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Diesel-electric submarines were much more than a weapon of war. They meant a way of life and a positive mind set that lends itself to the phrase "Once a submariner, always a submariner." That holds true for all those who "rode the boats" - nuclear or otherwise. A DBFer will always be a DBFer - it's never completely forgotten. There's not all that many of us smoke boat riders left now... Author - John D. Przybyla,
Sr. ETC(SS), USN ret. - April, 1999 |
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Many of my submarine acquaintances on the Internet have truly outstanding websites dedicated to the purpose of historical submarine data, and I provide links to them. My site is about submarine people - some of us who regularly put our lives on the line on a daily basis in defense and protection of freedom. Civilians, warriors and above all, submariners (pronounced submareeeeeners). Being called a sub-mariner implies that we are something less than sailors, and we don't like that. It's very much about those of us that were assigned to the conventional diesel-electric fleet boats as often seen in WWII documentaries and movies, but as used in the Cold War conflicts by those like myself. Some may think of us as heroes, but we just saw it as a regular job that we took great pride in. Although each day was potentially lethal for many reasons, to us that aspect was no big deal, and that's the truth of it. The term DBF is short for Diesel Boats Forever. Sort of like "Remember the Alamo!" that Texans holler on occasion, but much more. In general, only those who actually "rode" the smoke boats are entitled to use this term by convention. Depending on how and where it's being used, it can mean many things like Hawaii's Aloha, or the Vietnamese term Xin chao. Xin chao means, "Hi there!" or "Well so long now.." or "How are you?". DBF is used quite a bit by us DBFers at the end of a missive, like "Sincerely yours," but it's actual meaning refers to an attitude and mind set that coincides with the way we were back when we were swashbuckling warriors defending our country and the free world with our lives against more bad guys than most can imagine.
DBF,Chainfall, EM1(SS) - ETC(SS) USN (ret.) |
(I use the latter of course, but both apply due to a SCORE Program rate-change) EM1 means Electricians Mate First Class
(pay grade E-6) |
Site
is best viewed hi-res 1024 X 768 pixels This website has been optimized in Java and Javascript (I have a lot of things that move here) to be viewed at 1024 X 768 screen resolution using the Firefox and Internet Explorer Browsers due to the copious amounts of illustrations and text fitted across your screen. The heavy use of sound and music is mostly .wma streamed to the free Windows Media Player. Chainfall - 11/22/06 |
Dolphins Braced By Chief's Collar Devices Atop This Page The Insignia of the Chief Petty Officer are worn on each collar of our uniform shirt. I retired as E7, and those are my actual collar devices. A Senior Chief (E8) has one star placed on the anchor, and a Master Chief Petty Officer (E9) as two stars on each. Advancement in pay grade means increased responsibilities with more impact when under normal rotation to shore duty commands. The responsibilities and the co-lateral duties of a Chief make a very long list, and especially aboard any submarine. He is responsible for the Division's technical training of his men both in the vocational field and and overall submarine qualifications. And for the conduct and well-being of his men. To become a CPO, not only involves passing a written examination in fierce competition with all others vying throughout the entire Navy for Chief, but also involves verbal knowledge of current world events, and the role that we play in those events. The Navy has just so many openings at any given time, and depending on the rate it's nothing to be PNA' year after year - Passed But Not Advanced. So it also involves determination and dedication. When finally making Chief, the next event is the Chief's Initiation. What that entails is a closely-guarded secret. Know that once making it through the initiation, then one finally comes into the brotherhood of Chiefs. The Dolphin Insignia is made of Silver as mine are above for the Enlisted Ranks, and Gold for the Officer Ranks. Earning one's Dolphins is not easy, and this is most definitely not something simply handed out to anyone ordered for duty aboard a submarine. Dolphins are earned. A submariner is one who has proven that he can take over for any other submariner in an emergency if that shipmate has become incapacitated or killed. As technologies advance and become incorporated into the submarine war machine, systems become increasingly complex. Dolphins mean a working knowledge of all systems and their respective subsystems in both normal and emergency conditions. A working knowledge is demonstrated for things like hydraulics, pneumatics, auxiliary electrical power, main electrical power, all air systems, and all physics involved with the operation of the submarine war machine. I have personally demonstrated that I can bring up a ship's diesel engine and place it on line to provide electrical power. I have personally demonstrated that I can bring online and shut down an S5W Nuclear Power Plant, and demonstrate a working knowledge of Radiation Health Physics. In addition to the watch standing duties of a Chief Of The Watch underway, at the time of my retirement I was in the process of qualifying as as ship's Diving Officer. My ET's operated the Navigational, Radar and other electronic systems and the attack plots, while I involved Electronics Intelligence. The qualification process is never-ending. Please keep in mind that all systems must remain in operation even when there are those doing their level best to kill us with everything they have. I had been a Look Out on a diesel-electric submarine on the surface in the North Sea under State Five conditions where we had to be lashed by rope into the sail or else be washed overboard by waves crashing in over our heads. I speak of some of these things within this site from time to time when it does not impact National Security. To list all of the things that we do like making systems work when we have to cannibalize parts from other systems means an in-depth knowledge of everything, and it would take a tome to write about. It must be understood that the real life of submariners is not the trash that Hollywood comes up with at all. The boat does NOT go into meltdown whenever any fuse blows. We are trained and trained so that when, not if, when an emergency arises, NOBODY runs around yelling and screaming doom like those fools of the Hollywood movies. We just take care of it, and keep right on going. Normal stuff for us. - Chainfall revised 1855 CT 13 NOV 06/0055 Zulu 14 NOV 06 |
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