Submarine Sea Stories | Ever wonder what it's like to spend the cold war under water with 100 other guys?

About Submarine Sea Stories | Ever wonder what it's like to spend the cold war under water with 100 other guys?

During the height of the cold war when Ronald Regan called the Soviet Union the evil empire, Bill Nowicki was in the Navy. He was a nuclear-trained electrician's mate aboard the Los Angeles class fast attack submarine, the USS Minneapolis / St. Paul (SSN 708) with 100 highly trained shipmates. These are the memories of those difficult (and sometimes hilarious) times told by the men who depended on one another for their lives.

Publisher

Bill Nowicki

Category

arts · history

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

31 Mar 2014

Latest episode

11 Aug 2025

Latest episodes

4 of 64 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   11 Aug 2025TRANSCRIPT

   EP63 Generations Below: Patrick Roche’s Legacy in the Silent Service

   Join Bill Nowicki as he delves into the compelling life of Patrick Roche—a submariner shaped by family tradition, personal responsibility, and decades of experience beneath the waves. From growing up in a Navy family to serving on both diesel boats and missile submarines, Patrick shares intimate reflections on family, service, resilience, and camaraderie in the US Navy’s Silent Service. ### Highlights & Key Points **[00:00:00] - Beginnings in Groton & Naval Heritage** - Patrick grew up in Groton, Connecticut, with his father serving on submarines. - Graduated high school in 1965; influenced by his father's Navy career. - Joined the Navy after moving to San Diego (“I guess that’s where I got the…”) - Family tradition: Patrick and his father served together on the USS Ronquil (SS-396), completing three WestPac deployments to Japan and Vietnam. **[00:03:00] - Life Aboard with Family** - Served with his father but led separate lives aboard; father was a chief quartermaster. - Never faced negative bias due to his father’s position. Liberty meant different things for each—dad to the chief’s club, Patrick and friends to the beach. **[00:05:00] - Family Life & Responsibility** - Married at age 18, became a father early. - Now the proud father of four daughters, eight grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren. - Emphasizes responsibility and “growing up quickly” as a driving force behind his life choices. **[00:09:00] - Naval Career & Historic Moments** - Started as a fireman apprentice with a guaranteed school for submariners. - Went from diesel to nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), including the USS Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600). **[00:12:00] - Life and Duties on Submarines** - Served as an interior communications electrician (“IC man”), specializing as a gyro technician (explains the importance of gyros for navigation and missile launches). - Patrolled with the George Bancroft (SSBN-643); recalls the predictability of SSBN rotations—three months on, three months off. **[00:13:00] - Homecomings & Family Dynamics** - Kept family routines stable by letting his wife handle finances and household matters. - No issues adjusting to or from life at sea; credits strong partnership with his wife. **[00:15:00] - Submarine Evolutions & Technological Changes** - Comments on advancements from older boats to modern fast attacks and Virginia-class submarines. - Describes watchstanding: battle helmsman responsibilities, auxiliary duties, and the unique experience of bunking arrangements. **[00:19:00] - Challenges & Close Calls** - Survived a major flooding incident on the Roosevelt due to a head valve left open during snorkeling—highlights the ever-present dangers of submarine duty (“…we were down at 80-90 feet with the head valve open…”). **[00:20:00] - Advancement, Brotherhood & Initiations** - Rose through the ranks to Chief in 12 years; shares stories of chief initiation rites. - Reminisces about camaraderie, qualification processes, and the support systems in place—especially as a “legacy” submariner. **[00:24:00] - Civilian Career & Life After Service** - Transitioned to civilian roles with NAVSEA (Supervisor Shipbuilding), working in San Diego, New Orleans, and Bath, Maine. - Reflects on moving frequently for assignments, supervising ship construction. **[00:25:00] - Retirement & Reflections** - Currently resides in Gales Ferry, Connecticut, after retiring 10 years ago. - Considers returning to Maine for its beauty and tranquility. - Stresses the importance of staying in touch with Navy friends and the legacy of the submarine community. **[00:27:00] - The Holland Club & Submarine Brotherhood** - Member of the US Submarine Veterans’ Holland Club—honoring 50+ years of qualification. - Describes the meaning of these traditions and the enduring bonds among submariners. **[00:29:00] - Lasting Partnerships** - Acknowledges the unwavering support of his wife, Barbara, throughout their 60 years of marriage. - Offers closing reflections on the rewards of naval service and maintaining life-long friendships. --- ### Notable Quotes: - “I had a responsibility and had to do it.” - “People treated you a lot different, too, when you’re not dink (delinquent in qualifications).” - “I just enjoyed being on the boats—wouldn't trade it for anything.” - “She [his wife] is a winner. Sixty years coming up in December.” --- ### Listen For: - Insights into multi-generational Navy life (00:00:00–00:04:00) - Early marriage and parenting in the military (00:05:00–00:07:00) - Historic submarine incidents (00:09:00–00:10:00) - Submarine technology and daily operations (00:12:00–00:16:00) - The legendary Holland Club tradition (00:27:00) --- ### Closing **Want to hear more voices from beneath the waves? Subscribe and leave us a review!** **Got a story to share, or questions for a guest? Email us or visit our site to connect.** --- **Contact & Resources:** - Want to learn about the Holland Club? [USSVI Holland Club](https://www.ussvi.org/) - More about the Nautilus Memorial: [Submarine Force Museum](https://www.ussnautilus.org/)

2. 

   14 Jul 2025TRANSCRIPT

   EP62 A Submarine Collision and The Life Lessons Learned: An Interview with Chris Waits

   In this crazy episode of Submarine Sea Stories, Chris Waits shares his fascinating journey, from growing up in a Navy family, attending MIT, and finding his passion in nuclear engineering, to serving in the Navy aboard a nuclear-powered submarine. Chris recounts a harrowing incident where his submarine, the USS Hartford, collided with the USS New Orleans, describing the immediate impact, frantic aftermath, and the life-altering lessons he learned. Despite the challenging experience, Chris transformed it into a powerful teaching moment for future sailors and now applies his lessons in his civilian role at a nuclear power plant. This episode is an eye-opening look into the intricacies and dangers of submarine navigation and the importance of vigilance and learning from past experiences. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Background 00:11 Growing Up in a Navy Family 00:48 Father's Submarine Career 01:58 Choosing the Navy and MIT 03:44 First Experiences with Nuclear Power 05:30 Transition to Civilian Nuclear Power 07:36 Joining the Submarine Force 09:04 First Deployment and Responsibilities 12:40 Life Aboard the Submarine 16:26 Collision Incident and Aftermath 21:01 Collision with the USS New Orleans 22:43 Immediate Aftermath and Damage Assessment 24:39 Struggles to Surface and Communication Challenges 25:56 Guided to Safety by the USS New Orleans 27:07 Reflections on the Incident and Leadership 29:18 Lessons Learned and Teaching at Submarine School 35:04 Applying Lessons in Civilian Life 40:22 Current Role and Final Thoughts

3. 

   7 Jul 2025TRANSCRIPT

   EP61 Preserving Nuclear Legacies Oliver Hannan's Story

   Oliver Hannan recounts his 44-year nuclear industry career to host Bill Nowicki, detailing his work preserving and demolishing historical nuclear prototypes and emphasizing innovation, in this interview.

Inside a recent episode

EP63 Generations Below: Patrick Roche’s Legacy in the Silent Service

Published 11 Aug 2025 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Oh, it is. And we went down and you know what happened after that. We had major flooding, major flooding. So we had to get up and go back in and redo our galley. And there are. So it was a mess. But we were down at 80 feet, 90 feet with the head valve locked open. You can easily grab the sunk. […]

Who has been a guest on Submarine Sea Stories | Ever wonder what it's like to spend the cold war under water with 100 other guys?

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Oliver Hannan
• Dave Bowman
• Mark Schneider
• Captain Bob Schuetz
• Joe Miller

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

304 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 43 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

60

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

67

Contact Submarine Sea Stories | Ever wonder what it's like to spend the cold war under water with 100 other guys?

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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