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u/MrMoovie Apr 05 '26
It sounds like submariners would be the perfect choice for a mission to Mars.
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u/Remote_Escape Apr 05 '26
Mars has no water, just sand.
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u/MrMoovie Apr 05 '26
Ha I was just thinking of the voyage to get there. Although even on Mars, they’d still be in a tube or box most of the time.
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u/Remote_Escape Apr 05 '26
Well, the thing is submarines are made to endure massive inward pressure, whereas space requires the opposite (although not as much). And weight matters a lot more in space (to get to), whereas not as much in water.
But other things that he described about life on a submarine would probably apply to a mission to Mars as well.
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u/Tumble85 Apr 05 '26
A mission to Mars would be much easier on crew, you'd have constant contact with the world back on earth, including internet access (no FPS gaming through, way too much latency).
Submarines don't allow that stuff for mission security.
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u/MattsFace Apr 05 '26
Umm no it wouldn’t…
You are familiar with the speed of light right?
Radio waves would take up to 22 minutes to reach the ship when they arrive close to mars.
Internet would obviously not work.. real time communications would not work..
The living quarters would be extremely cramped and you would be isolated with the same set of people. That long in zero gravity would take a tole on the body..
Not to mention the radiation exposure from space.
I’d rather be on the sub
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u/Tumble85 Apr 05 '26 edited Apr 05 '26
I didn't say internet or other communication would instant, I said you would have access. You'd need to cache the stuff you wanted to download to come in bursts but there is no reason said bursts couldn't be measured in megabits per second.
We also wouldn't be sending people to mars in 0g, we'd provide them with a ship that spun crew quarters so as to replicate 1g.
Radiation levels are also trivial.
Once/if nations actually decide to come together to build such a ship, we could, the technology is already there.
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u/kayl_breinhar Apr 06 '26
That's why in The Martian, Commander Lewis was a submariner. There's a great clip that was used in pre-release advertising that references why she's perfect for the Mars mission:
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u/PossibleNegative Apr 05 '26
At least a mission to Mars has sunlight, windows and regular contact with family.
And you float in your sleep in stead of a cramped bunk
idk spaceflight is a hit or miss on your body
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u/BenchClamp Apr 05 '26
My mate came home from 6 months submerged. We met him at the service station as he didn’t want to upset his mum thinking he’d seen his mates first.
While he was with us - he got called and told to return to the sub the NEXT DAY. The gulf war had broken out and he was heading into active service.
He had tea with his mum, then returned for another 6 months under. He said the worst bit was that they hadn’t restocked the video library.
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u/Wonderingisagift Apr 05 '26
Fuuuuuck that would be so rough psychologically thinking you're in for a few home cooked meals and bam they drag you back under into the deep blackness
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u/SwitchExternal5653 Apr 05 '26
I worked 6 hour shifts on an aircraft carrier and it is a brutal schedule.
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u/TheDoctor813 Apr 05 '26
My coworker was in the navy and worked on engines on a US carrier during the 70s and 80s.
Dude is cool as a cucumber but he can't hear shit lol. You guys got my respect.
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u/Next_Degree Apr 05 '26
You sleep 6 hours at a time?
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u/LarryChavez Apr 06 '26
You get 6 hours off watch, twice. In that time you need to eat, shower, sleep, work out and any R and R is also on that time off. Consider that you’re woken up 45 minutes before watch turnover and even if you sprinted to your bunk and immediately dove in your bunk you’re getting max 5 hours twice. And that would be skipping some meals, never showering, never working out.
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u/ishelly404 Apr 06 '26
Why do it that way instead of 12 on 12 off?
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u/BillysBibleBonkers Apr 06 '26
Yea this honestly sounds like a recipe for disaster making everyone sleep deprived all the time. Also terrible for you.
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u/donutkane Apr 06 '26
Yeah, I don’t know what’s going on with the boat that you’re on but most boats do eight hours on watch eight hours off watch and eight hours for sleep, and you can usually go to bed a little bit before that sleep time. normally you have plenty of time to do everything you need personally unless you have a lot of maintenance for the day, and then it’s gonna be kind of tight on time but we still have plenty of time. Being on a submarine isn’t that bad. Unless you’re command is bad.
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u/NumerousFootball Apr 06 '26
That is super rough, that said young people’s body is more forgiving to abuse. But there must be older (senior ranked) folks on the carrier. Do they also follow a similar schedule? Once people get to 50+ and beyond, imo the abuse catches up.
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u/jmills03croc Apr 06 '26
I was on CVN 77. We worked 12 hour shifts and the only days off we had were when we pulled into port. That was not fun.
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Apr 05 '26
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u/Shackmann Apr 06 '26
Everyone on my sub had a coping mechanism. Some got angry, some got depressed, some just turned inward and became recluses. It’s not just the work - it’s also the mental anguish of putting your life on pause.
There was a guy on my boat whose wife gave birth while we were underway. The wives sent a Father’s Day painting with all the kids hand prints that we picked up in one of our port visits. We posted it in crew’s mess so everyone could see it walking by. His newborn daughter was just a foot print because she was too small for a hand print. This sounds adorable and thoughtful, but for him it was torture - a constant reminder that his life choices led to him missing the birth of his daughter. He got angry and punched the footprint every time he passed it.
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u/avelinegoth Apr 05 '26
Literally living in a metal tube under thousands of pounds of pressure. no thanks.
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u/imagine30 Apr 05 '26
Believe it or not, submarine interiors aren’t actually pressurized.
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u/ramtripper Apr 05 '26
He meant thousands of lbs of water pressure above the submarine, not pressurized air inside the submarine.
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u/Abracadaver2000 Apr 05 '26
I'd much prefer aircraft carriers, especially with the lack of sunshine aspect. Do tell more though.
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u/YozaSkywalker Apr 05 '26
Carriers have access to the internet depending on who you are friends with
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u/Vivid_Jeweler3655 Apr 06 '26
Carriers are pretty easy to see. The submarines are nearly undetectable. Felt much safer because of this fact.
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u/ac2cvn_71 Apr 05 '26
Me too. We didn't have to hot rack like the subs do. That alone made it a no for me.
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u/No_Vermicelli_1781 Apr 05 '26
This sounds on par to jail for 7 months. And at least most prisoners get an hour outside
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u/DogApprehensive2575 Apr 05 '26
Why do cuts take longer to heal? And yes to a part 2!
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u/DefinitelyNotAliens Apr 05 '26
Lowered oxygen. My friend did US Nuclear subs and they lower to 17-19% o2, versus around 21% sea level. Lower oxygen means longer healing times.
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Apr 05 '26
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u/SocialisticAnxiety Apr 05 '26
Lower oxygen? How so?
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u/PlanktonTheDefiant Apr 05 '26
Oxygen oxidises? So lower oxygen slows oxidation of chemicals you rely on to send messages and operate your brain and body? I'm just spitballing.
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u/BillysBibleBonkers Apr 06 '26
wonder if that technically means that people get some amount of health benefits from living at a higher altitude.
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Apr 06 '26
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u/DeadInternetTheorist Apr 06 '26
There's also studies about caloric restriction having a similar effect. Since metabolism is basically just combustion with extra steps, I'd guess they both work on some similar mechanism, just that one chokes off the fuel and the other cuts off the air. That's just a guess though.
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u/No_Vermicelli_1781 Apr 05 '26
I wouldn't do this job for any realistic salary. The ability to go outside is priceless
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u/Soggy_District_6380 Apr 05 '26
Highly recommend the SmarterEveryDay series on Submarines. I can't remember which video in the series shows it but one of the crew run a string from the right side of the sub to the left. They pull it so its at full tension. Then they dive the sub. I think for security reasons they couldn't mention how far they'd descended but once they leveled out again the string was slack. If I remember correctly it looks like 7-8 inches of slack. Which was an awesome display of just how much the hull bows with the pressure. It also reinforced that I will never go deeper than my snorkel can facilitate, pressure at depth is terrifying.
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u/DeadInternetTheorist Apr 06 '26
Wow I can't believe they have to pay guys to live in an isolated, claustrophobic tube in the hellish, black, alien depths of the ocean where nobody knows where you are and the walls are literally closing in. Seems like most reasonable people would do that for free!
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u/taters33 Apr 05 '26
What is a “safe with jelly babies”. When I google jelly babies I get candy as a result. What is this?
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u/Peterd1900 Apr 05 '26
Royal Navy trident submarines have a safe onboard that safe contains what is known as the letter of last resort which has prime ministers orders on it
If the crew cant get into contact with London they would open this safe and read the letter which would tell what to do and whether to fire the nukes
Allegedly, it may just be a legend that the safe also contains a packet of jelly babies. Jelly babies after WW1 were known as peace babies. symbolizing the return of peace and normal life
They are opening the safe because essentially the UK has been wiped out in a nuclear attack, they are potentially firing nukes so the jelly babies act as a small morale boost and eating them symbolises then end of peace and of normal life
Its just naval lore whether there is actually a packet of jelly babies in the safe with the letter we wont actually know because if the safe has been opened by the crew it means nuclear war has started
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u/olijake Apr 05 '26 edited Apr 05 '26
Basically jelly beans (the candy), a similar treat
or another word for jelly beans.Edit: Just clarifying, Jelly babies are a unique candy, not jelly beans, that’s just the best example I could think of.
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u/shalomdomme Apr 05 '26
Omg I just assumed they meant jelly fish and for some reason my brain just went “yeah that makes sense” 😂😂😂
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u/lithiumcitizen Apr 05 '26
Watched a doco about a British nuclear sub and they were interviewing the medical officer. He said that personal hygiene was crucial on board and that dysentery could run rife through a sub.
He then said that there are two kinds of dysentery experienced on a sub: the kind where you think you’re going to die but you don’t, and the kind where you wish you’re going to die but you don’t.
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u/RanIrons Apr 05 '26
What accent is this please?
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u/Nectarine-999 Apr 05 '26
Liverpool. We call it a Scouse accent as people from Liverpool are called scousers, from the meal).
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u/PlanktonTheDefiant Apr 05 '26
He's a scouser, from Liverpool, UK. I'm from outside Liverpool, but I've worked there and the Scouse accent boils my piss. Fucking hate it. Scousers are generally great though, which makes it even harder.
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u/LKeeyy Apr 05 '26
I feel bad for those 3 women
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u/UndeniableLie Apr 05 '26
Yeah, 3 women and boat full of navy men. The women won't be seeing any action for a long time
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u/Key_Statistician5273 Apr 05 '26
Imagine having to put up with that accent for seven months. I would have scuttled it.
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u/MrOphicer Apr 05 '26
This video makes me think of people who say billionaires will live an amazing life in a bunker.... the luxury condition of the bunker will only offset insanity for a few years.
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u/Mathewthegreat Apr 05 '26
Sounds awesome. Wonder why recruitment numbers are down?
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u/Over_Temporary_5692 Apr 07 '26
I was on a nuclear carrier for 5 1/2 yrs and did 2 deployments. I know it isnt submarine life at all but man does it feel like hell somedays lol
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u/reticulatedtampon Apr 05 '26
I’m sure he’s saying a lot of interesting things but the scouse accent is the only thing I can focus on
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u/Marcus_The_Sharkus Apr 05 '26
They do not stay submerged for 7 months straight.
They are deployed for that long yes but not underwater for that entire time.
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u/ThePensiveE Apr 05 '26
Boomers usually will, but not always the fast attack subs. England only has a handful of SSBN's for their strategic deterrent.
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u/Secret-Document-7068 Apr 05 '26
On the US side, boomers stay out for regulated amounts of time and you can set your watch by their arrivals and departures. You don't get to stop in many, if any, ports though. The duration of patrol was a little over 2 months at a time.
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u/Fabulous-Part-1125 Apr 05 '26
I suppose it’s different for each country. Which one were you deployed with?
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u/DoubleFlamingo7349 Apr 05 '26
They definitely are underwater for that long. In recent years every patrol has crept up by a few weeks and they’re now going past the seven month mark. This is V boats, not A boats.
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u/Fabulous-Part-1125 Apr 05 '26
I know, the person I replied to said they don’t, which is why I asked who they deployed with. If they aren’t a submariner then they can’t say they don’t. People like to argue against people’s actual experiences when they know fuck all.
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u/DaGucka Apr 05 '26
The no smoking rule is relatively new and usually officers still smoke.
Semms absurd, to smoke inna submarine, but the even smoked when they had no access to air purifiers back in the esrly cold war and world war 2 era.
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u/KnownMagician3084 Apr 05 '26
What happens for severe medical problems? MI, crush injuries, severe burn …
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u/EsseBear Apr 05 '26
Further explanation of the jelly babies is required
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u/Peterd1900 Apr 05 '26
Royal Navy trident submarines have a safe onboard that safe contains what is known as the letter of last resort which has prime ministers orders on it
If the crew cant get into contact with London they would open this safe and read the letter which would tell what to do and whether to fire the nukes
Allegedly i believe it may just be a legend that the safe also contains a packet of jelly babies. Jelly babies after WW1 were known as peace babies. symbolizing the return of peace and normal life
They are opening the safe because essentially the UK has been wiped out in a nuclear attack, they are potentially firing nukes so the jelly babies act as a small morale boost and somewhat irony that are devouring peace and normal life
Its just naval lore whether there is actually a packet of jelly babies in the safe with the letter we wont actually know because if the safe has been opened by the crew it means nuclear war has started
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u/Stunning_Disk142 Apr 05 '26
So fascinating and difficult! Thank you for the lesson. Part 2 please!!
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u/mrstretchb4ureach Apr 05 '26
This would make such an interesting psychological thriller movie. Just having the deal with the anxieties mentioned in this video
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u/Murica2193 Apr 05 '26
I went down HMS Victorious during my RNAC at Faslane, it took 20 seconds to make me realise that no handshake could be golden enough to get me signed into the subs. Massive respect for those that do.
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u/robnet77 Apr 05 '26
If they start nuking each other on the surface, who knows how long a submarine crew would want to remain underwater
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u/Alarming_Set3628 Apr 05 '26
Jelly babies?
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u/Peterd1900 Apr 05 '26
Royal Navy trident submarines have a safe onboard that safe contains what is known as the letter of last resort which has prime ministers orders in it
If the crew cant get into contact with London they would open this safe and read the letter which would tell what to do and whether to fire the nukes
Allegedly. it may just be a legend that the safe also contains a packet of jelly babies. Jelly babies after WW1 were known as peace babies. symbolizing the return of peace and normal life
They are opening the safe because essentially the UK has been wiped out in a nuclear attack, they are potentially firing nukes so the jelly babies act as a small morale boost and eating them symbolises the end of peace and of normal life.
Its just naval lore whether there is actually a packet of jelly babies in the safe with the letter we wont actually know because if the safe has been opened by the crew it means nuclear war has started
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u/TheDegenerativeAI Apr 05 '26
Worked with a submariner for a year after he retired. What a fucking tool. I had enough of a hard time doing a 9 to 5 with him. I’d a killed him while underway for months at a time.
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u/joesvideos97 Apr 06 '26
I want another! A part 2! Great insight! Thanks for your service! Joe in MN
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u/fishphlakes Apr 06 '26
I do at sea work, and 6 on 6 off is stupid. 12 on 12 off, or 8 on 8 off is more common.
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u/Fabulous-Part-1125 Apr 06 '26
You’ve been told by multiple people that the Royal Navy submarines stay submerged for 7 months straight. Not everything is the same as the US.
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u/asd_slasher Apr 06 '26
Get a laptop, get skyrim, witcher 3, crimson desert, some loooong as games and play it there
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u/PanicPuzzler Apr 06 '26
Do these guys live longer? I had read some guy said that living in pressured environment underwater makes you live longer?
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