Comments on: Pitch Black Day – Page 1

By: ThreeOneFive

ThreeOneFive — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 16:36:39 +0000

Welcome aboard, Kasumi M!

Yep, you’re right on. However, it turns out that The Custer was there a little less than a year before the USS Milwaukee “discovered” it.

And, just between you and me, the USS Milwaukee is mighty lucky The Custer got there first!

By: Kasumi M.

Kasumi M. — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 16:19:25 +0000

So, heading toward the Milwaukee Deep in the Puerto Rico Trench?

By: MalikYTous

MalikYTous — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:01:02 +0000

Yes, that crazy Austrian and his cohorts put a turbine driven by the Messerschmidt Comet reaction in the type 17 and type 18 U Boats. That the Type 21s abandoned it for an improved diesel-electric system with enough battery to sustain a week or two at decent speed underwater is a testament to the problems with the peroxide turbine systems in our world. In the world of USS Custer, perhaps those problems were solved – or the peroxide and fuel are mounted outside the main pressure hull along with the turbine for safety factors. Besides, we’re apparently using Jules Verne’s and Richard Basehart’s rules for underwater activity here.

By: Argonaut

Argonaut — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:31:54 +0000

Can’t fault him for being smitten…its like you know I have a thing for red heads…and tall women;-)

By: ThreeOneFive

ThreeOneFive — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 07:00:34 +0000

Welcome aboard, Ted!

You’re absolutely right. I screwed up on this one. The coordinates I was trying to describe were 19.8358° N, 66.7544° W.

Nice catch. Thanks!

By: Ted

Ted — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 03:44:23 +0000

Regarding the position provided at the start of the story – 83 minutes and 75 minutes? I am quite sure there are only 60 minutes in a degree.

Unless I am mistaken, I believe the correct position should be 20°23’58″ by 67°15′ 44″.

By: Sgt. Howard

Sgt. Howard — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 05:18:11 +0000

I will say this much- that is a surface riding submersible, a hull designed to ride the surface and OCASSIONALLY go underwater. If this is the 1930s’, she is somewhat advanced of the ‘S’ class boats of the day… somewhat. It wasn’t untill the SKIPJACK of the 1950′s that saw a hull designed to STAY underwater for extended periods, in fact move faster underwater than on the surface. Her propulsion is clearly AFTER THE FACT, some form of wizardry added after the removal of her diesel/electric drivetrain. Her cavitation stream is shown coming from the pod under her hull, not the knob on the end.
4.1k fathoms and diveing? Modern manned submersibles do not have that capacity… that’s 24,600 feet! Some retrofit on the pressure hull there…
the Old Sgt.

By: ThreeOneFive

ThreeOneFive — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:04:57 +0000

Great discussion, Guys!

TKG, you’re right The Custer is quite the contradiction, and yes, one day it’s origin will be revealed and all will become clear…

But, in the meantime, I very much enjoy reading conjecture about The Custer’s technology and drive systems from such knowledgable fellows. I learn a lot! So, I say, speculate away.

BTW, page 3 of Pitch Black Day (in two weeks!) has a shot of The Custer from an angle which I don’t think you’ve had a good look at yet. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts then!

By: TKG

TKG — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:43:23 +0000

I dunno Sgt. Howard, the real issue is that by hull from and design the Custer has a number of hydrodynamic contradictions. Strategically it also poses a number of questions regarding what could be possibly going on that this one ship is out there plying the waves. It may be wiser not to conjecture and let the folks writing answer it when ready.

By: Sgt. Howard

Sgt. Howard — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 05:05:36 +0000

Walther Hydrogen Peroxide and Hydrazine? You mean where the mad kraut made a turbine that ran off the same fuel mix as the ME 162?!? Hmm… I doubt it- besides, the rear bulb has SIDE (cooling) ports- that is a POWER source, not a propulsion mechanisem. I would wager the undercarriage has intakes where electromagnetic current slurps in seawater to font out the back tubes (is that the ruthven impeller system?). And yes, I know about the Nuke boats of the 50s… THIS boat also boasts a CYBORG control system in the days of analog relay and solinoid computers (like the US Navy TDC, tube fired and all)- the rules of history are a might … malleable… in this story, so I’m going with the easiest explanation that covers the issue.
the Old Sgt.