Communications from Subs

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joshua C. on June 16, 2012 at 8:44pm

It all depends, is he on an ssn or ssbn. Fast attack subs deploy for up to 6 months. Ballistics subs deploy for 3 months. As far as deployment and return times, those aren't made public.  

Permalink Reply by Rob Jones on July 17, 2012 at 3:15pm

When I served on the boats (71 - 75) there was no such thing as email back and forth!  What a luxury.  All we had was one-way comms from our families to us; they were called FamilyGrams.  They were limited to something like 20 or 30 words per gram, and a total of I believe 5 grams per patrol.  They were printed out by the radio shack on a teletype, and looked just like an old-fashioned telegram!

Wow, emails to a submerged submarine - what will they think of next???

Rob

STS2(SS) 

Permalink Reply by Kevin K on August 27, 2012 at 2:45pm

My son is deployed out of Pearl Harbor.  I appreciate all this information regarding email, but what about snail mail?   Are they able to receive cards and letters on the sub?  Would the addy be the his same on base address?

Permalink Reply by Tim McGlenn on August 28, 2012 at 3:12pm

Kevin, my son is also in Pearl Harbor.When his boat is underway his snail mail only goes to his address, which is held for him.

Permalink Reply by Kevin K on August 29, 2012 at 12:56am

Thanks!  I wondered.  I sent him a care package last year, unbeknownst to me he was out at sea, and they sent the package back as unclaimed.  GRRR

Permalink Reply by Mike Walpole on November 25, 2012 at 7:49am

My son put to sea in late Oct on a 6 month cruise on the Bremerton, SSN 698, out of Pearl Harbor.  We have gotten emails from him up until a week ago.  I figure they are in the middle of something at the moment.  We know he has some port calls coming and we are hoping to get a call.

Permalink Reply by Michael A. O on November 27, 2012 at 7:22am

My son is out of Kings Bay. This is his third or fourth cruise but the longest by far. They can send & receive only so much, short & sweet, & not anything about comings & goings. That's one of the hardships our heroes have to endure. But as Rob said earlier, it's a big step from the past. We must wait for their safe return & appreciate the time we have when they return. He is married so his wife is enduring the greatest hardship but she appears to be strong & accepting.

Permalink Reply by Mike Adams on April 25, 2013 at 9:15pm

My son is about to get his first deployment after a few years of nuke / chem school.  He will be on the Columbia out of Pearl.  So if I understand this, they can email from the boat every once in a while?

Permalink Reply by David Burkham on April 26, 2013 at 10:17pm

How go I contact the ombudsman?  My son is supposed to be returning to Pearl right away.  I am visiting and would like to greet the boat if possible.  Thanks for any info.

Permalink Reply by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on April 26, 2013 at 10:22pm

check if the sub has a website...there is usually a link to the Ombudsman

David Burkham said:

How go I contact the ombudsman?  My son is supposed to be returning to Pearl right away.  I am visiting and would like to greet the boat if possible.  Thanks for any info.

Permalink Reply by John Caporal on December 21, 2013 at 9:12am

I just joined this group (was previously with the navy nukes group).  My son was flown from Bremerton, WA, to meet the USS Seawolf on Nov 5th.  We have emailed him ( to his civilian email address), but no response.  We have not heard from our sailor.  We were thinking the sub would have made a port call by now and he would have called us.

I've read some of the comments from others and can relate to the frustrations and concerns.

Is there someone in the Navy we can contact to at least get some status information about his deployment?

Permalink Reply by David Burkham on December 21, 2013 at 7:38pm

John, see my posts above from earlier this year.  Each sub has an ombudsman at heir home port.  They can help you some with communication.  My son was flown out to meet hi boat also.  He was in and out of Pearl so fast there was no time for the ombudsman to get all of his info, but she did get some communication going.  Actually the COB handed my son his cell phone and told him to call his dad!
 
John Caporal said:

I just joined this group (was previously with the navy nukes group).  My son was flown from Bremerton, WA, to meet the USS Seawolf on Nov 5th.  We have emailed him ( to his civilian email address), but no response.  We have not heard from our sailor.  We were thinking the sub would have made a port call by now and he would have called us.

I've read some of the comments from others and can relate to the frustrations and concerns.

Is there someone in the Navy we can contact to at least get some status information about his deployment?

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