Voted America's Most Realistic Submarine Documentary Movie 

Aircraft carriers are as spectacular as submarines. Here's a piece of my movie from the flight deck ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sDG7GQqwbzY.html

I was a staff instructor at NPTU Idaho Falls, S5G prototype in 1974. During a scheduled repair shutdown, I was the Reactor Compartment Entry Watch. Adm. Rickover came to the prototype for an inspection. He requested permission to enter the reactor compartment but I could not give him permission as he did not have a green card on file. The officer escorting started to berate me, asking me if I did not know who he was, etc. Rickover looked at the officer and told him that this young petty officer was only doing his duty. He looked at me and said, "Well done, son." Stayed in for 20 years, 2 months, and 28 days. Most respect for this man.

As a former British seaman, I'm so glad these guys are on our side. Brave, professional, friendly, and proud submariners God bless the US submarine service.

When we volunteered for sub duty in basic training, 3 of us really didn't give it much thought. The extra pay sounded good, plus knowing we would have 18 months of in classroom training before going to sea. Next thing you know, 21 yrs later and 4 boats, 2 tenders and shore duty, retired. Best time of our lives, great teamwork, really miss the sense of mission. Took good while to adjust to civilian life where co workers only cared about getting the paycheck, do least amt work possible. This is highly accurate...but can't recreate the smells, noise, constant hum of ventilation below decks. :)

My father served in the Navy for 26 years, most of that time as a submariner. He went to the Naval Academy, class of 1954. Served on one diesel boat, the USS Segundo, followed by the Swordfish, the FBM Sam Rayburn, the Guitaro and the Vallejo. He served as a navigator, a weapons officer, an executive officer and twice as a CO. He finished as a division commander and finally as a squadron commander. He absolutely loved the submarine service and was gone on patrol for nearly eleven years during his career. The crews are as close or closer than any flight crew or SEAL team, IMO.

My nephew when asked by his mom if one aspect of his job was dangerous replied: "We fill a 400' long tube with pipes full of 1500 psi live steam,440 volt current running everywhere, torpedoes, ballistic rockets with massive warheads and a nuclear reactor. Then we SINK IT ON PURPOSE. EVERY thing we do is dangerous.."

Having served on USS Ohio (Gold Crew) SSBN-726, I can say that leadership is especially important on a submarine. A bad leadership team is toxic. And a good one is elevating and inspiring. I served both.

"We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." ― Winston Churchill

That is the way it was. I was an MS, or CS, as it is called now, for 4 years on Augusta SSN 710. Next ship after this one. I miss it every day and watching this brought back fond and froughtfull memories.

I was stationed on the USS Hyman G. Rickover SSN-709, reported onboard very shortly after this was filmed and knew many of these guys. I served onboard three surface ships before volunteering for sub duty and servicing on three fast attack submarines. I'm very proud to have severed onboards submarines. Many exiting, very boring, funny, strange and even a few scary times and events. My favorite submarine was the USS Hammerhead (SSN-663). Thanks for posting.

I was a submarine officer for 8 years.. and born the year this film was made. Amazing how little has changed from the submarine accommodations, to the training, to the legacy of Rickover. Thanks for sharing.

I’m an aviator, but I totally understand the submarine ethic. It speaks volumes of talent, and desire to be part of a specialized tribe. When you chose to become a member, you join a brotherhood that can’t be explained outside your sub. I was also part of a specialized aviation unit and it was exciting and fulfilling .I salute all those working in subs because you’re doing work most couldn’t do.

I was a sonar technician on the USS Salt Lake City SSN-716 from 1997-2001. This documentary brings back so many memories. I could sit down at those sonar stacks and operate them like I was still in. Thank you for making this available.

Back when documentaries actually taught you something rather than just entertain you. There aren't many military docs that I've seen in the last 10 years that were even half as good as this. Excellent job.

After 18 years under water in 688 and 637 class submarine I feel I can comment meaningfully. Best group of co workers in my life with a level of dedication found no where else! Lots of good times with moments of shear terror, not for everyone, but I would do it all again if I were a younger man. Go Navy!

I was a surface Sonar Technician (STG) assigned to two Knox Class Frigates during the Cold War (1977-81). Finding and tracking Soviet subs was our primary mission (Anti-Submarine Warfare) while deployed. At that time, the Soviet Navy had more submarines than anyone on the planet. Our main targets were the "Boomers", or ballistic subs. The US Navy used their own Fast Attack subs to track boomers, along with ASW surface ships and various aircraft. There were also stationary sonar arrays near Greenland and in the Bering Sea. Many of the Soviet subs were noisy, and we took advantage of this. One of my ships, the USS Hewes, FF-1086, deployed a passive towed sonar array (TASS). We nicknamed it the 'tail'. We often acquired and tracked very long range targets (in the thousands of miles) when temperature, salinity and other factors were good. Our own subs also deploy TASS.

I was a qualified Reactor Operator (RPCP) on a Permit (Formerly Thresher) class fast attack submarine. My enlistment ended in 1972. This documentary brought back many memories.

I will never forget deploying on the USS Tarawa LHA1 on my first Westpac in 1986, while watching as we left port I watched as our submarine submerged, never to be seen again until 6 months later as our battle group returned it came to the surface, I'm so happy that I wasn't a bubblehead...

Other documentary directors should take note : What an excellent documentary ,no stupid music no silly camera angles and clear narration ,thank for the film 10/10

I was in DEP in 1986, and one of our tours was on a sub at Point Loma. I'm 6'1" and the first thing I did was hit my head ducking down the ladder, then I slammed my knee against the bulkhead. Submarines are not the place for gangly, uncoordinated, tall people :). I wound up on the USS Enterprise working in AIMD - as far from a submarine as I could get. In fact my rate was AX (it's now combined with AT) which was Aviation Anti-Submarine Warfare Technician. I worked on sonar gear basically that was used to hunt subs from airborne platforms.

My father left the Navy in the late 1950's. He was an officer and a scientist. Dad helped build atomic reactors at Westinghouse Corp, Admiral Rickover's program! I still remember when the USS Thresher was lost on her sea trials! Dad and his co-workers were relieved when there was no problem with the reactor. Sad loss for the submarine fleet! I was only a child but I knew how terrible that loss was for the USA! ⚓⚓⚓⚓

David, MM1/SS Puig here. Here are some sub anecdotes I collected over the years... enjoy: Part 1: Kenneth Reed • I was a section adviser at NNPS in Orlando. One of my students had just failed an exam, and I took him to the Class Director (MMCM) for further counseling. The Class Director (MMCM) was dressing down the student for not completing his required study program. The CD told him, "I'll lead a horse to water, but I'll be damned if I'll suck on his ass to make him drink!" I was in tears, standing behind the student. Dave Smith • Early 60's...USS Von Steuben on patrol...family grams were limited to 15 words, and were carefully censored for cryptic or 'suggestive' messages. According to my RM buddy, one that he saw get through read: "Me, kids and parents fine. Love and miss you. Car won't start. Bring home crank." David Riegler • A long time ago I was convinced that I needed to fill out an ID-10-T form. To this day I still use it. A neighbor was recently running for County Councilman and I asked him if he had filled out his required ID-10- T form. He asked the County Clerk and the Republican Party Leader before someone had him spell it out. Priceless! Tom Mitchell • Once a coner came to maneuvering and said that he must have an ear infection, because “his Fallopian tubes were swollen”. Phil Saner • SK 3rd Laundry Queen doing the CO's laundry. Toasted them! Use Gomer Pyle voice, "When they're smok'in they're dry'in, when they're burnt they're done." CO had to 'borrow' underwear for the rest of the patrol. Butch Ford • Back on my first boat The Daniel Webster SSBN 626, I was standing Sonar Supervisor and a JO came in for his 4 hour sonar indoc before going to his CO interview. We of course explained all of the equipment how it worked what it was used for etc. One of the pieces of gear the BQR-7 had a steering wheel like device on the front panel and a red button in the center of it. He asked what the button was for, and I explained with a strait face that is was a low frequency whale horn to chase away whales. He wrote it down like what I told him was gospel. A few hours later the CO comes and finds me on the mess decks watching the movie and was laughing so hard while he was trying to chew my a$$ out. That JO wound up being my DivO the next run. He never trusted me... I wonder why? Mark Martin • On the Teddy R back in the late 70's we had a RM2 from Puerto Rico with a thick accent. When he stood Below Decks you would hear on the 1MC "There are divers in the sail and mens in the water, no radiate or rotate nothin" Gray Miller • where to even start… the cook that came aft with a box of crackers ready to 'feed the shaft seals'. Christopher Reyes • We had a guy who talked really slow . One night, about 4 AM, he was testing the bridge case before surfacing, "This is a test of the 1MC from the bridge. 5...4....2..1...Correction, 3. This completes the test." Same guy, different day. I was Ship's Duty Officer onboard USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul SSN 708. The officers had just been lambasted for topside routinely not piping the CO off correctly. I hear " Minneapolis departing." XO is already turning red. I looked at him and said "Don't worry XO, he'll pipe you as Saint Paul when you leave." Port and Starboard. Norman Brent WHAM • I believe one of our SOPs stated; "Cussing is prohibited, but, a salty comment now and then may be appropriate". Duane Kleven • One of our XOs famously explained that there is no yelling and screaming on submarines, it’s “training at a high decibel level.” Robert Leeper • the KISS principle… Keep it simple stupid. First Chief in A school, use it to this day. Michael Beezley, P.E. • The 50-50-90 Rule. If there is a 50-50 chance, you will be wrong 90% of the time. Mike Wheeler The version I know of that statement is "if a nuke is given the 50-50 chance, 90% of the time he will get it right." Steven Grim • Another gem from ol' Navy days: Why fart and waste it, when you can belch and taste it! Mark Gaskill • My XO called the PRT the "semi annual brush with death" Franklin Gillis • The one that sticks with me the most is returning from my first patrol on USS Rhode Island as the Maneuvering Watch Petty Officer of the Deck, MM1 Fred Mounce (crusty A-Ganger, and my former sea dad) popped his head out of the Missile Compartment LET and asked if I could see any FAT, UGLY, WOMEN on the pier. I replied no I hadn't. Fred sighed and said "Damn, my wife’s not here" and went back below. I was speechless and still think about it. Stephen Chickos • I still use "If you ain't got nothing to do, don't do it here..". Since all the techs are ex-Navy or retired Navy, they scatter like cockroaches when the lights come on. Mike Arsuaga • How about to old rejoinder to quit the yacking and bring the results that goes something like "I don't want to hear the labor pains. I want to see the baby." Joe Perry • The stupid shall be punished - Lou Sykes SUBLANT CMC and my personal favorite after regaining consciousness following a 450vac arm to head electric shock then EM3 (now LCDR) Mark Yates - "Man, what that like tasking copper, smelling ozone and feeling the wrath of God?" Brian Blodgett • Don't worry about the fire - the flooding will put it out!

“You never really leave the boats” So true! 23 years on SSN’s, been retire since 2005 and would go back today… Only a Bubblehead can understand. Almost made me tear.

The new USS Rickover (SSN-795) is a Virginia class sub placed in service in August 2021. I wish her good luck and trust that she will equal or surpass SSN-709's fine service record. I'm guessing that 11 months later that she has completed her sea trials and may possibly be on patrol as I write this. GODSPEED brave crew, Submariners are America's finest. We all can take pride in our Silent Service, the best in the world.

I was an AO at Whidbey NAS. I don’t think I’d be a great candidate for submarine duty, I have huge respect for those that do. It looks like this was filmed in the late 80’s on a LA class 688? Very well done documentary.

Visited the submarine memorial in Pearl Harbour in 2014 and was shocked to learn that the USN lost 52 submarines in WW2,that equates to about 1 a month during the war.Forever on silent patrol .RIP .Lest We Forget.

I joined the submarine service in 1962 qualified on 5 submarines including a diesel boat. I think of the life often. The COB was very wise you never leave. The men I served with were some of the finest I have ever known. I just wouldn’t let my daughter date one.

worked in ICU for 35 years after my nuc sub short career. Took 20 of those years for medicine to learn to repeat back verbatim any order to prevent errors of understanding. This film brings back vivid memories of those two month patrols.

Thank you. I was a submariner 45 years ago, and this really hit home.

I was onboard when this was filmed. Really miss my time with these guys. We did alot of drills for the film crew.

It is not a ship. It is a boat! SSBN625 Blue Crew. Outstanding documentary.

Thank you for this Mr. Hoffman. “Former” submariner here, electrician in the nuclear power program, got out in 1986. Served on USS Tecumseh and USS Lafayette. Hopefully I can get my wife to watch this!

I served on the USS Florida (B) from 1991-1994. My best stories are still things that occurred on the boat. Everyone is stellar, and it was a big drop down from the quality of the crew to a normal civilian work environment.

I served on a nuclear submarine for four years from 1977-81. The Officers from LT (O-3) Up had been personally interviewed by ADM Rickover when they applied for nuclear power school. Man did they have stories about him!

What luxuries. I served in Fire Control on two Diesel/Electric "boats" the late 1960's. No laundry, a 30 sec shower every 8 days, hot bunk, and coffee with a film of diesel. Narragansett Bay.

Cavalry vet here. I watched this with amazement. I now have a better understanding and a profound respect for submariners. Different breed for sure. Tip of my Stetson to you all.

Great Documentary! My oldest brother served on SSBN726 (Ohio). I joined the army and became a Green Beret. We each thought the other one was crazy. Mad respect to all the crews of our silent service. De Oppresso Liber!

34 years in the Nav and 5 Subs. I miss the intensity and professionalism. I am proud of it but it is a young man's game and I could never hack it now.

having served in the Marine Corps, I don't know how you submariners do it....alot of respect.

I jumped out of planes for the Army,15 years and submariner's always had my respect it takes real bravery to get into a boat and sink in intentionally hat's off to you guys

This was my first submarine from 2003 - 2007. Great memories from my time there. This was simply excellent. Excellent.

Served aboard SSBN 635(B) early seventies. SK2(SS) Six patrols in the North Atlantic. Some of the most dedicated and professional crews you could imagine. In addition to my 24hr on call supply duties, I stood diving planes and later sonar watches. One of a thousand memories can be triggered by a sound, smell, even a number. The narrator was right. You never really leave the boat. We volunteered twice.

I served on the USS Pennsylvania SSBN 735 as a member of the Navigation Division. Miss those times, many of my Facebook friends were brothers I served alongside with. Every submariner, male or female, is part of a close-knit community, and I would do it all over again if given the chance. It was hard, stress levels were high, and you felt isolated. So why would anyone want this you may ask? Because, if a person can handle being on a submarine, if he or she can prove to themselves and their fellow Submariners that they deserve the coveted title of a Submariner, then no matter what, that person will always be a Submariner. A Submariner could have qualified in submarines over 50 years ago, and he is still a Submariner. This is a title only bestowed to those truly worthy of it, and very few people have earned it. Every Submariner reading this, you are my brother or sister, and I'm damn proud of you and I would gladly serve with you. I qualified in submarines in December 2003, a moment I'll remember always, and I'll always be a Submariner. ETV2(SS) Glenn Scroggins 🇺🇸

Spent 3.5 yrs on a 688 class.. same as featured in this documentary ..USS Boston SSN 703...I'm glad I served.. sometimes I miss being at sea..

Dear Mr. Hoffman, I am the Carrier Sailor who has corresponded with you about Flight Deck previously. After retiring, I worked for many years with a retired Sailor who served in the 'Silent Service'. He used to regale me with stories about hunting U.S. Navy targets - including my former carriers! Everything was a 'target' to them, and much of the time our sub-service technicians were unable to locate or identify such subs. Much respect to your meticulous attention to detail in this video.

I joined the Royal Navy in 1962, served on surface ships until 1972, then joined the submarine navy in Australia, as they said in the video it was like I had found my little slot in the world, this is where I belonged. I served until 1988. We had diesel boats, but the dangers and comraderie were the same.

I served on this boat from '89 to '93. I miss all the friends I served with while onboard the Rickover.

I was 611 and 642 blue crews. Every submarine disaster still hits me hard and my last patrol ended September 1975! All submarine crews are family. Every one even the Russians presumably hunting for me back then. I hope the men and now women are kept safe. Smooth sailing.

I think that the last two minutes of the film epitomised the word ‘submariner’. A special brotherhood of men, that once committed , are always a submariner. I am 80+ years old and spent 32 years in the Royal Navy Submarine Service. I retired as a Warrant Officer 1st class and would give anything to do one more patrol. I served on T,A, P and O, SSN and SSBN. I trained 6 different Navies and am perhaps one of a very few people ever who served on a German U- Boat. I have the greatest admiration and respect for every submariner of every nation - WE ARE ALL BROTHERS

My dad served many years in submarines starting with Silversides (SS) 236 and ending on Scamp SS(N) 588. He put her in commission. He was proud of serving in submarines

What a flood of memories. The year this was filmed I made Chief. You never leave the submarine service, no matter how long you've been retired.

I was a 3rd generation USN and 2nd generation submarine veteran. Alot of people and even my family has asked what it is like serving on submarines. I give them a vague answer, but they don't understand. My dad and I have talked about our times on boats, but there are things that we don't talk about. Be safe and be 😎

What an awesome piece of history! My father was in the navy, did two tours in Vietnam on a river patrol boat. He also spent some time on a sub. He always told me how impressed he was with the sub, how organized everything was, the synchronicity, professionalism, and the sheer power of stealth. These are weapons of war that have the power to change the world forever. America's ability to build these weapons and operate them give us an incredible edge. Every president knows the power of our subs and prays they never have to use them. Subs are part of America's insurance policy in an unsure world.

I was on subs as a nuke on a fast attack and a boomer. Boomers were definitely better duty. I met Rickover 4 times - each time was very memorable. The fact that you could put 96 guys together on a sealed boat for ~95 days and still have 96 guys sane and in one piece when you pulled in was amazing and a testament to the screening involved to be a submariner. Note that the video left the back (engineering) half of the boat out of the video (classified / no-foreign). The video brings back a lot of memories. Zumewalt's book On-Watch had a chapter called the Rickover Connection which described Rickover to a T. An excellent read that I highly recommend. - Thanks so much for uploading it!

Dear Mr. Hoffman, It is highly remarkable how far we've come in the class of Submarines we have today. Having first hand knowledge & experience of how vulnerable the men were who served on these boats during WW2 was night & day compared to today. They truly were beyond brave. There should be a memorial in Washington DC just for them.

Submariner myself, Plank Owner USS SCRANTON SSN- 756 , seeing this brings back so many great memories. To this very day the friends I served with I consider them family even more than my actual blood relatives.

Love this Film! I spent 20 years on submarines. Probably the best life choice I ever made. I served under Capt. Lemkin aboard the Michigan SSBN 727 on my last tour. Quite a guy. I really liked the British guy, CDR Compton-Hall, he seemed to really understand what a submarines are all about. One thing they didn’t or couldn’t tell you is that Admiral McKee is pretty much a legend. Read “Blind Man’s Bluff” great book about submarine missions in the Cold War, If you want to know more about him and the others of that era. If you’ve got the aptitude I highly recommend the Submarine Service you’ll never find a more challenging or fulfilling life.

22 year LA Class submarine vet here. This is an amazing film! Most authentic I have seen. It gave me “flashbacks” of a sort. Thank you for your painstaking capture of detail including what the uninitiated might think are mundane. They’re not. They’re the context that gives true, unvarnished meaning.

Extremely proud to be part of building the Virginia class and soon the Columbia. Every day we remind each other about the importance of our product and those who are aboard.

As a Navy Nuclear Power Operator, we never went to Sub School (circa 1988 to 1994). We got vetted in a completely different (and unique) way. I volunteered at MEPS for Sub's and knew that is what I wanted to do as a US Navy Nuke. I then qualified almost everything in the forward end of The Boat (which is what you witnessed in this movie) after qualifying everything in the Engine Room. I loved (almost) every minute of the 6 years I served the USN. Great folks in a demanding career. I've never experienced that level of teamwork (before or) again. I work at a Commercial Nuclear Power Plant today thanks to the USN and its mentoring / schooling. A good number of us reminisce about our Sub-Life (past tense) and we are still in the business of picking on the Surface Sailor's every chance we get. Some things never change!

I served on only 1 sub, the USS Baltimore SSN 704. This documentary gets it right.

Sub vet here. Great documentary! I got out in 1985, so this is all very familiar to me. One note on your comments about the skipper. On one boat we went from a Captain we respected and admired to one that, during our WEPS qualification, showed he was timid and indecisive. That made us feel like we had a good chance of him getting us killed in a hostile situation. The effect on attitude and morale was devastating. Compare that to another boat I was on where the skipper was smart, aggressive, tactically brilliant, and would back his crew to the hilt. We would go anywhere and do anything for that man, and it made a bond in the crew that was stronger than steel.

My grandfather just keeps me interested.. .very proud of him and his talent. Serving silent service ww2. RIP Pappa.... USS SCABERFISH

A heartfelt salute from an aircraft carrier vet (USS Coral Sea, CV-43) to my brothers of the deep.

I served on the older diesel electric boats, I qualified on the USS Harder, SS568 and on the USS Odax, SS484. I was the navigator (QM3SS). I was in 1963-1966. I sure miss those days.

So this is like 20-30 years old documentary. So much better then today's Discovery, NatGeo and others disaster channels.

"It could be that you're already killed, you just haven't found it out yet" Capt Edward L Beach referring to the highly technical nature of modern undersea warfare. Chilling.

That first scene on the bridge where the OOD, Conning Officer, Diving Officer, Helmsman, etc. (Excuse me if I'm not calling them the correct thing I was a surface guy) are all communicating and giving and taking orders makes me nostalgic.

A special group of individuals. Not many people can handle what is required of this duty.

"even when he retires, he never really leave the boats" - the Truest statement in the life of a Submariner. I would go to sea today if given the opp to serve again.

This is documentary filmmaking of the highest order. It gets under the skin of the subject without being intrusive. Bravo.

I was stationed in Charleston doing boomer patrols as a sonarman out of Kings Bay when this was made. This is a really good film. I'm surprised at how much access they gave the filmmakers. We were still heavy into the Cold War. This really hits home. Thanks for making it available. I never saw it before.

Even though I served in the United States military myself in another branch, I totally understand and respect any sailor who served the silent service.

When I was in the Marine Corp I had the utmost respect for the submariners! Even being in a branch of service that serves on the sea you still have no clue what these men go through. Like the movie said they are in a war state at all times. They are fighting the sea. Keeping the water out. Making sure you dont hit a surface ship. Playing cat and mouse if you encounter an opposing sub. Making sure you dont hit an undersea mountain, drilling rig pipe, derelict wreckage. Your alertness is required at all times. It is a level of stress and tension that is unperalelled. We had some submariners join us for a short time in 2nd AAV so they could understand what coastal assualt was. So they could develop and practice tactics to cover our ass. While we are out there launching helicopters, VTOL jets and driving out assault vehicals off the back of the ship how could they help us. How could they best sink the frigate, destroyer, or other sub gunning for us without getting in our way. Without making a mistake and taking us out. Anytime I would see the sub badge over a row of ribbons or sewn on the tops of fatigues I knew they could be depended on. That they strived to be the best at whatever task they had. As a Unit Diary Clerk i was also a Rifleman and in one of my units a recon patrolman too. With that sub badge you knew they could be a cook but also needed to be a mechanic capable of stopping a leak, a corpman capable of stoping someone's bleeding, a fireman, a counselor, a teacher and so much more. They are among those elite of the services that do not get the same recognition as SEALS, Green Berets, Air Assualt but they deserve so much more. There dedication, knowledge, sacrifices and security they provide us put them in a class of there own.

The original Deep Dive series. This is awesome.

This is an excellent documentary. My father was a career submariner during the Cold War. His first command was an attack boat, U.S.S. Cubera 347. Then on to command SQD 6 SUBDIV61. I was very fortunate to have spent a great deal of time on the boats. From U.S.S. Skipjack SSN 585 and the legendary Nautilas SSN 571 way back in the 1960s, in addition to several deisel-electric boats, including the Cubera. Memories I will cherish for the rest of my life.

I was going to post something silly, but then I saw the comments from real sub veterans below. My respects gentlemen!

I'm an oldster now having served on diesel boats between 68-72 ... two long westpacs. Once a submariner always a submariner. DBF/AMF

I am so proud of our guys that silently roam around our waters as well other locations protecting us and our interest. Submariners that I have known and met are very special and very strong and independent people. Thank you for your service and all that you and your families sacrifice to ensure our country is safe.

I was a P3 Orion acoustic operator, but I worked at IUSS (SOSUS) twice. Working with the subsurface sonar techs was interesting.

Dallas (SSN-700) 1989-1992' Pittsburgh (SSN-720) 1996-1997. Machinery Division. Great film. Brought back memories.

My dad was a navy enlisted airman starting in 68. Shamrocks, anti submarine warfare tech....Soo many crazy stories. Once in the late 70's flying in a s-3 viking, or hoover as he called it. Had a track and dropped sonar buoys. Everything was normal until my dad said "pos ident, us sub". About a minute later got a return to ship order. De briefed and was immediately shipped to mainland. They told him "you heard nothing, never do that again". And he returned to the ship. A decade later he found out what happened. Bad compressor in a mess freezer. He was right. Another time he was at a big inspection by an admiral. Apparently you don't speak to admirals? Anyway admiral made a beeline for my dad"pfc Kingsbury!" He yelled. And began chatting up with my dad in the middle of an inspection. Co of the squadron and cap of the ship pulled him into an office and began chewing him out...just when it was getting bad, door opened. Admiral stick is head in "pfc Kingsbury, I was wondering if you would like to have dinner with me!" He was my father's pilot in vietnam, they were shot down together mapping sam sites. God I regret not writing these stories down while he was still here. If I live to 150 I can't live half the life he did...he died two years ago.

We are a Navy family ! My Uncle was a Pearl Harbor Survivor on an ammunition ship! He quit high school and enlisted under age! Those Pearl Harbor Survivor Reunions were really something else! ⚓⚓⚓⚓⚓⛵⚓⚓⚓GO NAVY!

In the early sixties I served on a sub-tender. Many of our Officers and Chiefs were WWII, with that fleet boat with many diamonds. They were a fine group of men. I had the best duty imaginable.

My take, as a former submariner, is no one whose been a qualified Submariner ever leaves it. It is forever ingrained

Thanks for the memories. I qualified on the first ballistic missile submarine. USS George Washington SSBN 598. 1971-1975. I worked on several pieces of equipment which had serial numbers like: XXX, 00001, 0000. Not a very comforting feeling at 200 ft depth. We experienced flooding, fires, radio active water spills. My longest without surfacing was 72 days. I was 21 when I came onboard. The average age was about 23. ETN2 SS 1969-1978. Today I was in contact with 3 friends that were on the boat with me. Life long friendships. 50 years.

I miss it!!! It was in the early '90s that I watched Sharks of Steel with my dad and that was a selling point for me. Little did I know that I would make it a twenty-year career!!

I went through Navy Enlisted Submarine School a few years after this was filmed. That was an exhilarating experience. It was hard, it was fun, at the time I thought it made a man out of me. After I went through this school, I went through my rating school to become as Missile Technician. My first boat was the USS Kentucky. I arrived 13 September 1993 and started my journey to becoming a man 27 Novemeber 1993. I finished my sea going ventures 26 June 2010 and retired 31 Januray 2012.

As a retired submariner, it is nice to see a realistic portrayal of what went through, the space, the closeness, the stress and the day to day grind that is a submarine patrol. I tip my cap to you David for this film, and all that assisted in the making of it. It is a shame, that way too many people simply don't understand what we went through, and maybe that is for the best!

RIP Mr. Tony. He was one of my instructors going through aircrew school.

My great nephew is on a nuclear attack sub. (US Navy) This film helped me understand a little bit of what's involved. Thank you for posting this.

In 1986 when this documentary was made I was a teenager in South Africa. I loved American fighter jets (still do) and had posters of US fighters in my room. My wife and I immigrated to the US 20 years ago. My older son is currently in the Navy and in a few months my younger son will be in the Army. My older son just graduated from Power School in the Navy's nuclear propulsion program. It sounds like he wants to serve on a ballistic missile submarine. I've been watching lots of Navy documentaries to learn more.

I was on board when you guys filmed this. Was an FTG2. Thank you for putting it on RU-vid!

Almost 40 years on Active Duty in the United States Navy... My two Submarine tours rank amongst the most challenging and rewarding tours I have had... to include Combat ashore... So proud to serve with such dedicated, intelligent, and hard working people... Will be with me the rest of my life, my Navy Submarine Family. V/r “TRACER”

as a retired sailor and submariner i get asked all kinds of questions regarding life aboard the boats, i then point them to this documentary. thank you for posting it to youtube.

I reported aboard my first Submarine in Dec 1970. It was an experience like no other. It was a job that demanded more from you personally, mentally, physically and emotionally than anything else I ever had to deal with. Builds character

My cousin Tom Morris did over 20 in the sub service. He is retired now and lives near Kings Bay Sub base in Georgia which was his last duty station.

“Let me yell at ‘em” is definitely something all branches of service have in common. Why on earth would anyone downvote this video?

I served on USS Dace SSN607 a Thresher class fast attack. Built in '63 it was in the first group of modern submarines, but inside its space, heat & conditions not much better than an old diesel, just a cigar shape hull, a nuc reactor & of course much better weapons & technology. The engine room was in high 90's at 85-90% humidity if we where at a 1/3 bell, at flank it was far worse than Iraq. We were always in sweat soaked, grease, slime, hydraulic oil & bilge water stained clothes as the evaporator could hardly keep up & water was reserved for the reactor. Showers & clothes washing was once a week but often missed or shutdown hence forth forever grotty. We never took our clothes off, not even when sleeping as there were always casualties, fire, loss of power, breakers tripping, sea water leaks (read as controllable flooding), battery well explosions, crashing, off course, Russians, broke down AC & general mishaps in every system, every day, never a dull moment, hardly ever time to sleep in our hot bunks @ racks, 3 guys or more) all making the sheets as gross as our uniforms. The Thresher & Scorpion sister ships just a few behind us in this class were both lost at sea, even with all the upgrades and ship yard overhauls there just seemed to be a permanent Ghost in the Machine that forever reared its head at us.We got so many upgrades and sent on so many daring missions, we wondered why us, since Los Angeles Class boats were being commissioned. Well it was money, if we go down its maybe a 30 million $ loss, a Los Angeles Class would be 300-500 million for the earliest ones. So we became the First True "Expendables", but our missions were to die for & our Captain was like Captain Kirk, an Iron set of chops on him, he wasn't afraid to screw with the Russians or go were no sub should have gone before, as we all volunteered, we were already certified nuts so we loved every second of it. So many missions, so many adventures, so many sea stories to tell, but that was during a different time, that is for another day.

I served 20 years in the Fleet Ballistic Missile (SSBN) submarine force as a Missile Technician and retired in 1993. It's true what the narrator said at the end of the documentary.....submariners may retire from the submarine service but they will always be submariners.