With 72 submarines in service, the United
States fields the largest underwater fighting force in the world. Stealthy and absolutely deadly against surface
vessels, submarines are tasked with deterring foreign aggression, nuclear deterrence, intelligence
gathering, and even providing fire support for land forces with land-attack missiles. But for most of a submarine's lifespan it
will glide through the oceans of the world completely undetected and as they say: out
of sight, out of mind. What is life like under the sea for those
who man these secretive weapons of war though? Hello and welcome to another episode of The
Infographics Show- today we're taking a look at what life is like aboard a submarine. Not every man can be a submariner, and though
it is a 100% all-volunteer force, the US Navy's submarine fleet has very stringent entry requirements. Individuals must be male, pass a series of
academic tests, psychological evaluations, and intensive courses on the fundamentals
of submarine operations. With deployments that can last for hundreds
of days at a time and disaster being only one mistake away, the Navy must be confident
that it is entrusting some of the most expensive weapons in its arsenal, and the hundred-plus
lives within them, to only the most psychologically stable and academically qualified individuals. But it isn't a life for everyone who applies. Technically the US deploys submarines for
up to 90 days at a time, but the realities of a dynamic geopolitical environment sometimes
means that submariners will be out at sea for a hundred or more days, pulling into port
only long enough to stock up on food reserves before putting out to sea again. One submariner interviewed by Task and Purpose
said that his longest deployment was for 328 days- that's a long time spent inside a cramped
metal tube under water. AS the US Navy only operates nuclear-powered
submarines, each sub's endurance is based on the amount of food it can carry. The reactors will typically only be fueled
once during the lifetime of the boat, and a need to keep its crew fed is the only thing
that limits how long a submarine can stay out at sea for. Both air and water are regenerated internally,
so even long after food runs out a submarine will still provide fresh drinking water and
breathable air. A submarine's crew is split up into three
six-hour shifts each. Typically a crewmember will have six hours
on duty, six hours of study/exercise/private time, and six hours of sleeping time. This 18 hour day rotation can be disorienting
for a crew who spends weeks at a time under the water, and typically crewmembers only
know what time of day it actually is based off what meal they are being served. Space is at an absolute premium on any submarine,
so personal space is extremely limited. Every submariner has typically about 15 square
feet (1.4 square meters) to themselves, and sleep in tiny bunks affectionately (or not)
called “coffins”. Inside your bunk only a thin sheet of cloth
separates you from the outside world, so privacy is nearly non-existent, and because somebody
is always sleeping no matter the time of day, submariners have an unwritten rule to never
slam doors and always keep volume down to a minimum. Some submarines however have more crew than
bunk space, which leads to the much-hated practice of 'hot-bunking', where two or more
submariners share one bunk. As one prepares to start their shift, the
other takes his place to get his six hours of sleep. Submarines it seems are definitely not places
for anybody with privacy or personal space issues. Bunks aren't the only place with limited space,
there's typically only two showers for the entire crew of up to 130 submariners, and
a maximum showering time of 3-5 minutes is enforced. This not only helps ensure everyone who needs
one can get a shower, but it also lessens the strain on the ship's water filtration
system which turns salty seawater into fresh water. There is also typically only a single dryer
and washer aboard a submarine, making clean laundry a luxury. For entertainment there is a tiny gym with
typically one or two machines and free weights which the crew can use- because space is at
such a premium rooms typically have double uses and the 'gym' may in fact be the torpedo
room. The officers' wardroom, where senior officers
dine, also serves as an operating theater during medical emergencies. Bathrooms are extremely limited as well, with
typically only one bathroom per forty men- and you'd better know how to use the toilet. Because waste has to be held in a special
tank to be ejected at the appropriate time, the toilet has to be pressurized before you
flush it, but operate it improperly and it will shoot its contents backwards and into
your face. A rec room typically offers a plasma tv or
two and a large selection of movies to keep the crew entertained. Video game systems are common along with a
small library of games, though the Navy makes cards and board games freely available to
help sailors blow off steam and build camaraderie. The most space aboard a sub is reserved for
the nuclear reactor and the propulsion system, which alone take up about one third of the
total sub's length. The kitchen takes up the second-most amount
of space, and is typically extremely well stocked- the US Navy knowing for decades that
a well-fed crew is a happy crew. Life beneath the waves for weeks or even months
at a time can be extremely stressful, and so the Navy makes sure its galleys are well
stocked. Sailors can enjoy fresh ingredients for the
first few weeks of a deployment, though after that food is made from non-perishables. Even then though chefs manage to whip up a
variety of dishes from lasagna to lobster to prime rib, and a delicious dessert is always
on hand. There is no internet aboard a submarine, and
communication with the outside world is reserved for the rare instances that a sub surfaces. Because initiating communications can give
away a sub's position and stealth is its most valuable asset, submarines don't communicate
much with the outside world. That means that submariners can go weeks or
months without contacting family or loved ones, and must rely on the friendships they've
developed on board. To make the cramped environment more tolerable
for each other submariners have additional unwritten rules such as no talk of politics
on board, although sports trash talk is acceptable if not encouraged. While all of the military branches are keen
on traditions and rites of passage, none are as dedicated to their traditions, or have
as nuanced rites of passage, as the Navy. Partly tradition and partly to help keep morale
up, submariners enjoy a tradition of initiating new crew members on their first crossing of
the equator, called crossing the line. Everyone who has already crossed the line
is known as a shellback, and those who haven't are known as wogs- shorthand for pollwogs. The pollywogs must polish a set of red trash
weights use to compact trash and then wear them around their necks for a week before
the crossing. Wogs are also given an M&M which they must
keep and defend as their 'pearl', ensuring it stays on their person at all times. Upon crossing the equator, the shellbacks
spray the wogs with water hoses and dunk them in cold water which may or may not have been
urinated in- seamen are a strange sort. Then they are escorted to the ward room where
the fattest submariner on board has been dressed in a baby's diaper and covered in whipped
cream, vinegar, mayonnaise- pretty much every condiment available- and then the wog must
place their pearl inside his belly button and retrieve it back with their mouth. From that day on, the wog is no more and is
welcomed as a full-blown shellback. Strange rituals aside, strong camaraderie
is what sets submariners apart from other sailors in the US Navy, and when you're spending
weeks at a time in a pressurized cylinder straining to hold back the weight of the ocean,
it's understandable that you might need to let steam off in some pretty creative ways. Because of the high stress of their jobs,
submariners are often excused somewhat from the Navy's typical strict regulations on hair
and facial hair, allowing short beards and longer-than-usual hair for the notoriously
tightly clipped US armed forces. Once rejoining the rest of the Navy by pulling
into port however, submariners must get the trimmers out and make sure they are back in
regs. Life aboard a submarine is tough, a unique
mental and physical challenge that not every sailor is cut out for. Yet as has been argued repeatedly by defense
analysts across the US, the US Navy's silent service is the most critical element of its
national security. From maintaining nuclear deterrence, to ensuring
the good behavior of not-so-friendly nations by threatening swift and overwhelming retaliation,
submarines are the world's ultimate, if secretive, peacekeepers. Think you have what it takes to be a US submariner? How would you handle weeks under water with
no fresh air or sunlight? Let us know in the comments! Also, be sure to check out our other video
called What Happens If An Airplane Enters No Fly Zone?! Thanks for watching, and, as always, don’t
forget to like, share, and subscribe. See you next time!
My poo’s take at least 20 minutes as well. Or until I get pins and needles in my legs.