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Good morning all
Befroe I get into the Saga many thanks for the comments on my previous post, , so I think a bit of explanation is needed.about the surface demand set up and mask,
We had a large air cylinder the size of the normal twin gas welding set whcih gave us a long time air supply at the depths we were working at. Being old now I cannot remember the name of the face mask, but was a full face one with the demand valve on the front, no mouth piece if I remember right, and exhaled air went out past the side. It could be used with normal air bottles as well. I preferd it as it gave a much better field of view.
This type pf mask became a point of interest when I was diving pipe line inspection in the North Sea as some thought is might be a stale air trap and so be dangerous particularly at greater depths.. I used it many times without any problems.
As has been said and I agree it was probably that first step up from hard hat diving.
Where I live on the Isle of Man there is a lot of diving here and I have watched, with a tad of envy divers kitting up. The modern dry suit is a distant relative of what we had in the 60s. In those days you got in through the neck as far as possible, up to the armpits in fact, then you stood with the side of your right foot against the side of your helpers right foot. He then stretched the neck until you could quickly dive your arm into the sleeve then do it again for the other arm from the opposite side. Reverse for getting out of it.
So on to the Saga.
At this point the Sub was nearing completion and it was time to see if torpedoes could be fired. We were called and my oppo and I stood on the forward dive planes which were out of the water and waited, just drysuit and fins as we just had to swim as fast as possible.
There was a thump felt underfoot and seconds later a torpedo popped out of the water some yards in front of us and ran on for some time. . It was just a practice one, right size but empty so it floated. I heard later that a book had been started to see if the torpedo could reach the end of the dock. It never did. But they worked very well when the Belgrano came along. Memory says they were wire guided. butI may be wrong about that.
We jumped in and swam pdq to it as a shoreside crane was dropping a strop over it. We had to put the strop on a balance mark so it lifted flat and was gently taken off to the dockside. Then back to the sub and wait for the next one. I think there were 6 but not sure if that is right.
That boat was big. Some time earlier I had been over one of the old diesel electric subs which were really cramped, but this one had decent corridors and several levels. All nicely painted, No wonder they did lengthy trips out without too much stress. I think.!!! And there were areas we just could not go into, all very hush hush and nuclear.
Cheers, Stay safe and well
DrewH,
Befroe I get into the Saga many thanks for the comments on my previous post, , so I think a bit of explanation is needed.about the surface demand set up and mask,
We had a large air cylinder the size of the normal twin gas welding set whcih gave us a long time air supply at the depths we were working at. Being old now I cannot remember the name of the face mask, but was a full face one with the demand valve on the front, no mouth piece if I remember right, and exhaled air went out past the side. It could be used with normal air bottles as well. I preferd it as it gave a much better field of view.
This type pf mask became a point of interest when I was diving pipe line inspection in the North Sea as some thought is might be a stale air trap and so be dangerous particularly at greater depths.. I used it many times without any problems.
As has been said and I agree it was probably that first step up from hard hat diving.
Where I live on the Isle of Man there is a lot of diving here and I have watched, with a tad of envy divers kitting up. The modern dry suit is a distant relative of what we had in the 60s. In those days you got in through the neck as far as possible, up to the armpits in fact, then you stood with the side of your right foot against the side of your helpers right foot. He then stretched the neck until you could quickly dive your arm into the sleeve then do it again for the other arm from the opposite side. Reverse for getting out of it.
So on to the Saga.
At this point the Sub was nearing completion and it was time to see if torpedoes could be fired. We were called and my oppo and I stood on the forward dive planes which were out of the water and waited, just drysuit and fins as we just had to swim as fast as possible.
There was a thump felt underfoot and seconds later a torpedo popped out of the water some yards in front of us and ran on for some time. . It was just a practice one, right size but empty so it floated. I heard later that a book had been started to see if the torpedo could reach the end of the dock. It never did. But they worked very well when the Belgrano came along. Memory says they were wire guided. butI may be wrong about that.
We jumped in and swam pdq to it as a shoreside crane was dropping a strop over it. We had to put the strop on a balance mark so it lifted flat and was gently taken off to the dockside. Then back to the sub and wait for the next one. I think there were 6 but not sure if that is right.
That boat was big. Some time earlier I had been over one of the old diesel electric subs which were really cramped, but this one had decent corridors and several levels. All nicely painted, No wonder they did lengthy trips out without too much stress. I think.!!! And there were areas we just could not go into, all very hush hush and nuclear.
Cheers, Stay safe and well
DrewH,
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