Nuclear Submarines: We knowe we've got 'em, but where?

I have been black-listed by the “elders” here at Straight Dope. That’s ok with me. For some people, getting on the good side of satan(which is an easy way to waste time) is their goal. So be it. We’ve all heard the phrase, there’s a sucker born every minute. You can find a lot of them hanging around satan.

Ok, now for a real question. (I’d prefer it if satan didn’t respond).

Where are our nuclear subs? Many people I’ve talked to have placed them across the Atlantic, in the Pacific, up in the Artic. No one, however, mentioned the Great Lakes. It might just be me, but isn’t it possible that a submarine is hidden there?

The ‘e’ on know is for example of an error.

Lots of things are possible… but why?

I may be new here, but isn’t this more of a GQ than a GD?

  1. It’s no secret that the main U.S. sub bases (missile subs, that is) are in South Carolina (King’s Bay or Charleston, I don’t recall) and Washington (Bremerton, IIRC). It’s reasonable to posit that their operating areas are in the Atlantic and Pacific, and it’s a long way from those bases to the Great Lakes. and the St. Lawrence Seaway is a shallow and narrow transit area for submarines, making it vulnerable. Pretty stupid of our admirals to spend billions on stealthy subs that can hide in the deep blue, then send them through a canal where they have to stay surfaced so anybody can see & shoot 'em. Dumber things have happened, but I have a higher opinion of the Navy than that.

  2. If you’re a submarine, depth is your friend. The oceans are deeper than the Great Lakes (although Superior is pretty darn deep for a lake!).

  3. If you’re not talking about missile subs (I’ve assumed you are, so far), then the only purpose behind stationing subs in the Great Lakes would be to protect us from the Canadian naval juggernaut… er, how many subs do the Canadians have again?
    … or there’s another possibility, if you’ve played X-Com 2: Terror of the Deep… our nuclear subs must be really darn scared of those aliens tho :wink:


“Banned by the Space Pope”

[Moderator Hat ON]

You’re right, wevets, this should be in GQ. So I’m sending it there.

Note to Federalist: personal attacks belong in The Pit. If you had placed your first paragraph in there, it would have been far more appropriate. Please keep offensive remarks directed at other posters out of threads that are not in the Pit, or else all your threads will shortly end up being sent there, and you will never get any answers to your questions. It also makes you look somewhat petty and silly, BTW.

[Moderator Hat OFF]