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2321
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A submarine surfacing... at the North Pole. (i.imgur.com)

submitted ago by Eustace__Bagge

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[–]Woopsie_Goldberg 687 points688 points ago

One of my coworkers at my first job told me he was once in the navy and had been a crewmen on a submarine. He told me this story once... His sub was doing its sub thing in the 80s (before cold war end) in the artic under the ice. They were crusin along and decided to come through the ice and do their weekly report or something and let the men stretch their legs on the ice, maybe play soccer/football or something. So they break through the ice and it turns out, about 50 yards away there was a Russian sub doing the exact same thing. Did they stare eachother down and point guns and get all rowdy? Nah, they played a Russian sub crew vs American sub crew soccer, using the subs as the goals (the russians won).

[–]mononamendota 282 points283 points ago

If this is true, it's awesome. Reminds me of the Christmas Day truce that happened in WWI.

[–]waseldo 100 points101 points ago

Yeah. Another one from WWI : both Brits and Germans were patrolling same remote road far from the front line.
Patrols used to just pass each other with helmets stacked on top of the rifle barrels and report back : "all quiet".

[–]leshake 18 points19 points ago

In the civil war yankee and rebel sentries would trade tobacco and coffee.

[–]superherowithnopower 5 points6 points ago

Did you ever see "Gods and Generals"? There was a scene with a Yank and a Rebel meeting in a river and sharing tobacco and coffee. It may have been the most profound scene in the entire move, and most of it was silent.

Edit: Also, worth noting, in many cases, families were literally divided, with brothers shooting at brothers, cousins at cousins. War is hell, indeed.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points ago

Newspapers were also highly prized. Before battles they would meet up and trade issues they'd saved up.

[–]h0lla 27 points28 points ago

with helmets... what

[–]waseldo 118 points119 points ago

http://i.imgur.com/olyZ6.jpg

[–]Shadowheim 108 points109 points ago

You're like the poor man's Shitty_Watercolor.

[–]japanese_cat 39 points40 points ago

Hey, shitty_watercolor can't be in all places at once. There is a gap in the market for a shittier watercolor to fill in when the real deal can't make it.

[–]waseldo 16 points17 points ago

I think there is one or more "shitty" paintshop ilustrators around already that are doing good. I was just trying to explain my post.

[–]sirblastalot 2 points3 points ago

Someone should register shittier_watercolor and only post really high-quality oil paintings.

[–]OneWarning13 27 points28 points ago

Indicating that they're not planning to shoot.

[–]Squarish 2 points3 points ago

Ah, that makes sense.

[–]AdonisChrist 16 points17 points ago

I'm so glad there're stories like this besides the Christmas Day truce. I've heard that thing far too many times.

[–]waseldo 7 points8 points ago

Well, some parts of the front were forgotten in a way and hostility came down to zero to the point that both sides were picking up potatoes together from the no man`s land.

Source: Death's Men by Denis Winter.

[–]danke1 4 points5 points ago

Yeah, definitely want a source on that. Sounds awesome.

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    [–]Jigsaw_Falling 41 points42 points ago

    Awesome or extremely sad? It serves as a reminder how men who have no grievances with one another are forced to kill each other, sometimes in horrific ways, because they are told to.

    [–]EltaninAntenna 1 point2 points ago

    Well, if everyone refused to obey or join the army at all, nobody would be "forced". Armies are just a self-sustaining protection racket.

    [–]Cesp 8 points9 points ago

    That would really just create a power vacuum, in which any bunch of arseholes could use violence to get their way and take that position of power.

    [–]EltaninAntenna 2 points3 points ago

    Well, in most Western democracies the army isn't the seat of power. "A bunch of violent arseholes" is generally a job for the police.

    EDIT: By which I meant: A job for the police to deal with, not that the police are or should be a bunch of violent arseholes. That varies by country.

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      [–]ReluctantPirate 8 points9 points ago

      Joyeux Noël, a good movie :-D

      http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424205/

      [–]compromised_account 0 points1 point ago

      Was that in band of brothers?

      haha. I read that as WWII. These things happen. I am aware band of brothers was about WWII.

      [–]Kattborste 6 points7 points ago

      Band of Brothers takes place during WWII.

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        [–]Kuusou 101 points102 points ago

        What were they doing under there if they didn't know another sub was 50 yards away? Honest question.

        [–]WTFZerg 151 points152 points ago

        As far as I'm aware, its almost impossible to find a submarine without using active sonar. Only problem is when you use active sonar, you give your position away.

        Nuclear submarines like the American Ohio class and Russian Typhoon class carry immense nuclear payloads, and their only job is (was in the case of the Typhoon; they're all rusting in harbor) to travel along their routes and be ready to rain nuclear devastation down upon their enemies. With that in mind, they spend most of their time trying to hide from everything, which means no active sonar.

        [–]bigroblee 66 points67 points ago

        True, but the Ohio were about as loud as a whale fart, whereas the Typhoon class sounds akin to an old peddler with a donkey pulled cart with one lopsided wheel draped about with pots, pans, and boxes of loosely packed mason jars.

        [–]randyrules 34 points35 points ago

        I really like the Ohio class subs. They're giant, yet nearly impossible to see. The nuclear engine means almost no refueling. The crew's quarters seem comparably comfy as well.

        PS: How loud is a whale's fart?

        [–]Mackinstyle 19 points20 points ago

        Aren't those reactors basically designed like an iPhone where you have to disassemble and overhaul the whole thing in order to replace the fuel?

        [–]randyrules 16 points17 points ago

        Yes. But, hey. It can't be perfect.

        [–]Mackinstyle 25 points26 points ago

        I kinda like that for some reason. It says, "this thing lasts so long that by the time we're out of juice, it's time to overhaul it all anyway!"

        [–]bigroblee 18 points19 points ago

        That's entirely correct. For example, the Ohio itself has been refueled twice since being launched; the first time it was refitted with many upgraded systems including navigation and sonar among other things. The second time was in aught three when she was converted from an SSBN to an SSGN.

        [–]Scheduler 14 points15 points ago

        aught three makes you sound like an old timey prospector...who works on a nuclear submarine...

        [–]LiteralPhilosopher 7 points8 points ago

        Not to be that guy, but I believe Ohio has only had one refuel, during the conversion to SSGN. She had an extended Engineered Overhaul in '94, but there was no refueling.

        Source: I was assigned to M-division during the EOH.

        [–]randyrules 10 points11 points ago

        I also gives them a chance to check for damage while refueling.

        [–]bigroblee 5 points6 points ago

        They have to do the same thing with Nimitz class carriers. The Ohio class go about 15 - 20 years, and the Nimitz class go about 25 years. Most recently some of the Ohio class including the namesake have been converted from SSBN's to SSGN's, making them much more functional in today's warfare needs.

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          [–]bigroblee 26 points27 points ago

          Well, to be perfectly honest I have no clue. However, in the statement above I meant to imply quite quiet; quite quiet indeed.

          [–]jonesy852 21 points22 points ago

          I would think a whale fart would be quite audible. Do whales even fart?

          [–]bigroblee 44 points45 points ago

          When a whale farts or passes gas underwater the sound is believed to be suppressed by the surrounding water making it silent or at least quiet compared to the gas that is expelled from land based animals.

          Source.

          [–]JeremyR22 37 points38 points ago

          Welcome to Whale Facts. To stop, reply with......

          [–]KeythKatz 5 points6 points ago

          Bloop.

          [–]Captainpatch 2 points3 points ago

          -Subscribe

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              [–]zach84 2 points3 points ago

              Have you ever heard of the big "Bloop"?

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                  [–]Kuusou 20 points21 points ago

                  Okay so because no one wanted to be found, no one knew where the other was? Because they were not using active sonar to find each other?

                  Another question then. Given the distance they were from each other, how do they not hit each other? Is it just coincidence? If not, how close would these subs have to get before they knew one another were there, and was it just random chance?

                  [–]Flytch 13 points14 points ago

                  The ocean is a pretty big place, although submarines still run into shit rather frequently.

                  [–]SexualArtillery 5 points6 points ago

                  Perhaps because navigator with brains usually select the same, optimal route?

                  [–]Kuusou 2 points3 points ago

                  I do get that, but they were so close. If that story is real then the probability of them smashing into each other must be just as likely if not more so right?

                  [–]Flytch 7 points8 points ago

                  Maybe there was only one patch of thin ice for a considerable distance? They might have both gone for the same place.

                  [–]WTFZerg 20 points21 points ago

                  Passive sonar allows submarines to detect objects with a degree of accuracy. However, using only passive sonar makes it pretty hard to distinguish from, say, a rock and a submarine.

                  Submarines also make noise (albeit a very small amount in the case of nuclear powered subs) that can give away a position, but its not the easiest thing to detect.

                  I've never heard any stories of two submarines crashing into one another, but I'm sure there have been some close calls. I'm also not 100% on the capabilities of military sonar.

                  [–]who8877 36 points37 points ago

                  Submarines crash into each other frequently (as in a few times a decade). Here is an example from 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Vanguard_and_Le_Triomphant_submarine_collision

                  [–]pureprotest 6 points7 points ago

                  Nothing like taking out the middle man and turning your sub into a torpedo.

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                    [–]bacon_defender 19 points20 points ago

                    I have never heard a rock on passive sonar.

                    [–]WTFZerg 9 points10 points ago

                    yeah, now that I think about it, that was a pretty bad example.

                    I should have just said its hard to distinguish a nuclear submarine from its surroundings due to the low amount of noise they produce.

                    [–]Gillyvi 2 points3 points ago

                    In this case, it went undetected because their passive sonar was showing a massive body above them - ice.

                    load more comments (7 replies)

                      [–]oscar2001 5 points6 points ago

                      Read the book Blind Man's Bluff. It is about a lot of Cold War Sub stories. In the back it lists all the NATO sub collisions with Russian subs. There was over 20.

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                        [–]SteiniDJ 3 points4 points ago

                        I'm not very informed on this matter, but still interested. I enjoyed the sub-chase in the movie "The Hunt for Red October" (and the movie itself). You should check it out if you haven't already; it's on netflix.

                        [–]nofear1056 8 points9 points ago

                        "Hey, Ryan, be careful what you shoot at. Most things in here don't react too well to bullets."

                        Such a great movie/book.

                        [–]dsutari 2 points3 points ago

                        "Mind your business, Lemon."

                        [–]WarthogOsl 2 points3 points ago

                        "Hey, Ryan, be careful what you shhoot at. Most thingsh in here don't react too well to bulletsh."

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                          [–]KilliamWallace 7 points8 points ago

                          not sure how good the technology was in the 80's but we do not need active sonar to detect a submarine. they didn't detect this guy because he was not moving.

                          [–]AManFromDoncaster 5 points6 points ago

                          You can still detect a submarine when it's stopped. It just needs to be using its machinery.

                          Things line reactors, motor-driven forced lube oil pumps, water systems and generators are in constant use and emit enough noise to trace.

                          [–]MrKnikkers 3 points4 points ago

                          Those Typhoons are not all rusting in harbor, according to wikipedia three will be in active service again as of 2012..

                          [–]readforit 3 points4 points ago

                          if its 50 yards away you can tell. The crew alone makes enough noise to be heard by the passive listening devices in the other subs.

                          The breaking through the ice process would also be noticeable in the other sub

                          [–]niperwiper 2 points3 points ago

                          That's so fucking cool. Nothing else I can say.

                          [–][deleted] ago

                          [deleted]

                          [–]firebearhero 1 point2 points ago

                          On the other hand subs are very good at avoiding detection too.

                          Take the US-Sweden wargames as an example. In all of the games they played against the swedish subs, they made it through undetected. If i recall correctly they also managed to "sink" both carriers and destroyers.

                          Perhaps USA's subs have improved since. I know swedish crews have trained us crews to navigate in shallow waters and such. wouldnt surprise me if the swedish sub-tech have been sold to usa since then either.

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                            [–]bubblegoose 1 point2 points ago

                            You can definitely hear most other submarines without active sonar, you just have to know what to listen for and distinguish it from background noise.

                            In this case (if true) the Russian wasn't moving, and the ice caps are extremely noisy on sonar. All the ice cracking and bumping into each other.

                            When operating normally, a poorly designed screw or a pump that was directly connected to the hull could put enough sound in the water to track. We used to be able to track Russians from several miles away.

                            Although when we had exercises with other American ships, we had to purposely make noise for them to hear us. Otherwise the exercise would have useless because they would have nothing to track.

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                              [–]SitnaltaPhix 15 points16 points ago

                              Subs don't have any windows, so you can't get a visual without the parascope (which can't break through an ice sheet.)

                              Sonar and a hydraphone are the main way of reckoning nearby objects, and a Russian sub chilling in the middle of an ice sheet isn't going to be very noticeable to either.

                              Nor would you want to use sonar if you didn't have to. Yes, you can detect other subs with it, but it also gives away your position. The main purpose of a nuclear sub is to be silent and invisible.

                              [–]AManFromDoncaster 22 points23 points ago

                              Subs do actually have a camera mounted in the hull which looks up and forward, to a degree of roughly 45deg, which is used when breaking through the ice in situations like these, and is also used to hide underneath ships.

                              I'm ex-Royal Navy and i've seen videos of T-Boats we were hunting which spent a good 5 or 6 hours underneath us filming our hull.

                              Also, the lines to the right of the submarine are visible underwater using this camera and let them know that this is the surfacing spot. Also, the lightness of ice when viewed underwater gives a great deal of information regarding its thickness and suitability for surfacing.

                              I might save this thread and try and dig around when i get home from work and see if i can find any video clips. It's pretty awesome.

                              [–]RobinTheBrave 4 points5 points ago

                              What are the lines to the right of sub in this photo? The main one looks un-naturally straight.

                              And, yes please to some videos!

                              [–]AManFromDoncaster 12 points13 points ago

                              They serve two purposes.

                              Primarily, they are marked out by a team who will make their way to that location via helicopter and they're literally cleared with a shovel. The snow is cleared off the ice, which lets light penetrate it, and gives a clear marker to the submarine that this is a place to surface. The location will have been chosen by the air team beforehand due to the conditions of the ice which will be no more than a couple of feet thick.

                              It also serves to show, in an area of vast white wilderness where it is easy to become disorientated, where you're supposed to be aiming the camera and watching for the sub to breach.

                              [–]0l01o1ol0 2 points3 points ago

                              Since we seem to have actual submariners here, just wanted to ask what kind of headphones sonar techs use?

                              Is it a commercial brand that civilians could buy?

                              [–]AManFromDoncaster 4 points5 points ago

                              Ah, i'm not a submariner. i was involved with anti-submarine warfare. i was based on frigates, firstly a Type-22 Batch 3 broadsword Class, then a Type-23 Duke Class.

                              On the instances i was on-board a submarine, namely a Trafalgar Class British submarine, and a German Type 209, they just used standard NATO headphones. Basically, they are clunky, and shit, but able to withstand being dropped and abused. here is a google link showing the same headphone being used over and over again

                              The noises that we listen for are extremely faint, small emissions. Sounds like reactors and pumps are only really able to be interpreted by computers and displayed on-screen in a format that we can use after much amplification.

                              We do have recordings of propellers though, which are very easy to record, and easy to decipher. We didn't even use headphones for those, and just played them over a speaker. Even if military headphones were available to buy, or at least the British military variations, they require a 15 pin plug, and you could do much better with a pair of £20 Sennheisers.

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                                  [–]unbuklethis 3 points4 points ago

                                  Why cant they have cameras which feed video inside?

                                  [–]Choralone 2 points3 points ago

                                  cause it's dark.

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                                    [–]gauriemma 9 points10 points ago

                                    Subs don't have any windows

                                    But rest assured that if they did, Mitt Romney would wonder why you can't open them.

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                                      [–]wolf550e 8 points9 points ago

                                      Subs that are hiding (like missile subs) are so hard to find that they have on occasion collided: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Vanguard_and_Le_Triomphant_submarine_collision

                                      [–]rrobe53 23 points24 points ago

                                      Russian subs would often stay surfaced in the ice their entire deployment, and sonar doesn't have an easy time distinguishing between the ice and a sub embedded in it. That was actually their strategy to hide from us.

                                      [–]larwk 5 points6 points ago

                                      Was this pre-satellites with cameras or was it more of a "too much area to analyze"? Or maybe they just painted the tops white.

                                      [–]Kongbuck 4 points5 points ago

                                      The sail and the rudder would still cast a shadow though. I would imagine that it wouldn't be too difficult to spot from satellite. However, I don't know how much coverage that area of the world gets from the eyes in the sky, so as you supposed, it might be a problem of too much area to review.

                                      [–][deleted] ago

                                      [deleted]

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                                          [–]wotupmang 3 points4 points ago

                                          I want to believe, but 50 yards...

                                          [–]art0rz 5 points6 points ago

                                          Opened this thread for an old navy anecdote.. was not disappointed.

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                                            [–]Leafy_head 76 points77 points ago

                                            I've seen pictures of subs surfacing through ice before and I've always wondered, how do they know the ice will be thin enough for them to punch through?

                                            I know subs are tough, but big chunks of ice have traditionally been bad for boats.

                                            [–]Movinmeat 78 points79 points ago

                                            ice is not as tough as 2000' of sea water. Sub hulls are super super tough.

                                            [–]Probably_Insane 17 points18 points ago

                                            To clarify, Movinmeat probably means "ice is not as rough [on the submarine] as the water pressure at 2000' deep."

                                            [–]Movinmeat 14 points15 points ago

                                            Probably_Insane is correct. That is what I meant.

                                            Bloody sober people explaining me all the time. Makes me so mad...

                                            [–]Big-Baby-Jesus 41 points42 points ago

                                            I'm sure the hull is strong as hell. But I'm surprised that the periscope and the little stuff on top is strong enough to break through the ice.

                                            [–]redteam7 71 points72 points ago

                                            All that little stuff on top stays inside the sail until the sub is surfaced.

                                            [–]waseldo 71 points72 points ago

                                            PERISCOPE DOWN!, LITTLE STUFF OUT!

                                            [–]robert_ahnmeischaft 16 points17 points ago

                                            That's what I always say to Mrs. Ahnmeischaft in the sack.

                                            [–]phx-au 4 points5 points ago

                                            When I'm in the sack with her I try to maintain stealth in case anyone hostile notices.

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                                              [–]DORTx2 10 points11 points ago

                                              The periscope and antenna retract when under water the only thing punching through the ice is metal.

                                              [–]Lizardizzle 5 points6 points ago

                                              TIL

                                              [–]Pravusmentis 15 points16 points ago

                                              ice is not as tough as it was in 2000.

                                              [–]Mercury1600 14 points15 points ago

                                              Pepperidge Farm remembers the tough ice.

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                                                  [–]Mercedes383 29 points30 points ago

                                                  They used special upward facing active sonar to gauge ice thickness and also made use of their periscope. It was a relatively low power sonar compared to it's main active sonar on the spherical array on the bow of the sub.

                                                  Often they would take advantage of what is known as a Polynya, which is an area of very thin ice or no ice within the arctic icecap.

                                                  The submarines that operated under the icecap had considerable reinforcing on their sail to enable the submarine to surface and punch through the ice providing it was thin enough to do so.

                                                  [–]PlasticKiwi 4 points5 points ago

                                                  Not to mention, if it's a practice or exercise then there is a lot of pre-work far in advance above the ice to ensure minimal damage to the crew and sub. In the picture the OP posts appears to be a target field cut into the ice is a visual for the flyover team or air support.

                                                  In war time they do without the above ice support and pray that their training is up to snuff.

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                                                    [–]auranl 26 points27 points ago

                                                    Reminded me of the scene in FireFox when Clint Eastwood's plane had to be re-fuled.

                                                    Now I feel old by saying that...

                                                    Loved that movie as a kid btw, the Laserdisc arcade game was also pretty cool!!

                                                    [–]mearvk 3 points4 points ago

                                                    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp01woeFnhg

                                                    Found a clip.

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                                                      [–]Yes_Nazi 26 points27 points ago

                                                      Looks like its been there for a while.

                                                      [–]Peuned 63 points64 points ago

                                                      iOS says now make a left round the horn of Africa...

                                                      Fuck.

                                                      [–]vedderish 10 points11 points ago

                                                      http://i.imgur.com/2uzMs.gif

                                                      [–]I_no_nazi 2 points3 points ago

                                                      Well it hasn't so let's nip these rumors in the budd!

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                                                        [–]BTAA4TD 12 points13 points ago

                                                        Can anyone comment on how they do this without busting up the conning tower? One does not simply muscle through millions of pounds of ice, right? Also, what is the leaf pattern on the right side, that doesn't look like a natural occurrence, but I don't get up to the North Pole much so I couldn't say for sure.

                                                        Update: Interesting and relevant. https://www.sea-technology.com/features/2010/1110/sub_surfacing.php

                                                        [–]mwatwe01 32 points33 points ago

                                                        Former submariner here.

                                                        They use under-ice sonar to determine how thick the ice is. The tower is designed to break through up to six feet of ice. Once they find a good spot, they submerge a bit, and then do a controlled, but strong blow to the ballast tanks to surface the ship quickly and bust the ice.

                                                        So yes, they quite literally muscle their way through. In the twenty or so times I've surfaced through the ice, I don't recall feeling more than a little shudder.

                                                        Edit: More Detail.

                                                        My sub also had a new (at the time, 1993) under-ice radar that that allowed us to actually see the ice above and in front of us. We could then see the polyanas (flat expanses of ice) that were good candidates for surfacing points. Also, if the ice was more than 18 inches thick, we were allowed to get out and walk around. We just had to watch for polar bears.

                                                        [–]genj1 4 points5 points ago

                                                        Do your son's friends call him a "son of a submariner"?

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                                                          [–]bacon_defender 4 points5 points ago

                                                          So, this particular "flight" (basically a later model) was built without planes on the sail (what most know as the conning tower"). The sail is reinforced to withstand under ice surfacing and the masts and antennas are designed to retract into the sail to protect them during a surfacing. And I believe the x is the spot they wanted the boat to go through, not sure though.

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                                                            [–]DonnyDreamliner 24 points25 points ago

                                                            What's with the arctic crop circles?

                                                            [–]i_am_just_a_number 9 points10 points ago

                                                            Seriously. What are they?

                                                            [–]KaizerDnitz 1 point2 points ago

                                                            I'm guessing it's guidelines made by the sub crew for landing a plane.

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                                                              [–]ZionsAssassin25 50 points51 points ago

                                                              Did they find Captain America?

                                                              [–]kilo_foxtrot 40 points41 points ago

                                                              I got it. I got that reference.

                                                              [–]xiophid 3 points4 points ago

                                                              http://i.imgur.com/NyxCk.jpg

                                                              [–]xhsdf 2 points3 points ago

                                                              I don't get it. Is that from Wonder Woman?

                                                              [–]N4N4KI 2 points3 points ago

                                                              yes

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                                                                [–][deleted] ago

                                                                [deleted]

                                                                [–]jacksonco16 33 points34 points ago

                                                                Where the fuck is santa?!

                                                                [–]used_bathwater 10 points11 points ago

                                                                Dude... it's santa's sub..

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                                                                  [–]vsal 8 points9 points ago

                                                                  Very surreal. Nothing witty to say, only that this is a fantastic shot.

                                                                  [–]SpinningDespina 6 points7 points ago

                                                                  I've got a friend in the Navy who was the guy who liased between the tv production companies and the navy when they needed shots of navy stuff. He spent 6 weeks in the arctic circle with Amanda Tapping and Richard Dean Anderson smashing subs through the ice for the Stargate movie.

                                                                  [–]Overlorddd 3 points4 points ago

                                                                  I love Stargate. This is awesome.

                                                                  [–]hellyeahbones 6 points7 points ago

                                                                  This reminds me of the first X-Files movie. Oh good old nostalgia.

                                                                  [–]OMGitsVTP 12 points13 points ago

                                                                  Pic got a new record, OP you won:

                                                                  title comnts points age /r/
                                                                  Stuck in the ice 7coms 23pts 1yr pics
                                                                  The USS Annapolis surfacing from under ice 5coms 44pts 1yr pics
                                                                  Breakin' the Ice, Navy style. 19coms 165pts 4mos pics
                                                                  Now that's a problem.. 6coms 10pts 1yr pics
                                                                  We're here. 95coms 364pts 1yr pics
                                                                  USS Annapolis surfaces in the Arctic. 28coms 113pts 1yr pics

                                                                  source: karmadecay

                                                                  [–]TRBfurry 4 points5 points ago

                                                                  You really should have taken that left turn at Albuquerque...

                                                                  [–]be_d 4 points5 points ago

                                                                  This is relevant

                                                                  [–]ChazMcYardstein 2 points3 points ago

                                                                  After reading 20,000 leagues under the sea, I feel like the people in the picture are in a very relieved state

                                                                  [–]commom_username 6 points7 points ago

                                                                  but then who was camera?

                                                                  [–]BassmanBiff 5 points6 points ago

                                                                  It has to be all caps to work!

                                                                  [–]Keyserchief 2 points3 points ago

                                                                  "Goddammit. Alright, this is the last time we let ENS Schmitty take the conn."

                                                                  [–]Firerain 2 points3 points ago

                                                                  Stargate Continuum, OP?

                                                                  [–]Darktidemage 2 points3 points ago

                                                                  What is up with that pattern in the ice above and to the right of the sub?

                                                                  It looks like this

                                                                  ->->->---<--<--<--<

                                                                  [–]deja-vu-comment 10 points11 points ago

                                                                  What are those straight lines with parallel lines on the side?

                                                                  .

                                                                  [–]robbel 97 points98 points ago

                                                                  Navigation-rated Submariner here. I think those lines (and im not 100% sure) are an "X" marks the spot for the fly over team (the ones taking the picture) to where the sub was scheduled to break through the ice. I'd say that was a pretty solid hit for the Navigation team using only inertial navigators being that it was within 400ft of the mark!

                                                                  [–]Journalisto 27 points28 points ago

                                                                  Good answer but, for future reference, deja-vu-comment is a bot that posts the top comment from the last time the image was posted The bot hides the link to the comment as a period.

                                                                  [–]robbel 42 points43 points ago

                                                                  yeah I saw that after and just decided to leave it because it's like the ONE thing I could ever possibly comment on, on reddit

                                                                  [–]Dazanan 4 points5 points ago

                                                                  Poor guy... Just stick to making useless idiotic comments like the rest of us... Most people don't know the difference and it's much easier!

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                                                                    [–]Pravusmentis 2 points3 points ago

                                                                    How do they do this? Did they shoot a fancy gun that left this impression or what?

                                                                    [–]B003135 2 points3 points ago

                                                                    Landing and shoveling?

                                                                    [–][deleted] 4 points5 points ago

                                                                    So.. The flyover team and the submarine are both aiming for the X. Who draws the X?

                                                                    [–]B003135 4 points5 points ago

                                                                    The X-drawing team, of course.

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                                                                        [–][deleted] ago

                                                                        [deleted]

                                                                        [–]GrinningPariah 1 point2 points ago

                                                                        "Alright genius, we've stopped to ask directions. Now what's your next bright idea?"

                                                                        [–]Zohwithpie 1 point2 points ago

                                                                        If the last airbender has though me anything, is that the submarine is probably bobytrapped

                                                                        [–]ikillfairies 1 point2 points ago

                                                                        i feel like those people standing on the side might have some impending safety issues

                                                                        [–]mearvk 1 point2 points ago

                                                                        I'd definitely do this if I were a sub skipper.

                                                                        Does anyone know the maximum ice thickness for non-emergency surfacing? Also, ice football.

                                                                        [–]LastOfSane 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        Look at the size of that crack.. damn.

                                                                        [–]FugushaKisai 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        "Coulda sworn we were in the middle of the ocean"

                                                                        [–]AussieBBQ 1 point2 points ago

                                                                        You know I came here expecting an apple maps joke, left pleasantly surprised

                                                                        [–]AKA_TheLetterD 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        Honest question...why do submarines go to the north pole to do this? I feel like I've seen pictures like this before and I have always wondered.

                                                                        [–]etherealcaitiff 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        "Alright Jim, if your navigating is half as good as you told the recruiter it is, we'll be bangin' Thai hookers in no time. opens hatch. 'What do you see Sir? Well we definitely all got fucked."

                                                                        [–]turing_inequivalent -1 points0 points ago

                                                                        Captain Nemo already did this.

                                                                        [–]mastr_slik 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        What's up with the the weird lines in the ice? They look too perfect to be just cracks.

                                                                        [–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        Enjoy the ice while you can.

                                                                        [–]hatyn 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        are the cracks in the ice, where they tried to surface earlier?

                                                                        [–]FRMM 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        ALIENSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

                                                                        [–]Endyo 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        You know, I thought the ice at the north pole would be extremely thick, but it turns out it's only 2-3 meters. So now glaciers are far more confusing to me.

                                                                        [–]The_Adventurist 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        Great, you've awoken the wrath of Mr. Freeze again.

                                                                        [–]SkidMcmarxx -1 points0 points ago

                                                                        What are all these lines on the ice? they don't seem natural cracks?

                                                                        [–]forsaken318 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        Winter camping. It gets more high tech every year

                                                                        [–]GuyFleegman 1 point2 points ago

                                                                        Looks like they missed the target.

                                                                        [–]Tenrai_Taco 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        Any other pics? This kinda looks like a sea wolf class. Last time I saw this I was on the USS Connecticut and a polar bear was evidently offended by the rudder that was occupying space he wanted to occupy

                                                                        [–]digdan 1 point2 points ago

                                                                        What is the cross imprinted in the ice behind it? Are these arctic alien crop circles?

                                                                        [–]dariusbatista 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        Submarines are awesome. Use to be on one :)

                                                                        [–]The_Iceman2288 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        Is that Heisenberg at the front?

                                                                        [–]ImportantPotato 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        The question is: Who took the picture?

                                                                        [–]avengepluto 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        It's long. It's hard. It's full of seamen.

                                                                        [–]Ettery 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        What are the markings just above the submarine that are shaped kinda like an aerial?

                                                                        [–]Probyn 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        The ultimate bad-ass vehicle.

                                                                        [–]7isamagicnumber 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        Looks like they missed the X marks the spot.

                                                                        [–]crystaltwilight 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        GODDAMMIT JOHNSON! YOU WERE HOLDING THE MAP UPSIDE DOWN.

                                                                        [–]KGrizzly 1 point2 points ago

                                                                        This reminds me of my Wikipedia expedition about submarines that turned into 20+ hours of browsing...

                                                                        Good times!

                                                                        [–]qbfjotld 1 point2 points ago

                                                                        Back in the day, in my nubly days as an ERLL watch, going two knots to nowhere in the middle of the Arctic, we would have contests to see who could keep their bare butt cheeks on the Main Sea Water pumps longer. That thing had a permanent sheen of ice on it. If I remember my logs correctly from that far back, I believe sea water injection temperature was mid twenties or so Farenheit.

                                                                        Unfortunately, our boat wasn't equiped with a reinforced mast or whatever it is called to break through the ice. Good times. I miss the food and the guys.

                                                                        [–]greatniss 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        I told you global warming isn't what's destroying the ice caps, it's the navy!

                                                                        [–]OriginalBuzz 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        Here is a video of Al Gore movie where they surface at the North Pole

                                                                        [–]graymankin 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        First thought: There must be so many dead people in there.

                                                                        [–]EnorMoose 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        Where the hell at the "North Pole" is the ice a foot thick? This is much farther south.

                                                                        [–]Pees_in_woods 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        That looks like a Los Angeles class sub based on the fairwater

                                                                        [–]insane66666 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        Correction: A subamarine SURFACED... at the North Pole.

                                                                        [–]DrewTuber 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        Relevant xkcd

                                                                        [–]CenteroftheContinent 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        Who's sub was this? Russian, American, ...?

                                                                        [–]Snowy1234 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        Foxbat

                                                                        [–]SammyCraig 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        k-19 anyone?

                                                                        [–]VEN0MXVI 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        I wonder how those poles at the top of the submarine don't get bent?

                                                                        [–]megaduks 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        Sooo, at the North Pole... And how was this picture taken?

                                                                        [–]QCmegadrag 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        I like readin

                                                                        [–]sloppydisk 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        TAUCHEN! ZEY HAF SPOTTED UZ!

                                                                        [–]tiexano 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        Back in the days when the North Pole was still frozen. These days it's so regularly visited by icebreakers with tourists that it's rarely covered in thick ice.

                                                                        [–]Verbose_Slayer 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        "Remember where we parked"

                                                                        [–]carsismeZ06 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        Ain't no Santa Clause BIEEATCH

                                                                        [–]vainamo- 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        I didn't know there was any ice left up there.

                                                                        [–]tm16scud 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        Anyone have a cup of coffee to de-ice these locks?

                                                                        [–]idrink211 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        The movie Babylon A.D. has a scene that looks just like this.

                                                                        [–]stormester 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        I would be so pissed if that thing hit my iglo!

                                                                        [–]baphometsrage 1 point2 points ago

                                                                        Reminds me of this

                                                                        [–]greymud -1 points0 points ago

                                                                        http://imgur.com/JEAYY

                                                                        [–]gJonny 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        "This doesn't look like Pearl Harbour"

                                                                        [–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

                                                                        so weird had a dream about this last night.

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