Cool things spotted in Ketchikan, Alaska!

[Rulekeep]

Okay y'all see this?

This?

THIS?

A Coast Guard boat was following them around and they were playing some war games, from what we could tell. Any guesses on what that 370 foot long blob is?

Turns out there's an expeimental Naval station near Ketchikan and our ferry route went right through their nuclear submarine testing grounds. (So I've been told.)

Cool experience for me, as I have never seen a submarine before in my life, even in musuems, but I used to be really fascinated by them.

[maven]

Everything in Ketchikan is cool this time of year. Silly Alaskans....

[Rulekeep]

Everything in Ketchikan is cool this time of year. Silly Alaskans....

Ketchikan is actually pretty warm. It's way down south on the panhandle, the only towns in the state more southern are Metlakatla and Annette.

[johnnyg08]

Wow, that's wicked! Thanks for sharing.

[elares]

And here I was expecting pix of a certain young male umpire....

[Rulekeep]

And here I was expecting pix of a certain young male umpire....

Nah...I don't have any fondness for the young umpires around here...but I did meet a handsome soccer and debate coach at KayHigh... :lol:

[Rulekeep]

I researched the boat a little bit and found out some more interesting stuff. While it's crew is trained for combat and the submarine is armed, it's called the Southeast Alaska Measurement Facility or the SEAFAC. It's an Ohio-class that has been retrofitted for primarily scientific use.

 

"The Southeast Alaska Acoustic Measurement Facility (SEAFAC) is the Navy’s only West Coast asset for making high fidelity passive acoustic signature measurements. SEAFAC includes directive line arrays, data collection and processing systems for real-time data analysis and signature evaluation.

As the Navy's primary acoustic engineering measurement facility in the Pacific, SEAFAC provides the capability to perform RDT&E evaluations to determine the sources of radiated acoustic noise, to assess vulnerability, and to develop quieting measures.

Located in Behm Canal near Ketchikan, Alaska, the facility provides an ideal ship acoustic measurement site characterized by low ambient noise and minimal noise interference. SEAFAC supports submarine operations over a full range of speeds and depths required for underway tests during acoustic trials. SEAFAC is also capable of supporting submarine target strength measurements.

The facility consists of a site to collect acoustic signatures of submerged submarines underway, and a unique site to measure acoustic signatures of motionless (static) submerged submarines with various onboard machinery secured or under unloaded operation. Acoustic signatures can be collected for a variety of speeds and operating conditions as the submarine transits back and forth between the dual bottom-mounted acoustic arrays. At the static site, suspension barges lower the submarine on cables and position it between measurement arrays to evaluate acoustic signatures of individual machinery components.

The Static Site can test vessels of all sizes and types moored or suspended between surface barges. Submarines for example are suspended at various depths from the surface barges between two underwater arrays and the ship's propulsion systems are secured. Surface ships could be put on shore power with ship power and propulsion systems secured. Test personnel then obtain unique measurements on individual pieces of equipment and machinery. The signal processing and in-water hardware were designed to easily accommodate a variety of sponsors and requirements."

 

They test Ohio and Los Angeles class submarines and are supposed to be testing Virginia and Seawolf classes as well. It stays in port and then is taken to a fjord with another submarine for testing. 

[maven]

Everything in Ketchikan is cool this time of year. Silly Alaskans....

Ketchikan is actually pretty warm. It's way down south on the panhandle, the only towns in the state more southern are Metlakatla and Annette.

Well, I did say "cool," not "cold!"

Our friends in SoCal and AZ would find your claim that any part of Alaska is "pretty warm" pretty funny.

maven

[Rulekeep]

Everything in Ketchikan is cool this time of year. Silly Alaskans....

Ketchikan is actually pretty warm. It's way down south on the panhandle, the only towns in the state more southern are Metlakatla and Annette.Well, I did say "cool," not "cold!"

Our friends in SoCal and AZ would find your claim that any part of Alaska is "pretty warm" pretty funny.

mavenYeah I think I saw somebody blubbering over the fact that it was gonna be 62 and they needed a parka...damn guys if it was 62 here in December we'd be falling over from confusion-induced shock.

Check your heat privilege, yousguys.

[KenBAZ]

Yeah, but where are you guys when I'm working those MSBL 3 hour games in 108 degrees?

[maven]

Yeah, but where are you guys when I'm working those MSBL 3 hour games in 108 degrees?

 

Dude, it's not the heat, it's the humidity!

 

Just ask Jax....

[Rulekeep]

Yeah, but where are you guys when I'm working those MSBL 3 hour games in 108 degrees?

Uhh....watching nuclear submarines? Doing extemporaneous commentary? Talking about those poor poor umpires who are always stuck out in the heat?

[ricka56]

As a younger man, I would try to talk my date into driving to the beach to watch the submarine races.

[Rulekeep]

As a younger man, I would try to talk my date into driving to the beach to watch the submarine races.

One would think you'd want to be IN the submarine race, not just watching...but then again that's just my opinion...

[ricka56]

 

As a younger man, I would try to talk my date into driving to the beach to watch the submarine races.

One would think you'd want to be IN the submarine race, not just watching...but then again that's just my opinion...

 

I guess if a boy invites you to go watch the submarine races, you should know what he means...

...https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080613183512AAfWczH

[Rulekeep]

As a younger man, I would try to talk my date into driving to the beach to watch the submarine races.

One would think you'd want to be IN the submarine race, not just watching...but then again that's just my opinion...I guess if a boy invites you to go watch the submarine races, you should know what he means...

...https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080613183512AAfWczHI KNOW EXACTLY WHAT A SUBMARINE RACE IS RICK STOP.

That was the joke smh.

(BTW no boy is ever gonna so stop worrying.)

[Typhoon]

 

Everything in Ketchikan is cool this time of year. Silly Alaskans....

Ketchikan is actually pretty warm. It's way down south on the panhandle, the only towns in the state more southern are Metlakatla and Annette.

 

Actually I was in a place called Hyder that is about as far south as you can get in the panhandle. Of course that was in 1967 and I visited there while I was in the Canadian Navy.

 

Tony 

[Rulekeep]

Everything in Ketchikan is cool this time of year. Silly Alaskans....

Ketchikan is actually pretty warm. It's way down south on the panhandle, the only towns in the state more southern are Metlakatla and Annette.

Actually I was in a place called Hyder that is about as far south as you can get in the panhandle. Of course that was in 1967 and I visited there while I was in the Canadian Navy.

Tony Nope. Ketchikan is even further south. Hyder is the most eastern town in the state, though.