Life on an American Submarine in WW2

This video is dedicated to all the men who served on American submarines during the Second World War. This is just a brief description of the conditions and experiences that they would have had to endure during their daring patrols.

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#ww2 #wwii #submarine #worldwar2 #history

[HiddenHistoryYT]

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[cletusvandamme]

Our dad was a 30 year submarine veteran, enlisting just months after the attack on Pearl Harbor and serving on Diesel boats. When we were kids, the way we could tell if he was home or not was by sniffing the air. A strong and distinct odor of Diesel meant he was home. This is no exaggeration. I think other kids whose dads were on Diesel boats can also attest to this fact. Diesel boat sailors lived a miserable existence. I became a Nuke on nuclear powered submarines and our living conditions, while cramped, were infinitely more hospitable than what the old diesel boat sailors had to contend with. Our dad spent the majority of his life out at sea, and I can't imagine the deprivation they endured for months on end. Understandably, a lot of them were alcoholics. I understood our dad a lot better after living on submarines myself. God Bless them. They were a different breed.

[toddhansen]

My father was fire control or weapons officer WW2 boat. At end of his life he spoke frequently & fondly about all sights, sounds and men he served together. At his funeral I received an email from gentlemen that was radio operator on the boat that complimented my dad, stating your dad was smarted man on the boat next CO & XO.. He shared few fond memories of past serving along side my pops.. miss him.

[lockman]

In 1978 I worked with a former WW2 submariner in a test lab where we tested giant diesel engines (similar to submarine engines). My co worker was a real character and working with him quickly grew tiresome. The only name I knew him by was Primo. A name he earned by downing many cases of Primo beer while on leave in Hawaii. Not to get too graphic but Prime took pride in his lack of hygiene. Primo was unshaved, unwashed, green teeth, bits of lunch littering his soiled clothing, but Primo's secret power was he ate pickled hot peppers all day long and he could quickly empty a large room with his flatulence. He took great pride in this unique talent. I couldn't imagine being sealed in a submarine with Primo. I'd beg to surface regardless of the Japanese threat.

[stephensmith]

I went aboard a British Submarine HMS Warspite when she returned from The Falklands and visited my home Port of Liverpool. To say that conditions were cramped is an understatement so I can`t imagine what it must have been like, serving aboard a WW2 Boat for an extended period. Those Men have my Total Respect. That was a very informative film, thank you.

[kauphaart]

Not that I was in a ww2 sub, but I was a crewman on one of the last diesel-electric subs in the USN, the USS Bonefish. I find your video accurate, while brief. Keep up the good work and your channel is sure to flourish. Subbed!

[sarge]

Good info and upload. Straight to the point and not dragged on. I spent 12 years in the Army...not sure I could make it that long at sea...UNDER the ocean!!

[pepawg]

My father served on the USS Steelhead in WW2. He was a cook and did say that the submarine service ate the best in all of the military! He didn't speak much about the war, but he did share a story of my grandmother sending him a new watch for his birthday. Shortly after, the sub declared battle stations and he put the watch in his locker. They dove to maximum depth and stayed submerged while the Japanese deployed depth charges. After several hours, the all clear came and they were able to surface. When he checked his locker he said the watch was in a thousand pieces!!

[TugSkipper]

Thanks for the great video on life aboard American Navy diesel electric submarines. I also served as a crewman aboard the USS SeaFox SS-402 from 1969 -1970. I remember the cramped living conditions, taking showers about every 10 days at sea, the terrible smell of engine diesel smoke, and the lack of clean clothes. While the south pacific I mostly wore shorts, T-shirts and hush puppies shoes. It was almost impossible to rid the smell of the boat from your skin even after taking long showers while ashore. In December 1070, SeaFox was decommission and transferred the Turkish Navy in which it served for another 27 years.

[PoorMansChemist]

4:37 Hedy Lamar basically invented the guided torpedo but she was ignored because she was a pin up celebrity.

[jasonrodgers]

I toured a WW2 sub converted to a museum about 30 years ago. AMAZING experience! The Captain's quarters were about the size of two phone booths side by side.

[terrenceprzybylski]

What heroes they are, i give them my utmost respect

[tedhunt]

as a navy vet, not a submariner but a navy bed. I was a torpedo man’s mate. Stupid Siri I did read Thunder Below! and read numerous other books. I appreciate your channel.

[Neil-yggm]

Sounds like luxury compared to the German subs. I read that when the german subs returned home the support crew which met the sub when it returned had to stand back as the sailors were emerging from the sub otherwise they would start fainting, vomiting from the smell.

[energyasylum]

@3:07 WOW! Thank y’all for your service. Rest In Peace sailors in these subs.

[charlesadams]

"When they had trouble lighting their cigarettes..." in a submarine...wow...what different times.

[michaelcalland]

“ Each crew member had his own bunk “
Did I hear that right ? That’s quite a luxury for a WW2 sub.
I’m pretty sure German U-Boat crews used the bunk sharing method ie on duty/ off duty.
I always assumed the US did the same because the Subs just couldn’t accommodate sleeping quarters for the entire crew

[Sean-mefv]

So grateful for everything they did for us

[stevefarris]

USS Catfish SS339 was my first boat. Three Westpac trips. Then to the nuke fast attacks and finally the boomers. 23 years and at 87 I still miss it. Good career and great experiences.

[winnon]

My Uncle was on a submarine before WW2. He was fixing to get out when the war started. Due to the war he had to stay in four more. I believe he had a total of twelve years. After that he went in the Merchant Marines till he retired.