![]() To get below decks, secure all hatches, and begin the dive. When that sounded, the crew had less than 10 seconds To the left of the ladder to the conning tower are the boat's alarms. Only by qualifying did he earn the right to wear the submarine dolphin insignia. To qualify, each sailor was required to study every piece of equipment on the boat, know the function of every valve and switch, and to have demonstrated his competence operating the equipment to the Chief on the Boat and qualifications officer. Even after volunteering for this dangerous duty, selection for his skills, and advanced shoreside training, a sailor was not truly a submariner until he had qualified on his boat. The unforgiving nature of submarines required a highly skilled crew. Incorrect operation of the dive planes, hydraulically controlled ballast tank vents, or air pressure manifolds could lead within seconds to an uncontrolled dive beyond the crush depth, or accidental surfacing and exposure to the enemy. The stern planes are used primarily to keep the boat level and the bow planes primarily to control depth. ![]() Separate operators use the dive plane control wheels to adjust the angle of the bow and stern planes. ![]() The diving station has depth gauges and a bubble inclinometer (like a carpenter's level) to indicate the depth and angle on the boat. As long as the boat is moving, large bow and stern planes are used to "fly" through the water just like the control surfaces on an airplane. This works well for big changes, but is slower and noisier than the second method which uses bow and stern planes. This system allows water to be moved between variable ballast tanks forward or aft. First large changes are achieved using the trim and drain system. Once the boat submerges there are constant changes in the density of the water around the boat as well as movement of men and fluids in the boat all of which effect its depth and angle (also called "angle on the boat" or "bubble".) There are two methods that are used to control the depth and angle. During combat at least some Balao class submarines survived depths in excess of 800 feet. She was designed to be operated at a test depth of 412 feet, and she was expected to survive without being crushed up to 600 feet. A boat is in good "trim" when it can stop its motors and hang at about the same depth and angle.Ĭontrolling the depth and angle of the submarine was critical. The variable ballast tanks forward and aft can be adjusted to balance the boat. One of the tanks near the center of the boat, the Negative Tank is adjusted to bring the submarine to neutral buoyancy under water. This allows air to escape through the vents, and seawater to enter through the flood ports in the bottom of the tanks. Only then are the hydraulic controls used to open the vents on the top of the main ballast tanks. Even then, a little compressed air is let into the boat and a barometer checked to make sure that the pressure increases before diving. The boat is not safe to dive until all the lights are green. Each hatch, ballast tank vent, engine vent or exhaust, and other opening to the sea on the boat has a red light to indicate that it is open, and a green light to indicate it is shut. This is the Hull Opening Indicator Panel, nick-named the Christmas tree. The Control Room is the center of the submarine, both physically and operationally.įind the panel of red and green lights on the port, or left, side of the room.
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