Sub tails!

[SSBN659]

My guess is they were there for manual steering in case steering motor failed. If so, not a job I would want to tackle.

SSBN659

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

The boat is launched ass-end first. That slams water through the rudders with the center-of-pressure way aft of the rudder operating shaft centerline. Dynamically unstable. If the rudders go askew just a bit, the torque on the rudders, as they weathercock to the flow, works the linkage and ram, breaking something. The turnbuckles are there to keep the rudders from swinging. Removed by divers shortly after launching.

M

[greenman407]

"Thats what Im Talken bout"

[Albion]

The boat is launched ass-end first. That slams water through the rudders with the center-of-pressure way aft of the rudder operating shaft centerline. Dynamically unstable. If the rudders go askew just a bit, the torque on the rudders, as they weathercock to the flow, works the linkage and ram, breaking something. The turnbuckles are there to keep the rudders from swinging. Removed by divers shortly after launching.

M

im guessing they did it once without the turnbuckles, and someone got fired