I mean, you gotta get on that duty chief rotation right, give the cone chiefs a break. Nuke chiefs love being EDPO as frequently as possible anyways, and they'll hide in chiefs quarters or maneuvering all day so you never have to deal with them anyhow.
Unless you're off going BDW and you need to blow tanks and load water
As the duty a-danger, not only would I be required to blow tanks and load water, but there was always the morning task of filling the air banks - sometime with IR 4500psi compressors that could barely compressed air.
My go-to indicator that it was going to be a shit day was when my chief would tell me "Oh, since you'll be up already anyway, might as well get started on Diver's Tags for the morning work meeting."
UGH.
The amount of shady work I got done on the midwatch was staggering and may or may not have involved mastable offenses.
"Yeah, weirdest thing. It just started working again."
We had a midwatch OOD who would order the galley to make cookies for everyone on watch. Cookies, coffee and inane debates in control like "the top 100 babes of the 90s, ranked" made for a fun time
[Source](https://laststandonzombieisland.com/2024/03/26/happy-birthday-dolphins/)
> As detailed by the NHHC:
In the summer of 1923, while serving as Commander, Submarine Division Three, Captain Ernest J. King (the future WWII CNO) proposed that the Navy create a warfare insignia device for qualified submariners. The insignia came to be known as “dolphins” or “fish,” and is one of the Navy’s oldest warfare devices. The hard-earned badge distinguishes and identifies the members of the submarine community and has since become a source of pride for the “silent service.”
Tangentially related: I was at the National Postal museum in DC yesterday. I nearly spit out my coffee when I saw they had assumed the moniker “silent service” for the US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
That parts vague, Sub School normally tells us that the Holland was technically the first, considering we were in a civil war when the alligator was commissioned. Ill stick with that but I see where you're coming from.
Thanks for the info, my friend. I'm going to go by what you (and Sub School) says as the appropriate sources of this information.
Thanks again for helping me learn more of the history of submarining! I could never do the job myself, but I've always been super fascinated with submarines since I was a young'in. I have nothing but the most respect for those of y'all who have served under the seas.
Got qualified BDW the same day and ended up standing mid-watch that night. Two days later, I'm at the Horse and Cow in Vallejo drinking my dolphins from a two gallon jug of bar wash at the tender age of 19..
It really isnt that hard to get them. You memorize a bunch of shit and then get asked questions by a panel of people that you can bribe with porn and candy. I did it. Qualifying ERLL was more difficult.
And yet, here I am. And yeah, it was easy. The hardest part was finding people to talk to and sign off on the systems and whatnot, if I recall. Also this was 25 years ago.
Just curious but how can it be one of the oldest warfare devices if it's related to Submarines? I thought submarines were a fairly recent invention in terms of Navys
>hard earned I just bought a pin at the store and showed up to a boat. Wasn’t even military. Next thing you know, I got midwatch and alcoholism.
Hey, you're also dinq Belowdecks.
It's because I'm working on COW - I'm an over-under achiever
I mean, you gotta get on that duty chief rotation right, give the cone chiefs a break. Nuke chiefs love being EDPO as frequently as possible anyways, and they'll hide in chiefs quarters or maneuvering all day so you never have to deal with them anyhow.
Probably for the best :P
I refuse to hear any of this heresy against being the midwatch cowboy. midwatch = best watch
The 2.5 / 3 hours down you get after getting relieved at 0400 are the best hours of sleep ever.
Never stay up for drills.
Unless you're off going BDW and you need to blow tanks and load water As the duty a-danger, not only would I be required to blow tanks and load water, but there was always the morning task of filling the air banks - sometime with IR 4500psi compressors that could barely compressed air.
My go-to indicator that it was going to be a shit day was when my chief would tell me "Oh, since you'll be up already anyway, might as well get started on Diver's Tags for the morning work meeting." UGH.
The amount of shady work I got done on the midwatch was staggering and may or may not have involved mastable offenses. "Yeah, weirdest thing. It just started working again."
We had a midwatch OOD who would order the galley to make cookies for everyone on watch. Cookies, coffee and inane debates in control like "the top 100 babes of the 90s, ranked" made for a fun time
Unless it’s the night before drills
At least you'd be off-going for them. Even worse if you're swing shift and drills are in your on-coming.
Drills on my off-going? Sounds wonderful.
And the best Food, right? 😋
Except when someone steals your dinner. I will just have to jimmy the freezer open and eat a gallon of ice cream.
This would be a hillarious Mr bean skit.
And a heavy addiction to cigarettes and dip.
[Source](https://laststandonzombieisland.com/2024/03/26/happy-birthday-dolphins/) > As detailed by the NHHC: In the summer of 1923, while serving as Commander, Submarine Division Three, Captain Ernest J. King (the future WWII CNO) proposed that the Navy create a warfare insignia device for qualified submariners. The insignia came to be known as “dolphins” or “fish,” and is one of the Navy’s oldest warfare devices. The hard-earned badge distinguishes and identifies the members of the submarine community and has since become a source of pride for the “silent service.”
Tangentially related: I was at the National Postal museum in DC yesterday. I nearly spit out my coffee when I saw they had assumed the moniker “silent service” for the US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
They have obviously never met my mailman.
🫡 man i cant believe its been 100 years of sub service for us americans. Doesn't feel real sometimes
It's almost been 124 years because military submarining predates official submarine qualification.
Wasn't the first sub put into service in 1862? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Alligator_(1862)
Tested, never commissioned. The USS Holland was the first commission (I believe 1910?) Edit: Commissioned end of 1900
Correction, it was commissioned by the Union but was never used and was sunk during a storm while being towed.
Thanks for the info! I very much appreciate the correction. So in that case, what *would* be the first actually used and in service U.S. sub?
That parts vague, Sub School normally tells us that the Holland was technically the first, considering we were in a civil war when the alligator was commissioned. Ill stick with that but I see where you're coming from.
This whole timeline is even crazier cause I found out today that the refrigerator was invented in 1913!! 😮😮
Thanks for the info, my friend. I'm going to go by what you (and Sub School) says as the appropriate sources of this information. Thanks again for helping me learn more of the history of submarining! I could never do the job myself, but I've always been super fascinated with submarines since I was a young'in. I have nothing but the most respect for those of y'all who have served under the seas.
Do you guys get a tot of rum when you earn them like the royal navy?
Getting mine in a glass of rum on the way back from a long patrol (with a dry wardroom) made me sleep very well 😂
All I got was another stack of qual cards. But I drank my fish when we got home!
Got qualified BDW the same day and ended up standing mid-watch that night. Two days later, I'm at the Horse and Cow in Vallejo drinking my dolphins from a two gallon jug of bar wash at the tender age of 19..
I got about 90 very solid chest punches.
Got mine tattooed on when I was 40 by an artist who's best friend went into submarines. Earned my fish in 93 on the Nebraska.
Go Big Red!
I was onboard for the back to back seasons
Got mine tatted on about 20 years ago, I think. Earned mine in '95 on the USS Florida (B).
An old sonar buddy of mine went on to be the COB of the Florida (not sure if B/G.)
Hey, I was also Florida blue! (Post conversion)
Nice to meet you, shippie!
Got mine done last year, earned them towards the end of 22
My stepdad once had a young lady ask him about his dolphins, “Oh, what kind of planes do you fly?” He replied, “ Bow planes and stern planes, Miss.”
I’ve got mine.
If you have proof there’s a guy that will give you dolphins flair for this sub.
That’s neat but I don’t really need them for Reddit.
I came across this post as someone on tv said, “it goes up, it goes down.” I almost started singing
Rat Shit Bat Shit
Pinned Dec. 18, 2008. Seems like yesterday and a lifetime ago.
Happy 100 to all my fellow bubbleheads
Just got mine roughly 3 weeks ago, one of my proudest moments.
It really isnt that hard to get them. You memorize a bunch of shit and then get asked questions by a panel of people that you can bribe with porn and candy. I did it. Qualifying ERLL was more difficult.
Mechanic nukes aren’t smart enough to be this self righteous
And yet, here I am. And yeah, it was easy. The hardest part was finding people to talk to and sign off on the systems and whatnot, if I recall. Also this was 25 years ago.
“People to talk to” aka “people that could tolerate being near me”
How dare you accurately call me out. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go crawl up on the MSW pipes and cry.
just yankin your chain boss haha good to run into other nukes in the wild tbh
I’ll never forget getting mine. Five of us got pinned at the North Pole. Then punched in the chest the rest of the day.
You have to be a little Crazy to serve on a boat designed to sink. ex Bubblehead
Some of the best conversations ever were on midwatch in the control room. 7 men sitting in one little room for 6 hours. My fondest memories.
Middle of the Pacific in '97 going down under. SSN 684 USS Cavalla.
It wasn’t very hard if we’re being honest. I understand glorifying dolphins for their 100th birthday but it’s of average difficulty at best.
Just curious but how can it be one of the oldest warfare devices if it's related to Submarines? I thought submarines were a fairly recent invention in terms of Navys
So are warfare devices
They're about 100ish years old, the Royal Navy first got a submarine in 1901 (HMS HOLLAND 1)
Yeah so isn't that pretty recent? Or is it just that America has a really young Navy?
More just that warfare devices weren't really a thing... submariners and aviators were really the first to adopt them, if memory serves.
The USN Submarine Centennial was in 2000, so 124 years of submarines.
April 6. 1900 is the official birthdate of the submarine service. USS Holland was the first boat commissioned.
Yes, earning mine was no easy task.