It’s birthday month for the U.S. Submarine force and, while the official birthday is April 11 and I’m going to post accordingly on that day, I just had to post this. It’s got to be about one of the funniest things I’ve seen. It’s a picture of “Fred” the polar bear gnawing on the rudder of the USS Connecticut (SSN-22). It’s old news in the submarine community as it actually happened back in April 2003. I forgot about it until I saw a recent post that mentioned it again. Sorry to say, I never had the experience of breaking through ice… seen lots of dolphins, and warm sunny shores in the Atlantic and Med… I’ve even come down from the bridge after long spells as a lookout with icicles on my brow and water down the back of my “pumpkin suit” from some wild waves that crashed across the top of the sail… but never broke ice.
According to the description of the “attack” in Wikipedia,
In April 2003, Connecticut surfaced through the Arctic ice at the University of Washington’s Applied Physics Laboratory Ice Station (APLIS). While there, she came under attack by a polar bear, which gnawed on her rudder for a while before disengaging. Connecticut was able to complete her mission and return to base under her own power.
That’s just too friggin’ funny! I’m willing to bet that another “bubblehead” actually wrote that into Wikipedia’s entry. LOL! There are more photos of the “attack” and even the approach of the menacing bear at this official Navy site!
David S.
April 3, 2009
Didn’t know you were a submariner! I also like the line from wikipedia “Connecticut is inedible.”
I used to live in the Tidewater/Norfolk area of VA, home to about a dozen bases. One of the most impressive sights is watching a coning tower plow through the water of the Chesapeake Bay.
cenantua
April 3, 2009
Yup, started my stint in the Navy as an airdale and switched to subs ’cause I didn’t want to be part of a ship with 5,000 crew members. Wanted something more and something different, so became a bubblehead. Cursed that life and loved it too… some of the best and worst days of my life. Oh, those Bay transits… were ok in the warmer months, but subs don’t like winter weather on the surface. Rolllllllls! Took about two transits out for me to get used to it, then I laughed my rear off watching other buddies turn green and running to the heads, especially “fresh fish” who were new onboard. Ha ha!
Craig Swain
April 3, 2009
Headline reads, “U.S. Navy disturbs Polar Bear refuge – Hunts Bear with Submarine”
“…. a Navy spokesman said, ‘these new Mk 46 torpedoes are great!’. However the World Wildlife Federation is filing a protest….”
cenantua
April 3, 2009
I’m actually surprised that an article very similar to that didn’t appear from the anti-submarine/anti-nuke crowd. Hmm, might be a good idea for a new submarine movie – Hunting for Polar Bears! Nah, not catchy enough.
cenantua
April 3, 2009
Hmmm, this may be a faulty story… Mk 46s!? I thought those were phased out on subs years ago.
Craig Swain
April 3, 2009
Look, you can call me out on the Navy ordnance any day! I only know that stuff from the museums and the cap. briefs from years back. But if you want to talk about things that really matter, like tanks and howitzers….
cenantua
April 3, 2009
Tanks, howitzers, surface ships, etc., etc…. you know, in the submarine force, we had a name for everything that wasn’t a submarine… we called them “targets.” I think the only exception was anything that flew… we weren’t geared to deal with them, but then, from my experience, we didn’t have to worry about them too much. I have a great story about a P-3 trying to find us and failing miserably. Not to slight our own people, but either we were really good at being quiet and undetectable or they were really bad at finding us… but you didn’t hear that from me…
James F. Epperson
April 6, 2009
My wife & son thought this was hilarious! Thanks for sharing…
cenantua
April 7, 2009
Hi James… Glad you all enjoyed!