The Plan Ahead
Posted on 10 Feb 2023 @ 6:19pm by Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Watts
Episode:
E1: A Historic Voyage
Location: USS Arizona, Somewhere in the Pacific Ocean
Timeline: Date 2025-05-27 at 1600
TO: COMSUBPAC, COMSUBGRU9, COMSUBRON19
FR: USS Arizona (SSN-803)
RE: SCHEDULED ARRIVAL
27 MAY 25, 1600Z
1) USS ARIZONA EXPECTS APPROACH TO US NAVY SUB BASE KITSAP-BANGOR AT APPROX 0830-0900 28 MAY 25.
2) REQUEST ALL SHORE SIDE SUPPORT AND LINE HANDLING CREWS ARE PREPARED.
3) CONTACT TO PORT OPERATIONS VIA MARINE VHF AS WELL AS MESSAGE TO APPROPRIATE COMMANDS WILL BE MADE WITH TIME OF ARRIVAL WHILE TRANSITING IN CHANNEL.
4) REQUEST NOTIFICATION OF OMBUDSMAN OF CREW ARRIVALS. REQ NOTIFICATION INCLUDE NO LESS THAN TWO HOURS BEFORE CREW RELEASED AFTER ARRIVAL/TIE DOWN.
5) OPS NORMAL
// LCDR E WATTS XO SENDS
Jon,
You should receive a notification from the navy as well just in case this email fails to send. We will be back in port hopefully between 0830-0900 and I estimate the boat will be tied up near 1000. Please be sure that you include that it will be AT LEAST two hours before the crew is released from the submarine and that families wishing to be there when we arrive should plan accordingly. If you also want to note that we will not be transmitting or receiving the email again until we are in port that any messages sent/received will likely not be reviewed until a day or two after we've been in port as Master Chief and I will have other matters to attend to.
See you soon my love,
Liz
“All stations, going deep,” Liz announced over the 1MC. They had completed the transmission needed and when radio announced as much she’d ordered all masts lowered.
“Pilot make your depth five hundred feet, continue on course, make revolutions for twenty knots,” Liz ordered. She then waited for the acknowledgements to her orders before keying microphone again.
“Attention all hands, this is the executive officer,” she paused, giving time for the crew to stop what they were doing to listen the announcement.”
“I have just transmitted our expected to return to port to command and our ombudsman. We are expected to be back pier side between 0900-1000 local time. As you know crew will be held for at least two hours to secure the boat,” she said, pausing for effect.
“It is imperative all crew remain reachable with an updated contact number at all times with the duty section for your departments,” she ordered. “The submarine will remain on hot standby increasing our watch section needs. Anyone not on watch is expected to be at work for all working hours which is 0700-1500,” she continued. “Leave is not authorized. In port watch section, assignments will be posted by 20:00. Department heads have schedules to me by 19:00 in my state room for approval. Any questions through your divisional and department chains of command. That is all."
Liz looked at the visceral reactions to her announcement around control as she placed the microphone back in its cradle as she stood alongside the OOD next to the command watch station. She sighed and looked down at the OOD and nodded before looking back up to announce loudly, "Officer of the deck has the conn," which was acknowledged by the OOD as she walked toward the passageway toward the wardroom.
