Submarines on Patrol

[biggsgolf]

Do patrolling subs display numbers on sail!

[CC Clarke]

US boats discontinued the practice decades ago to avoid giving away any indication of whom was doing what. Magnetic numbers can be used while inport, in addition to banners on the brow for identification.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Do patrolling subs display numbers on sail!

Panted on only during launching, commissioning and change-of-command ceremonies. Before patrol they would even have us grind off the cheat welds that guided one when painting on the numbers. Spooki-poos.

David

[biggsgolf]

Great info guys! Thanks

[biggsgolf]

So I have to ask…. why do most rc subs have the numbers on them?

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

So I have to ask…. why do most rc subs have the numbers on them?

Eye-candy. And to enhance your ability to see the thing when it's beneath the surface.

Boats decked out for patrol did not have 'international orange' painted marker-buoy fairing plates, hull numbers on bow and sail, ships 'name' at the stern, nor DSRV target markings over the escape trunk hatches. And the otherwise shiny MBTV flange-rings and salvage plates were painted black like the rest of the hull.

I put those markings and colorations -- and that includes 'weathering' -- there to make the model submarine more visible as it travels underwater.

[biggsgolf]

Thanks David

[biggsgolf]

Forgive me, not sure what the “depth numbers” are called? Are they visible on patrol? Seems like they would give away how “armed” the sub is?

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Forgive me, not sure what the “depth numbers” are called? Are they visible on patrol? Seems like they would give away how “armed” the sub is?

Draft markings. Yes, only numbers and warnings of underwater projections ('PROJ') such as bow planes, horizontal stabilizers and the like are left on the hull prior to deployment on an operational patrol.

Boats are trimmed for a consistant surfaced waterline with the auxillery tanks, reguardless of stores, weapons, and personnel load.

David

[biggsgolf]

Goose bumps as I read this!