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posted by mrpg on Saturday September 16 2017, @07:49PM   Printer-friendly
from the capitan-Guybrush-Threepwood dept.

Submitted via IRC for Runaway1956

The 450-foot-long boat is one of three in its class and is specially modified to conduct some of America's most covert underwater operations. That fact alone — as Keddie points out — makes the appearance of the black and white flag significant.

[...] So why did it a U.S. submarine return home flying an undoubtedly British tradition? Much is unclear. U.S. submarine activity is rarely discussed by the Pentagon, and the vessels operate in almost complete secrecy. While it's unlikely the Carter torpedoed an enemy ship or fired one of its cruise missiles, the flag could represent the success of a more covert mission. The Carter can insert commandos, deploy unmanned submersible vehicles, and likely splice undersea cables all while using specially outfitted thrusters to almost hover off the seafloor. One of the Seawolf class's namesake participated in the Cold War-era operation Ivy Bells that saw U.S. submarines tapping Soviet underwater communication lines.

Source: Why did one of the US Navy's most advanced subs return to port with a pirate flag?

Also:

The ominous Jolly Roger is an important part of submariner lore and conveys a clear message when it is flown atop a submarine's conning tower.

Source: Why The Navy's Top Spy Submarine Flew A Pirate Flag While Pulling Into Port


Original Submission #1Original Submission #2

 
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  • (Score: 5, Interesting) by zocalo on Saturday September 16 2017, @09:53PM (1 child)

    by zocalo (302) on Saturday September 16 2017, @09:53PM (#569123)
    Actually, like one of the linked articles, I don't think you're too far off the mark bringing up Kim Jong Un. The DPRK has been firing off quite a few rockets into the ocean lately, so it stands to reason that the US might try to retrieve one or more of the stages at some point and, if that was then mission, then makes the use of a Jolly Roger more appropriate than the broomstick often favoured by the USN as well. Makes me wonder if the DPRK thought to scrub any manufacturer's labelling off the components they've been using - finding out where the DPRK is getting any components that are subject to sanctions could potentially provide the US with some leverage then next time they go to the UN seeking additional punitive measures against the DPRK.
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    UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
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  • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 17 2017, @07:26AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 17 2017, @07:26AM (#569307)

    Don't underestimate the Kim Jing family. Remember his father's accomplishments:

    Official records reportedly show that Kim learned to walk at the age of three weeks, and was talking at eight weeks. While at Kim Il Sung University, he apparently wrote 1,500 books over a period of three years, along with six full operas. According to his official biography, all of his operas are "better than any in the history of music." Then there's his sporting prowess. In 1994, Pyongyang media reported that the first time Kim picked up a golf club, he shot a 38-under par round on North Korea's only golf course, including 11 holes-in-one. Reports say each of his 17 bodyguards verified the record-breaking feat. It is reported that Kim's official biography on the North Korean state web site, which has since been taken down, claimed that Kim did not defecate.