US Navy Nuclear Submarine Cracks Polar Ice

During the rigorous training performed by hopeful fast-attack submarine crews from the United States Navy, the men and women learn absolutely everything there is to know about the vessel’s operations.

However, there is a particular skill that is not in the regular curriculum: how to surface a nuclear submarine through a heavy layer of ice.

In 2018, the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Hartford and the Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine USS Connecticut performed this visually stunning feat, and it was all caught on camera.

In the footage, both submarines are seen creasing through thick layers of ice, popping out while performing an exercise that has taken place for decades.

With the attention on the Arctic Ocean at an all-time high because of the melting ice caps, many institutions such as the US Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, are perfecting their ice-based procedures to ensure an efficient transition into a new world of operational possibilities in the most dangerous terrain in the world…

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Dark Footage showcases the most unbelievable photos and videos from history while telling the stories behind the camera. Featuring military, space, aircraft and real-life historic events caught on tape.

[williamerickson]

I was aboard USS Sea Devil (SSN-664) for ICEX 1-87. In all my years aboard submarines, operating under the ice was by far the most difficult. The ice itself is a hazard and it presents many other hazards. Not the least of which is how it affects sound. An extremely noisy environment. Very difficult to get accurate bearing to detected target because sound bounces off the ice. An acoustic hall-of-mirrors. Also because the ice is in a constant state of melting and re-freezing the water just under the ice has a low salinity. This affects the buoyancy of the ship and surfacing through the ice is a very exacting operation. Hardest I ever worked as a submariner.

[mixpick]

Gawd, it just blows my mind whenever I see images and videos of our submarines punching up through the ice like this. It's hard to believe they can do this without seriously damaging the sub... Truly an awesome thing to behold! Of course, none of this would be possible without the incredible men and women of our submarine forces!!

[nikkolaus]

Keep up the great work. We all appreciate it!

[nickcorle]

How the hell do your videos not get millions of views. This is great content and amazing work. No bull, your background music is what all video volumes should be at for background music. Amazing work and plz keep uploading

[loginavoidence]

1:24 ever taken a pen and drew a face on your thumb

[mikegilbert]

A friend of mine was stationed on one of those subs when he was in the Navy. One of his jobs was to calculate the thickness of the ice and the velocity required to breach it. He told me that there was a lottery on the boat to determine which sailors would get to go outside and pick up whatever supplies were left there for them on the surface. Because they did not see the sun for months at a time, the chance to get outside of the boat was very popular. He always sold his lottery tickets to other sailors for things like someone's desserts for a week.

[erictroxell]

So that's where the COCA COLA BEAR went? Lol 😆😆😎🤯

[kamakaziozzie]

“A Free and Peaceful Arctic” lol.
I wish that was possible

[BiGDukeActual]

Keep'n it Dark. Thank you for this post!

[gus]

This was one of your best efforts and really interesting! Thanks! We could still use more 🇺🇸🇨🇦ice-breaking capabilities! 😎✌🏼

[mcguckin]

"This seal tastes a bit funny" 🤔🐻‍❄️

[doodmonkey]

My father served on a Polaris boomer, I will always appreciate our Navy.

[ronwilken]

How about covering the first US nuke, nautelus's visit to the under ice exercise I believe in the late 50's.

[rodpop]

The USS Connecticut was crashed into an underwater seamount on the South China Sea, on October 2, 2021. It's commander, his second-in-command, and the chief of the boat, were relieved due to a loss of confidence. I'll be undertaking repairs for the next few years.

[kenjackson]

I loved that documentary "Ice Station Zebra", it was exciting! Did you know that Rock Hudson was actually a sub commander?

[oldtanker]

Pumping out water makes a sub MORE bouyant not less.

[robr]

I went to the North Pole in the summer of 1987. It's colder here right now than it was there. But, it was summertime. There weren't any of those permanent or semi-permanent ice labs there at that time. I remember a few times not being able to punch through the ice due to thickness.

[duaneayers]

If u have never seen before to what it takes the Submarine Force to bring one of these US Submarine up and out of the thick thick Artic ice. U should check it out because these guys & gals have to make everything perfect in every which way to make this happen without having one centimeter off. It has to all be done perfect at the exact same time & they make it perfect every time 🇺🇸

[gwhizz]

Long time listener to your many dark channels, thankyou for creating the content. I think at timestamp 4:13 when you said "The crew then starts pumping out water to make it less buoyant" you meant more buoyant ??

[stevenyouel]

SCIEX 96 USS Pogy SSN 647 surfaced through the ice 19 times.