Visiting My Old Stomping Grounds | Naval Submarine Base, Groton, CT

Not really watch related, but might be interesting to some.

It's always great walking down memory lane, especially when you literally get to walk through it.

I first reported here in 2009 for BESS (Basic Enlisted Submarine School).

I was sort of in to watches at that point in time. Not enough to be considered a degenerate, but enough to think G Shocks were pretty cool. The first watch I purchased with my measly $500 paycheck was a G Shock DW-5600:

It was exactly the watch I needed. Definitely recommend it to anyone.

My first 'A'-school was here in Fluckey Hall. This building was reserved for teaching the 'Submarine Electronics Computer Field' pipeline; here you would find prospective Sonar, Fire Control, and Navigation-Electronics technician students in-training.

Smoke-breaks were a hard set 5 minutes, so you had 30 seconds to run down 6 stories, 3.5 minutes to finish your cigarette, and then a minute sprinting up the stairs to get back in your seat. (students, aka "NUBs" (non-usable bodies), were NOT allowed to use the elevator.

Here's a shot of another training building:

This was right outside the Dealey Center Theater/Auditorium

Every week we would march to this building for some kind of training... or to get yelled at because of somebody doing something stupid.

Just further down the way is the Morton Hall Gymnasium.

Inside is an indoor track and your typical fitness center affair.

When you think of a Navy submarine base, I'm sure this kind of scenery is not the first thing that comes to mind.

It's really a charming scene despite being enclosed by lifeless walls of steel and barbed-wire.

Of course there's a marina for various security vessels and the like:

And right outside the marina is moored the USS Nautilus (wristshot to remind myself that this is still a watch forum):

The USS Nautilus was the very first nuclear-powered submarine. There is no way for me to accurately describe just how strategically and tactically significant this boat was in the history of naval-warfare. Fortunately, the USS Nautilus is now a museum, accessible to everyone; if you get the chance to visit, I HIGHLY encourage it.

The museum area has other boats of historical significance, like the NR-1 and X-1 submarines:

You can even see the Turtle: one of the very FIRST submarines in history, used during the revolutionary war:

Imagine getting those set of orders for your first duty station😱 🤣 🤢 🤮

Even after 15 years, so much of this base remains the same as I remember it.

The only significant change was my persepective. I remember HATING this place when I first arrived. Now, only fond memories and a deep reverence populate my mind.

How does this fit in to anything watch related? I dunno. Seems somehow relevant.

Something something, buy what you like.