Was looking for ways to keep my eight year-old son entertained so I thought I'd grab my camera and we'd visit the US Submarine Force Museum down the road in Groton. Finally got on the road and realized I'd left my camera at home. No big deal, I'd been there many times before and there was likely nothing new to see. As we get out of the car, I notice the security escort is out in force on the Thames River. Either they're practicing security measures or a sub is about to get underway from the Groton sub base next door.
Crapola.
I meant to grab my Canon. Now it's too late to go back for it.
We pass right through the museum and head out onto the deck of the Nautilus to get a better view in case something does transpire. After watching the armed escort ships with flashing blue lights hold station in steady winds for several minutes, my son is getting bored and asks to go inside Nautilus. Just then we hear a ship's whistle and can see a nuke sub being eased out of it's berth.
Double crapola!
I'd be able to get some real close ups, even with my low range 18-135 mm lens, if I hadn't had a brain fart. The one time...
Still, it was great spectating and my son soon got super excited, especially when an approaching high speed pleasure craft ignored several warnings to stop, causing the escort boats, armed with 50 caliber machine guns, to accelerate into action. After several hairy seconds and two more warnings to "Pull over the high speed boat NOW!" the civilian craft finally got the message and a crisis was averted.

Here's a crappy cell phone shot of the Los Angeles class sub going by.



I also have video footage of the above mentioned confrontation but don't know if I am potentially compromising security and/or inviting scrutiny from Uncle Sam if I post that as well.

Anybody else have tales of other missed photo opportunities you're still kicking yourself over?

The other one that really stands out took place on my honeymoon. My wife and I were in downtown Provincetown, Massachusetts when I looked up the narrow main street to see an elderly lady hunched over a walker very slowly making her way towards me down the middle of the thoroughfare with a long line of delivery trucks and cars stretched out behind her. I fortunately had my camera with me, whipped it out faster than Cleavon Little in Blazing Saddles, and pressed the shutter only to realize it was still on extended exposure from the night before when I was taking photos of the night sky and stars, Cursing as the seconds crept by, I finally was ready to adjust shutter speed and take aim again right as the little old lady veered to the sidewalk an my opportunity was lost. I can still see that hilarious image in my mind of a long line of trucks and cars stuck behind an old lady with a walker in the middle of the road, but I find it hard to laugh about it.

That's a cool thing to see, thanks for the pic! I think if it's outdoors like that, there's no problem posting video, since it's out in the open anyway. But don't take my word for it, I would hate to see you have to endure hours of intense interrogation because of what I said .

As far as missed opportunities go, I've had so many that it's getting hard to remember specific situations. A lot of times at an air show, I'll be expecting an airplane to just circle around or something, so I stop following it, and then it ends up doing something cool and I miss it. I'm sure there are many times I just decided not to bring my camera some place, or bring a good lens, and it turns out that I could have gotten some good shots if I had.

Small world! I grew up in Preston, CT and love both Mystic (esp. Cove Fish Market Chowder and Fritters), and the Submarine Museum. They used to have open house on Navy Day, and they let you walk through the operational diesel subs. There was a unique oily smell to the older generation boats, that the Nautilus only hints at.

That's a cool thing to see, thanks for the pic! I think if it's outdoors like that, there's no problem posting video, since it's out in the open anyway. But don't take my word for it, I would hate to see you have to endure hours of intense interrogation because of what I said .

As far as missed opportunities go, I've had so many that it's getting hard to remember specific situations. A lot of times at an air show, I'll be expecting an airplane to just circle around or something, so I stop following it, and then it ends up doing something cool and I miss it. I'm sure there are many times I just decided not to bring my camera some place, or bring a good lens, and it turns out that I could have gotten some good shots if I had.

Hastily thrown together cell phone video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgbpCJ4KvDw

Nice, thanks for sharing

Passed close to a nuclear sub in the Gareloch in Scotland when on a school canoe trip, man the wash off of the sub was big, it was going a good bit faster than the one in your video and there were no accompanying vessels. We met it at the Rhu Narrows it's the point where the submarines have to surface as it is shallow and they have to make a turn to go from the Clyde into the Gareloch. All us kids had to raft up and wait while the sub passed us by, the bow wave was about 2m high but very smooth with no breaking crest on it like a ship's bow wave.

I was born in Westerly as my Pop was stationed aboard the Nautilus. He was a PANOPO. Great picture!

The buildings you can see on the other side of the river after the 4:00 mark in the video are the Coast Guard Academy.

shouldn't be a problem, if they didn't want photos of them they'd schedule them to come in at night... I've seen a few come into Portsmouth NSY.

I've seen more security for the propane tankers that come up our river. Caught this coming up this year, was just named the USS Manchester a few months ago.

In '78 had a tour thru an attack sub. Was in New London for a boat race but got rained out. The sun came out but it was to late to start the races. We were sitting around bending the elbow outside the hotel when a truck pulled up and asked about the boats. It was two sailors from the base. After chit chatting a bit they asked who wanted a tour of a sub. Four of us half pissed Canucks said we would, so we got in the back of the truck and off we went to the base. At the base gate the guards asked the sailors who we were and they said we were their cousins. Four whities are cousins of two people of colour? Anyways were let on the base and got the tour of the sub (no conning/control and engine room tho). My friends were really impressed, as was I, but for me it was seeing it 'in the flesh'. Our guide noticed and asked if I was RCN. Replied no but was working at Sperry and had access to defence magazines and was a military 'nutter'. Is something I will never forget.


Thanks for posting the photos and video.