Naval Submarine School

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Naval Submarine School builds a foundation upon which officers and enlisted personnel are prepared to develop the competence and proficiency in skills necessary to operate and maintain their submarines.

10/05/2026

Honoring Eugene ‘Lucky’ Fluckey!

Born in 1913, Eugne Fluckey would go on to make history as one of the U.S. Navy’s most badass submarine commanding officers. He earned the Medal of Honor for leading the USS Barb SS – 220 crew toward awesomeness during World War II. Here is that story in his own words during an interview for the National Museum of the Pacific War.

10/04/2026



On the Midwatch Snack Edition – Candy Bars

On this episode of On The Midwatch Snack Edition, U.S. and Australian Submariners try snacks from both countries – Butterfinger vs. Violet Crumble - and give us their opinion on which snack gets an All Ahead Full, and which snack is TDU.

AAF or All Ahead Full is a term used to give full agreement or support for a command or action. On a military submarine, a TDU stands for Trash Disposal Unit, a specialized vertical ejection system—similar to a small, internal vertical torpedo tube—used to safely get rid of waste and garbage while remaining submerged and hidden. TDU is also submarine slang for disliking and not approving of something.

Video hosted by STSC Antonio Maldonado



Click here to watch the full videos:

Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKWk70ahaVk&t=17s

DVIDS:
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/1025256/midwatch-snack-edition-candy-bars

10/03/2026

Honoring Eugene ‘Lucky’ Fluckey and the crew of the USS Barb SS-220

Hooyah BESS! Congrats to the newest members of the World's Most Successful Submarine Force. Click here to see all photos...
10/02/2026

Hooyah BESS!

Congrats to the newest members of the World's Most Successful Submarine Force.

Click here to see all photos from the Basic Enlisted Submarine School graduation ceremony:
196517515@N06/albums/72177720335934131/with/55564972965" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://www.flickr.com/photos/196517515@N06/albums/72177720335934131/with/55564972965

Hooyah Coffee! ☕️⚓️🐐In the U.S. Navy, leaving a chief's coffee cup unwashed is a strict tradition because the accumulate...
10/01/2026

Hooyah Coffee! ☕️⚓️🐐

In the U.S. Navy, leaving a chief's coffee cup unwashed is a strict tradition because the accumulated residue and stains act as a badge of honor representing seniority, experience, and time served at sea.

Why the Mug Is Never Washed--Badge of Honor: The darker and more crusted the inside of the cup, the longer the sailor has survived and served.

Superstition of Bad Luck: Sailors believe that scrubbing or cleaning a senior sailor's "seasoned" mug washes away their hard-earned experience and brings bad luck to the ship. New recruits who try to be helpful by washing a chief's cup have historically faced severe reprimands or punishments.

Flavor and "Seasoning": Many old-school sailors compare an unwashed coffee mug to a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet, believing the built-up coffee oils improve the taste. (This custom relies on drinking black coffee; adding milk or sugar would spoil and grow mold).

Happy Birthday USS Nautilus (SSN-571)! in 1954, the USS Nautilus (SSN-571) was commissioned in Groton, Connecticut – t...
09/30/2026

Happy Birthday USS Nautilus (SSN-571)!

in 1954, the USS Nautilus (SSN-571) was commissioned in Groton, Connecticut – the Submarine Capital of the World, as the first nuclear powered submarine in the U.S. Navy.

This groundbreaking vessel marked a significant milestone in naval technology and warfare, heralding a new era of underwater capabilities and transforming the landscape of military strategy.

Pictured here is the USS Nautilus and crew entering New York harbor on 25 August 1958, after their voyage under the North Pole.

Today we honor, Cmdr. Howard GilmoreBorn in Alabama in 1902, Gilmore was a U.S. Navy submarine commander during World ...
09/29/2026

Today we honor, Cmdr. Howard Gilmore

Born in Alabama in 1902, Gilmore was a U.S. Navy submarine commander during World War II. In January 1943, he departed Brisbane, Australia, aboard the USS Growler on its fourth war patrol in the Southwest Pacific.

On the night of February 7, 1943, while the USS Growler was preparing to launch a surprise surface attack on a Japanese convoy, an enemy es**rt suddenly turned and rammed the submarine. The collision and ensuing machine-gun fire left Gilmore seriously wounded on the bridge. He ordered his crew below first and, realizing he could not reach safety before the submarine submerged, gave his final command: "Take her down."

Gilmore's executive officer obeyed the order, diving the damaged submarine and saving the crew while Gilmore sacrificed his own life. USS Growler survived the attack and returned safely to Brisbane.

For his actions that day, Howard W. Gilmore was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His final command, "Take her down," remains one of the most enduring phrases in the history of the U.S. Submarine Force.

Happy Did you know Submariners, just like Sailors across the Navy, have a special bond with their coffee, similar to t...
09/29/2026

Happy

Did you know Submariners, just like Sailors across the Navy, have a special bond with their coffee, similar to their bond with the sea?

In 1914, Secretary of the Navy Josephus “Joe” Daniels prohibited alcohol on all Navy ships. After this, Sailors found themselves on ships where the strongest drink was coffee—sometimes referred to as a “cup of joe.” It’s a brew as strong as the ship itself!

How do you like your coffee when out to sea?

Photo captions:

Submariners drinking coffee in the torpedo room of their boat, at the New London Submarine Base, 1943.

Interior view, coffee break, USS R-13 (SS-90), Nov 13, 1940

Submarine Officers: Examine a phonograph record, while enjoying coffee and smokes in their boat's wardroom, during World War II.

09/28/2026

Weapons Firing portion of the 1989 submarine documentary by David Hoffman.

While the current U.S. Naval Submarine School is not holding classes during the holidays, here is a throwback to a 1943...
09/24/2026



While the current U.S. Naval Submarine School is not holding classes during the holidays, here is a throwback to a 1943 U.S. Naval Submarine School class in session.

The caption reads: Three Chief Petty Officers instructing enlisted students in a sub school classroom, circa 1943. Note diagram of "fleet"-type submarine tanks and arrangement on the blackboard and "Be Reliable" sign above. Plaques on left indicate that these chiefs may be: Chief Torpedoman's Mate J.F. Affeldt, Chief Boastswain's Mate R.E. Hopfer, Chief Machinist's Mate L. Vannauker.

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Box 700
Groton, CT
06349

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