NEW YORK (Feb. 23, 2019) – “Want to learn about some submarine science?” Electronics Technician (Navigation) 2nd Class Hassan Corley-Perry asked as group of children ambled by, eyes wide, taking in the brilliant colors and activities displayed during Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics – Kid’s Week at the USS Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.
“Sure,” a brave six-year-old pipes up, tilting his head to the side as he follows Corley-Perry to the tall, glass vase of water sitting on the Command, Submarine Force Atlantic display.
Chief Fire Control Technician Joseph Tant welcomes the kids with a warm smile, “Hi,” he said. “Do you see this at the bottom?” He pointed to the bottom of the glass vase, at a peeled orange. He picked up an unpeeled orange beside the vase and asked, “Now, this orange is bigger than that orange, do you think it will sink or will it float?”
Tant proceeded with his rhythmic explanation about buoyancy and how it applies to submarines, teaching thousands of children in just two days about ballast tanks and the importance of controlling buoyancy.
Even adults stopped by, interested by the shining medals abreast each uniform of the eight submarine Sailors who volunteered to bring the United States’ On Seen, Unseen force to the public eye of the citizens that make such technology advancements possible.
Farther down the table, a cardboard periscope sat in front of Sonar Technician (Submarine) 2nd Class Austin Sparks. The periscope is a tool of submarine history that, with improved engineering, has provided unmatched surveillance from the cryptic depths of surface ships for generations.
“The periscope benefits the submarine by preserving the safety of the ship,” Sparks said. “When we’re at periscope depth, we’re in a very dangerous position because we could potentially be hit by nearby surface ships that don’t realize we’re there. Our photonics mast is also helpful for reconnaissance while staying undetected.”
The photonics mast is the modern evolution of the periscope, using electronic imagery to display a picture of the outside world on monitors as opposed to the outdated mirror system of the more commonly known periscope.
The clear pitch of a tuning fork resounded in Sparks ear as Sonar Technician (Submarine) 1st Class Alfred Urdiales banged the tool against the table beside him.
“You hear that?” He asked holding the tuning fork beside a young girl’s ear. “Now watch.” He lowered the vibrating metal into the water where it quaked beneath the sound waves that demonstrate a submarine’s eyes and ears.
“When you make a sound in the water, it makes invisible waves,” Urdiales explained. “Using the tuning forks you can see how the water is agitated and you can see the sound. We don’t have windows or doors underwater that we can look through, so instead, we listen for sounds around us and then see the image on a screen.”
The silent force that protects the United States borders often uses passive sonar, allowing existing sounds in the ocean to find, verify and sometimes, hunt watercraft near and far from the shores of the country they dutifully serve.
“The Navy makes up less than one percent of the United States population, so you can imagine how small of a percentage the submarine force represents,” Lt. Nico Woods said. “So, much of the general public does not know what we do. By participating in STEAM events, we can connect directly with the public to show them what we do and how we do it.”
USS Intrepid’s STEAM for Kids week, February 17-23, brought interactive exhibits of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to kids of all ages. Submarine Force Atlantic participated February 22 and 23, displaying fun and informative science and engineering activities for more than seven thousand people.
As the most modern and sophisticated attack submarines in the world, the United States submarines can operate in both littoral and deep ocean environments and presents combatant commanders with a broad and unique range of operational capabilities.
They are flexible, multi-mission platforms designed to carry out the seven core competencies of the submarine force: anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, delivery of special operations forces, strike warfare, irregular warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and mine warfare.