Hello Chet!
For all you "youngsters" out there, two words: "Glucosamine & Chondrotin"... This stuff really works!!! It takes a little bit (2 to 4 wks) of time for you to start feeling the difference but, if it was'nt for this stuff, I'd reallly be in heap of pain, not to mention, probably hooked on vicodin or some other pain reliever just to get around!!!
Seriously!!! Please do'nt wait until you ca'nt stand the pain any longer!!!
(No, I'm not a paid spokesperson for this stuff) Just a suggestion...
I hear you guys!!! Is'nt it uncanny how those aches start to really bother us just around the same age???
Anywho, to answer your question Chet...
I think you know this already but, we were'nt really welding up all those mirrors in fact, we were'nt welding any mirrors (I had to read your question a couple of times to get your joke, oh well, I'm a little slower these days)!!!
I believe for myself, that we were using the mirrors as an aid to enable the person welding to actually "see" the welds when performing a repair on structural or pipe sections that did'nt pass inspection for that particular area of the joint etc...
In other words, usually when the joint was originally welded, there was ample space to perform the welds without any obstructions or restrictions to your line of sight... However, back in the day different piping systems and other systems for that matter, were installed with schedules that more than likely were'nt coordinated with the different trade departments... Talk about not knowing what the other hand was doing!!! Man was it a mess!!! Anywho, by the time the inspection deparment got around to inspecting not only the pipe joints but, also pipe hangers, and other revisions like, adding additional structural components, piping or tubing for redundancy, etc., the areas in question which needed rework were often found completely or partially surrounded by physical obstructions (Added equipment, etc.) to the degree that the welder sent to repair or add another hanger or to repair or weld a new joint would have no choice but, to use a mirror or two or three (very rare!!!) or four in order to not only get the proper line of sight to the joint or repair but, also to perform the weld or repair weld with some degree of comfort and consistency (when I was younger, I was flexible but, I nor anyone else was plastic man even though sometimes, I thought I was!)...
Another factor to consider was to cover up just about everything and anything that was capable of catching fire, cover up any metal or pipe that was exposed to potential arc strikes etc. So, alot of time was spent covering up in order to perform a weld that in reality, took only minutes to complete when it came to repairs. It took a little longer when we were in the "wet docks", and were welding new installations which were the result of engineering revisions...
In order to perform these welds with some degree of control, we came up with some really innovative gadgets that enabled us to bend around, and reach the specific locations of the joints that required welding...
The machinists were very helpful in that aspect... We also had to control when power was to be turned on, so that we would'nt put arc strikes all over the place before we reached the weld area, and most of this was done by using quick disconnects on the cables, (one person was used for this) with SMAW... Some of the repairs were performed with GTAW (mostly on pipe, and some machined surfaces)...
More than a couple of times which I would rather forget, we had more than one person performing the welding on the same area at the same time...
For example, on some of those really hard to reach pipe repairs, two people were performing the welding (three if you include the person turning the power on and off) because, due to the fact that the location where you had to position yourself was "tenative" to say the least (unstable)!!! One person handled the GTAW torch while the other fed the filler rod!!! (another person used the quick disconnects)
Usually this was performed with welders that had previously worked together using a different process (twin-arc SMAW) beforehand, and that's why we were so respected by our superiors... yeah right!!! Back in those days we thought that no job was tough enough!!!
SSBN726 (Ohio), 727 (Michigan), 728 (Illinois), and 729 (I do'nt remember this sub's state name although, I think it was the USS Georgia) were really a work in progress... in other words, prototypes that stayed that way until SSBN730 was built because, by then, they had worked out all of the problems and revisions they encountered with the first three submarines, and started to incorporate the solutions on the fourth sub, and finally eliminating or at least minimizing the problems on the fifth Trident submarine...
The same was the case with the Los Angeles (688) class attack submarines, where myself, and a few other good men were also heavily involved with getting those subs ready for shakedown sea trials in preparation for commisioning (handing them over to the Navy)!!!
I remember each time one the submarines left the yard for good...
Each time I prayed for their safe return to their new homes with the United States Navy!!! Second to None!!!
The groundswell of pride we (The shipyard workers) experienced was sometimes overwhelming!!!
Most important of all was the fact that none of these submarines ever let the U.S. Navy down!!! Thanks to Presidents Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan, and to the continuing dedication of maintaining the highest standards that are in the finest traditions of the United States Navy, the main architect of our nations Nuclear Navy, Rear Admiral Hymie Rickover (RIP you S.O.B.!!!)... Not to mention all of the fine sailors ( I did a tour on the SSN Los Angeles) that served on these Submarines, and those who continue to serve!!!!!
Anywho, I hope I was able to satisfy your curiosity Chet because, I'm all talked out, and if I missed anything then, I'm sure Gerald could fill in the blanks so to speak...
Thanks for your patience in explaining this to you and others...
Respectfully,
SSBN727 Run Silent... Run Deep!!!
P.S. btw the reason I use this sub is because, this one was my home sub, and I was loaned out to all of the other subs when things got "hairy" if you know what I mean!!!
Gerald,
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