by Barry S.
I worked on passive ranging sonar programs
for over 25 years at Sperry Gyroscope and succeeding companies that eventually
were merged into Lockheed Martin. The effort included having to travel aboard a
number of submarines for periods of four to five days each to test and
calibrate the sonars.
These were small diesel submarines and
quarters were cramped. We slept on torpedo racks (torpedoes were removed) on
air mattresses in cold compartments. Food had to be eaten in a hurry to allow
for other personnel to eat, as the mess could hold only about six people at a
time.
During one trip, on
the lead boat of a new class of British submarines, one of the two engines
literally blew apart in the engine room. Our trip had to be cancelled, the
submarine surfaced, and we spent several days limping back to port on the one
remaining engine. There was one highlight, though. They let us go outside and
sit on the hull to get some air. We dangled our feet over the side and it felt
like riding on a whale.  |
| The view was amazing! |
