Readers of Tom Philpott's Military Update column sound off.

Former Submariners Wary Of Women On the Boat

As a retired submarine commanding officer I am concerned about allowing female sailors in submarine crews.

Let me begin by stating I do appreciate the excellence I have seen from female officers and sailors in the Navy. I commend their service.

 I simply believe, however, that having gender-integrated crews submerged and incommunicado, for two or more months, presents too much stress on the whole community of submariners.

I was in command when females were beginning to serve in our Navy.  Their potential integration into submarine crews worried me.  It was not so much the reaction of male sailors on board as the increased stress on families.  Communication possibilities with families while submerged is one way -- wife to husband -- and severely limited.  Wives would be left to speculate on their husband's marital fidelity, and their concern can be fatally flamed by rumor and innuendo.

Granted, husbands are thusly stressed under the current female-free submarine crews.  But adding stress on wives is not necessary or prudent.

Stress on families during deployments is severe in a freely communicating environment.  Consider how much higher it would be when both partners cannot assure each other of their mutual marital commitment.

WILLIAM J. HOBLER, JR.
Commander, USN-Ret.
Newport News, Va.

I served on a Polaris missile submarine during the Cold War in the 1960's.  I believe military women should be allowed to serve in areas formerly assigned to men only, including combat. They make excellent pilots, tank drivers and ship commanders. Also, I see no physical, mental or emotional reason for women not to be allowed to serve on submarines.

That said, the environment on submarines needs to be studied as to its suitability for accommodating women. The nuclear-powered submarine is designed for missions in a very isolated and hostile theater - underwater. Every square foot of boat is occupied by weapons, stores and equipment to accomplish the mission.  Human comforts are secondary in its design.

Submarine crews are unique, a small number of highly-trained personnel performing complicated and dangerous duties in a lonely arena. They are cut off from the outside world of sunlight, fresh air and other human contact for months at a time. Crew members are totally dependent on each other to maintain and operate their ship in an environment where the outside pressure can be measured in thousands of pounds per square foot.

Eventually women will be serving on submarines. I don't have a problem with that.  All the issues of privacy and fraternization will be encountered and resolved.  But I do feel that before there is a general order to integrate the submarine service, the basic design, accommodation and mission of the submarine needs to be reviewed.  Carefully.

CHARLES H. KELLY
Former Missile Technician Second Class (SS)
USS John C. Calhoun SSBN 630

 

The atmosphere on a submarine is no walk in a field of lilies. Potential contaminants are strictly monitored, but they are also needed to run the boat. There is also the question of low-level background radiation from different sources --the reason sub sailors wear those dosimeters.

There have been years of monitoring male exposures but when I was on submarines there was very little data on the effects on ovaries, eggs and fetuses which are more vulnerable to atmosphere contaminants and ionizing radiation.  Why? Try asking for volunteers for that type of study.

There is also the privacy question. The racks (beds) run down the compartments, stacked three high.  If you know the diameter of a boat, just do the math to see how little room an individual has. An occasional sailor has to exit the rack just to turn over. Will the CO, XO, senior and junior officers, chief petty officers give up the spaces they've earned through rank?

On fast attack boats, space is even more limited. I would love to be at "indoc" when the CO and XO are told they have to give up their staterooms because two female sailors are being assigned.

Men and women may use the same facilities but the number of facilities is limited. Do the female sailors get one exclusively? Even the CO and XO share. What if they have to "go" at one end of the boat and their head is at the other end? It can be a long way when in distress.

Did anyone ask the hard questions or were they just hit by a "PC" lightening bolt?

TERRY D. DEAS
Chief Hospital Corpsman (SS), USN-Ret.
Via e-mail

 

Good grief! We clearly are redefining "hot bunking."

I suppose women might be able to serve on FBMs [fleet ballistic missile submarines] but never on fast attack boats.

I hope one ill-advised sentence in [Admiral Mullen's] report to Congress doesn't give way to feminization of our strongest deterrent.

RICHARD JOHNSON
Master Chief Petty Officer (SS), USN-Ret.
Via e-mail

Admiral Mullen, the column notes, is a "career surface warfare officer."  What makes him qualified to say it's time women served on submarines?

Ask commanders of the Pacific and Atlantic submarine fleets and you'll get a more qualified answer on what a "can of worms" this will open.

As a retired submarine force veteran of 20 years, I served on WWII diesel boats, nuclear attack boats and nuclear missile boats.  I can tell you that putting women aboard would create more problems than it's worth.

As we say, "If it's not a problem, don't fix it."

DAVID DIKE
Machinist Mate First (SS), USN-Ret.
Sierra Vista, Ariz.

 

Having served nearly 20 years in the submarine service on post-WWII fast attack submarines and "boomers," having worked directly with 10 female Navy personnel, and having insight into the unique characteristics of submarine sailors, I feel qualified to comment.

It might work if the women selected for submarine duty were somewhat senior, say lieutenant, chief or above.  Respect of seniority would help to offset other prejudices and help with their ability to adapt.  Also, chiefs and officers have segregated quarters from the rest of the crew.

Most females know how to use their femininity to advantage whereas most men never give their masculinity a second thought while aboard the sub.  The fact that females would be in the minority would create a situation of competitiveness or protectiveness among male crewmen.

MEL MYERS
Via e-mail

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