Do submariners get fat on duty/how do submariners stay fit?

[CrumpetsForAll]

Yes I’ve been watching The Vigil. Does anyone know this important bit of naval info?!

I wonder what the "highlights" or "good times" of a deployment look like? What are the submariners' version of fresh hot pizza at the office or a triathlon on a ship's deck?

@whatausername firing eachother out of the torpedo tubes, telling your mates you’re on the surface and getting them to open the lid when you’re not, foam party day, loads of japes!

@Poshjock when I did it this reallt cocky bloke had to be removed. He froze and wedged himself in a bunk. I thoroughly enjoyed it once he left. The next night he stubbed a fag out on the wardroom rug!!

I've got a photo somewhere of a BBQ party on the 'deck' of a submarine at a line crossing ceremony. Someone is dressed as Atlantis & a few blokes as mermaids.

Yeah I’ve seen my mates pictures of BBQ on deck when the boat is surfaced. Sunbathing on the steel beach . Moose milk. When I went onboard, because I was the first person in I was invited to the seniors mess where they’d just made a vat of it. Cost the poor chap who invited me in a fortune in “fines”. Moose milk is lovely. It’s a Canadian navy thing but apparently adopted by the SS.

Here you all go:

Hey I’m watching How to Command a Nuclear Submarine. Check it out now on Prime Video! https://watch.amazon.co.uk/detail?asin=B07RHDVQZZ&territory=GB&ref=shareeiosseason&r=web

I love these kind of threads on mumsnet.

I've got a photo somewhere of a BBQ party on the 'deck' of a submarine at a line crossing ceremony. Someone is dressed as Atlantis & a few blokes as mermaids.

My dad’s ship in WWII did a big “crossing the Arctic Circle for the first time” thing with a ceremony and a signed certificate from Neptune.

Was he merchant navy? The arctic conveys had the highest death rate of any service but loads of them felt guilt because they didnt wear uniforms

He was Royal Navy, working on aircraft on an escort carrier for the arctic convoys. Lots of stories, as you can imagine. Ended up in India after the war until he was demobbed.

What sort of salary would a submariner be looking at? (I know it obviously varies with rank)

I don't think there's enough money in the world you could pay me. Mainly because I'm too fat to fit through those little ladder holes, but I guess I'd probably not be once I'd done 6 months

What happens if someone suddenly has a panic attack

If this continued would they be collected ?

Makes me feel panicky thinking about it

I'm not at all bothered about it being realistic or not. I'll watch a depressing film by Ken Loach if I want that! I love programs with lots of drama, set somewhere I've never been, with some nice clothes, so I'm very happy! Enjoying this thread and all the details about the subs. I find it fascinating, but without any desire to be in one of those very small spaces.

I feel like I need the astronaut equivalent of this thread too. Anyone married to an astronaut?

I remember reading some posts on MN from submariners' wives and the thing that stuck out was "the smell".

They tried to describe it, but apparently everything the DHs brought home was absolutely vile and multiple washing cycles couldn't rid of it.

It's a thing apparently.

Submarines used to be made with tons of rubber so i reckon the smells improved

And the crew went about naked like miners

@BrozTito

Submarines used to be made with tons of rubber so i reckon the smells improved

Ah that's a bonus then, because if all the submariners do get fat presumably the submarine can expand to accommodate them. Those MoD chaps really do think things through. Well sometimes

@CrumpetsForAll

What would eat the bodies in the torpedo tubes? Dear lord tell me there are not rats...

Cannibals? 😱

Oh no I don’t like the sound of that all naked in the submarine all those pubes around 🤢

Glad this isn’t written into The Vigil

Lots of pubes in das boot. There was a crabs outbreak

Fish love to nibble bodies but dont get in torpedo tubes afaik

@OhWhyNot

Oh no I don’t like the sound of that all naked in the submarine all those pubes around 🤢

Glad this isn’t written into The Vigil

I might give up all forms of hair removal for 6 months. Just so I can get that submarine experience without the lack of air and downtime 😂

Are they allowed beards then? Shaving would waste water but some PPE might not get a good seal with full facial hair?

The war fighting type PPE against chemical and biological attack isn't needed on a submarine (but you're right, you need to be clean shaven for a good seal on that type)

The scenario where they would need it is firefighting, and it's a different type - hoods, I think, so facial hair not relevant. What I'm not sure about is whether the firefighting type is also good enough for industrial type chemical incidents.

Documentary on a Vanguard class submarine on channel 5 now!!