Submarine Slang

Bubble Head

Term used for diesel boat submariners derived from the fact that the Guppy boats had a plastic bubble on the bridge that the OOD stood under in fowl weather.

Losing your bubble

The planesmen use a level (similar to a carpenters level) to maintain the ship at the proper angle. Usually zero degrees when at proper depth and 3 to 5 down angle when diving. The diving officer would warn that you were losing your bubble if it deviated from the commanded degree. Also used whenever anyone lost control. This seemed like a favorite pastime while at sea. To try to get someone to lose control.

Water Slug

To go through the motions of firing a torpedo without a fish in the tube (shooting water). Also a non productive person.

Hogans Alley

The berthing section of the after battery that doesn't have any traffic. Like a dead end street, only one way in and out.

Christmas Tree &
Green Board

Christmas tree was a panel in the control room with red and green lighted bars. Red indicated open and Green closed for vent valves and hatches. All lights had to be green for a safe dive. Hence , the Chief of the watch would shout "Green Board" as soon as all the bars turned green so that the dive could continue.

Bridal Suite

Two bunks just below the torpedo loading hatch in the forward torpedo room that are so close they could be called joined.

Gopher

A slang name for the sonar / ET's that stood there watch under the mess decks accessed via a small round hole.

Navy Shower

Shower on , wet body, shower off.
Soap down.
Shower on, rince, shower off.

Submarine Shower

Fill face bowl half full with water.
Wash face.
Wash body.
Wash armpits.
Wash privates.
Wash socks.
Brush teeth with apple juice (tastes to bad to drink).

The showers were used for garbage that wouldn't fit in the GDU (garbage disposal unit) when underway.

Bunk Bag

They were elongated bags, designed for horizontal passageway storage. hung from the tubular bunk frames on diesel boats. They were ugly, a sickening shade of lime green and had four snap straps that were used to connect them to the bunk rails. They were used to squelch the noise from metal objects moving around your locker, posibly giving away your posision.

Bug Juice

The Navys answer to kool-aid. I think the only flavor available to the boats was grape and served warm.

Acey Ducy

A board game similar to baccarat. The game boards are stenciled on the mess deck tables along with chess / checker boards which I never seen used.

Fart Sack

The bedding sheet that resembled a white sack with ties on the end. They looked the same as the surface craft bedding the difference being, the bedding used on a sub had four sides vs. one. Outside top, outside bottom, inside top and inside bottom. Good for a whole month.

SOS

Save our ship
Sink or swim
Shit on shingle
(ground beef w/ tomatoes on toast)

••• --- •••

American Chop Suey

A pasta, tomato sauce and ground beef concoction served on Fridays when the Mackerel Snappers (those whose religious beliefs deemed it necessary to eat fish on Friday's) had there meal. Don't here much about fish on Friday's anymore.

Blow & Go

Method used for escape to suface using the escape tank in the forward torpedo room, to evacuate the lungs of air to prevent bursting or the bends. Replaced Steinke Hood.