It’s in the Bag: the History of Personal Storage Aboard Fleet Submarines

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[@lexington476]

If a sub was out on patrol for 75 days and they returned to port, how much time did the crew have off back in port between patrols? Also how long did an enlisted men generally serve on a sub? Did they rotate off after X number of patrols?

[@paulfarace9595]

You were given about two weeks leave (the most of any service) and each patrol about 20% of the crew was sent to new construction.

[@USSCod]

We will be doing a Question and Answer video shortly so post your questions for Paul!

[@lexington476]

How about a video on the mark 18 torpedo. I think you have one on display.

[@PaulLoveless-Cincinnati]

Paul can you discuss how you converted to shore power? What systems needed changed? How much power does the Cod draw? Where in the boat does the shore power come aboard? Can you talk about the high voltage control board? Did the boat have "war circuit breaker protectors"? Battleship NJ had physical blocks they would introduce into the electrical system during battle so that the circuit breaker would not trip during battle.

[@matthew____879]

Were there any plans to add rockets/missiles to cod, I know some fleet boats got unguided rockets, and there were experiments with a copied V-1 post-war

[@ultichallengerking]

I read that some subs carried small arms such as BARs, carbines, and Tommy guns during war patrols. Were these used on the Cod? Where were they stored? Who was responsible for them? Under what circumstances were they used and who used them?

[@owenwoodall5642]

More of a general question, what were the differences between the Gato's and Balao's?

[@rustysquid]

I served on the USS Sphinx in the mid 1980's. I was issued one of the nylon bags. It served as stowage for my Walkman, cassette tapes and other sundries. I still have it somewhere squirreled away. Thank you for the walk down memory lane. Cheers!

[@Axel0204]

The nylon version of these bags were still in standard issue/use on modern boats during my time on a boat from 2005 to 2013. That red staining looks to me like the result of "Mobil red" grease that was in common use on boats until at least the early 2000s.

[@ian_b5518]

Staining is likely from it being stored in a cardboard box or on some form of paper. Paper/Card is quite acidic and will do this to clothes and even some alloys.

[@dcviper985]

I was on destroyers from 2003-9, we called those “sub bags” and they hung at the foot of our racks.

[@janjones4536]

My brother in law Bob was on a nuke vietnam era called USS Perth. He said u could put 3 Gatos inside of the nuke, but no way as cool as being on a ww2 sub!😁😆😊

[@PaulLoveless-Cincinnati]

Paul have you considered doing a "live stream" so that your viewers can ask questions in real time?

[@paulfarace9595]

It's a future goal. First now... baby steps 😂

[@legoeasycompany]

I'd hate to image the smell those ww2 bags could create being sealed up for a few days, then again with everything else on ww2 diesels maybe you wouldn't notice it that much?

[@donalddodson7365]

Thank you, Skipper. In the Vietnam era US Army, the jargon for small travel luggage was an "AWOL bag," even if you had a Pass. As a REMF, I always had a wall locker and usually a foot locker, too.

[@skovner]

Go look up "After Battery Rats" by Dex Armstrong about the smoke boats in the '60's

[@Gerle71]

Thank you! What a read!

[@clarencesmith2305]

Just my guess on the stains, rust or grease.

[@petesheppard1709]

WOW! I have been reading accounts of WWII (and modern) subs since I was a kid, and this is the FIRST time I have heard about bunk bags. I assumed they had some sort of locker. BTW, where were the sailors' seabags stored? The rest of their standard uniform issue had to go somewhere...

[@paulfarace9595]

Sea bags were not carried on subs. Left ashore.

[@petesheppard1709]

@@paulfarace9595 I thought that might be the case; thanks for confirming.

[@1SemperDad]

Still have my 3rd generation sub bag. Primarily used it for dirty clothes. I had a seperate locker to keep underwear and my poopie suits in. SSBN 657

[@MrTehRooster]

How often on patrol could a sailor on a sub get “outside?” Or were they stuck inside for the duration of the patrol?

[@paulfarace9595]

Subs of this Era were on the surface most of the time. So if you weren't in an dangerous high-tgreat area a few crew could come topside for a cigarette.

[@clockmonkey]

Might be worth getting a Forensic lab to look at the bag, they should be able to determine what the stain is and I'd hazard a guess would be happy to help. Meanwhile its fun to speculate.

[@dalehuff5740]

I would like to know more about the Cods losty boarding party I think it would be instering to a lot of vewiers

[@exhibitexpressevidence9919]

🏆

[@MDsteeler1]

Looks like rust to me.

[@gregwilliamson3001]

I find it hard to believe that the anyone in their right minds, would supply those bags in WHITE! 🤓

[@tomhenry897]

It was the 60s

[@dw3897]

My Dad's late WW2 sea bag was white canvas (until much later when I dyed it dark blue) still have it. My mid 70's issued sea bag is the standard dark green, which still contains all my original issue uniforms.

[@jeffsr8300]

Good evening everyone.

[@ryder6070]

Yo!

[@dukeofgibbon4043]

The brown is probably rust

[@jastrapper190]

Boot polish.

[@anthonylowder6687]

Where can I get one of those personal bags?

[@gregoryhumphrey2831]

Was it a "hot burn" mark from a steam pipe on a nuke?

[@russojap1864]

I'm assuming that things like toothpaste and toothbrushes were provided to the crew while onboard. Can you tell me if they issued deodorant or antiperspirant? Seems like it would have been extremely important for morale...🤔😅

[@ryder6070]

Haha! I used to guide in the mountains. I would find myself issuing deodorant to clients..

[@paulfarace9595]

That stuff was up to you to buy. Deodorants were just coming into general use on the 1940s. Remember, everyone got a daily basin bath on fleet subs.

[@MrJeep75]

Only person stuff that was provided shaving stuff and toothbrush and paste, all other stuff you had to buy

[@dw3897]

When everyone smells of BO, it's the clean guy that smells funny.

[@ryder6070]

Is bodyweight fluctuation common during a 75 day patrol? thanks!

[@paulfarace9595]

Only in extreme circumstances involving broken air conditioning and extreme tropical heat. Fleet medical personnel reported that because of the good food and lack of exercise the crew could often gain a bit of weight. But the average enlisted man on a WWII US was 22 years old so they're bulletproof. 😅