead were.

I would be like Johnson bumping his head every time he tried getting out of bed. Ouch.

The worst part of getting out of the navy was leaving my friend's behind.

I literally couldn't straighten my legs in there.

I could live with the limited space but that “wood” paneling would have to go!

I used to be a submarine

Bottom line: Submarines are not for the claustrophobic.

Ever heard of the term "Paint and Powder"?

No patrol sock on the rack

Better than sleeping on a torpedo skid. Don't ask me how I know.

35 years (1970-2005) in the US submarine force and I never heard a bunk referred to as a "coffin rack." Silly nonsense.

Nope, not for me. Know a guy that spent almost an entire Navy career on subs. He's 4'10" .

damn, being homeless looks better than that. and i've been homeless

Thats the Marriot , compared to a WW2 submarine , especially a German one . They were some of the worst .

Why 6-hour watches instead of 8-hour watches?

Man the amount of times you smack your head

Laughs in diesel boat. DBF.

6ft 2in of room, great, I’m 6ft 6in, have enough trouble with normal beds.

I'm built like an offensive lineman...I wouldn't fit in those racks

Im 5ft4, comfy ;)

They shouldn’t let pregnant people onto submarines. Seems like a terrible place for birthing

Rockabye baby seabag bunk under mattress body always in motion get over sea sickness as best you can good food learn as much as you can while you can. More school after hitch !

So instead of just pointing to the XO state room, why don’t you actually show us you standing there talking that’s boring. 👎

What is up with all that simulated wood grain?!

And now bringing in women on Sub's...I am sure that they are not as spartan as the men's quarters?

MAYBE they have a coffee pot in the Goat Locker ?

Yeah it must suck bad enough being pregnant on a submarine, but actually having to spit the kid out down there too....

Why would they let a pregnant woman get on a submarine in the first place?!🤣

Claustrophobic !!!

Spent 24 hours on a sub as a midshipman. That was more than enough. Fascinating warfare specialty but not for me.