Thanks for the photo and tips. Another submarine sighting off West Seattle this morning, this time inbound to Bremerton. We have an inquiry out to Naval Base Kitsap. The last passing-submarine sighting reported here, on February 10th, was eventually reported by the Kitsap Sun to have been the USS Key West, arriving for decommissioning. The one seen the day before that was the USS Louisiana, outbound after a 41-month overhaul.
I don’t recall seeing so much condensed steam coming from a nuclear submarine. Maybe evidence of a problem. Also, tugs appeared to be close enough to be helping it, instead of escorting it as is typical.
The condensed steam is coming from the tug that is behind the sub’s sail. You can see the forward part of the tug’s pilothouse behind it.
The tugs are escorting it and not towing or assisting it, you can tell by the position of where they are in relation to the sub.
Definitely not from the tug. they’re strictly diesel which emits NO steam, unless they have MAJOR engine cooling failure. If they’re smoking diesels will only emit either blue or black smoke.
thank you for clarifying. since youre so knowledgeable can you remind me at what temperature water boils? where does the water from a boats cooling system go? what temperature is the exhaust of an otto cycle engine usually? thank you for your insights
I find all the observations/opinions very interesting. As a former submariner here is my two cents. There would never, ever be steam coming from the conning tower. I was a nuclear electrician. There are several options for propulsion so it would be my belief the boat ( subs are boats not ships, there are only two types of vessels in the Navy submarines and targets) is under its own power. The tugs are not in right position to be towing it appears. My best guess would be the boat is snorkeling. That means they are running the diesel generator for electrical power if plant is offline.
You are absolutely right my fine bubble head brother. They are snorkeling. That mean the boat is running its Deisel generator for maintenance or a drill most likely.
The boat is under its own power. It wouldn’t snorkel during a surface transit. Also the smoke would be black from the diesels in the AMR; and it definitely would not be coming out of the conn, but from the exhaust ports on stbd. It’s just a mucked up photo with escort tugs hidden by the boat and that non quals would have fits about. DBF👍
Nuke subs snorkel all the time during long surface transits like that – as others said maybe maintenance, maybe drill, maybe quals… who knows… but it was done many times on my boats. I was a reactor operator.
Nope. Steam is from water sprayed into diesel exhaust pipe as diesel engine is running. This is normal when coming into port.
Snorkeling. Smoke’s coming from the snorkel mast! They’re running the diesel engines. 22 year submarine veteran. Served on 2 Trident submarines which is what is seen here.
Concur with Bob Bean, the boat is snorkeling. Diesel smoke plus condensation of water vapor. 100% normal. Also ex-bubblehead.
The submarine is running the onboard diesel engine during transit from base to wherever. If you enlarge the photo, you’ll notice the exhaust/steam is coming from the upper/aft portion of the sail. That is where the exhaust for the diesel vents from the ship. It IS a nuclear sub, yes. But it does have a diesel engine as well.
If you look closely at the comms Tower there’s a tug just behind it that’s emitting all that”steam”
Many navy boats head to Bremerton when they are being decommissioned.
I watched it for over half an hour at multiple angles and the smoke was coming out of the submarine conning tower area (I would guess steam would dissipate faster, that was quite a plume). Number on tower was 325, so USS Pennsylvania. The two aft tugs were providing propulsion. About a dozen people spread out on the spine of the sub, they didn’t seem too worried. Could have been exhaust from the diesel backup but still a lot of smoke.
I watched it for over half an hour at multiple angles and the smoke was coming out of the submarine conning tower area (I would guess steam would dissipate faster, that was quite a plume). Number on tower was 325, so USS Pennsylvania. Most of my observation was earlier than this, when there were two tugs on either side of the aft providing propulsion, with a third tug on the starboard bow and a fourth close by. About a dozen people spread out on the spine of the sub, they didn’t seem too worried. Could have been exhaust from the diesel backup but still a lot of smoke.
The boat name is USS Pennsylvania and the ship number is SSBN 735. Not sure what the number you saw was however the numbers of all currently active subs are 600 and above.Respectfully,Tim Dunn FTG/SS USS Baltimore SSN 704 (decommissioned)1987-1992
Sorry, I messed up the digits between looking through the binoculars and writing it down, it was 735 on the boat. Thanks for the correction. Bob.
Another pic from twitter. (I assume it’s the same one.)https://twitter.com/warshipcam/status/1631059561065979909?s=61&t=7kZ3a7xkFDzYuNll1S1QhA
If that ship isnt running on its own, those tugs are doing a lot of work.. could just be from the tugs pushing themselves.
Tug escort is standard procedure in the sound. It’s under its own power.
My husband’s submarine officer friend says the steam is from the water-cooled exhaust from running the auxiliary diesel generator/engine.
Good job on answer. Cooling is part of snorkeling operations. There are certain circumstances when the sub needs to operate like this during transition operations. Maintenance is a on going thing on submarine ops. Al
That’s definitely steam/condensation. Especially with the temperature and wind direction outside.
Why are you giving out information that helps our Enemies ???
You mean like the intelligence agencies who have been surveilling Americans for decades? When you have an idle moment, read up on the Church heaings in the early 70’s and the shocking, illegal actitivies they exposed, including MK Ultra. No, this is not tin foil hat stuff, it actually happened.
It’s globally-known that these old U.S. submarines are being decommissioned, overhauled, etc. There’s zero national security risk. Once they submerge off the coast only a handful of top officials know what their missions are.
Our enemies that matter get all this information with ease. I can guarantee you foreign intelligence agencies aren’t scrubbing every civilian platform on the Internet for secrets. They know perfectly well how and when subs use diesel engines and water as a coolant in the exhaust. Genius.
You’re right, U.S. intelligence agencies have that market all wrapped up, illegally monitoring fellow Americans.
In the Tom Clancy novel Red Storm Rising, Key West participated in a cruise missile strike against the Soviet Union.
That is a beautiful shot of the USS Pennsylvania (SSBN 735). I’ll bet there are some PA sailors who would love to frame an 11×14 glossy of this. I took a nice shot of the USS Seadragon (SSN 584) entering Pearl Harbor returning from a WestPac in 1978. I was stationed at the shipyard NLSO at that time. Submarines are special boats on special missions with special people operating them.
Fascinating & informative. Thoroughly enjoyed reading the discussion thread – mostly the comments from Navy pros, servicemen. I so appreciate your input based on life experience, your lived service & training. Thank you!
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