Dare to take the Permit Pressure Test

Since 10-10-04

Name and hull number of submarine:         Permit SSN-594

Approximate date:                                           Summer 1970

Story submitted by:                                         Mel Douyette

Rate and rank at the time:                             MM3 (SS)

Email:                                                                 melduet@milwpc.com

Name of sea story:    Dare to take the Permit Pressure Test

DARE TO TAKE THE PERMIT PRESSURE TEST

In 1970 I reported aboard the USS Permit SSN-594 just after it completed an overhaul in the shipyard at Pearl Harbor.  When the Permit returned to regular sea duty, I was lucky enough to experience “Sea Trials” – emergency dive, emergency surface, maximum down angle, maximum up angle, minimum speed, maximum speed, maximum depth, and many other extreme maneuvers.  These operations were very interesting and exciting, but could not compare with the excitement and daring of the “Permit Pressure Test”.

The purpose of the test was to give inexperienced new crewmembers the chance to prove they were worthy sailors and thereby gain the respect of the rest of the crew.  I’m sure anyone who has served on a submarine understands how important it is for new “non-quals” to gain respect from the crew.  Following is an explanation of the “Permit Pressure Test”.

The test was advertised for weeks in advance using postings throughout the boat.  Lines were provided on the postings for contestants to sign up for the test.  Many of the “old salts” on the boat placed their names on the list.  The potential contestants had to ask just what the test was about.  Following is an explanation of the test.

The test was conducted in the Air Regeneration Room.  Each contestant would place the index finger of both his left and his right hand in the Air Regeneration Room vice at the same time.  A contest official from the crew would then crank the vice tighter and tighter in one quarter increments.  The objective of the contest was to see how many turns each contestant could endure.  Another contest official from the crew acted as the official recorder and noted the maximum number of turns on a clipboard for each contestant.  The contestant able to withstand the greatest number of turns would be declared the winner!

During the actual competition, only one contestant at a time was allowed in the Air Regeneration Room.  The contestants were told this was to ensure their safety.  If the individual contestants were allowed to see how many turns another competitor was able to endure, they may be encouraged to go beyond their safe limit and end up crushing their fingers.  Everyone knows safety is a primary concern on a submarine!

A new “non-qual’ seaman reported aboard named W.O. Smith.  He was the type of individual that wanted to gain approval from the crew in the worst way.  His antics to obtain this objective quickly gained him the nick name ‘Waste Oil Smith”.  He was one of the first to jump at this opportunity to gain recognition.  He eagerly signed up for the “Permit Pressure Test”, especially after he saw the names of seasoned crewmembers on the list.

For several weeks before the test, “Waste Oil Smith’ would come down to the Air Regeneration Room and place his index fingers in the vice and gradually tighten it until he couldn’t stand the pain.  Various crewmembers asked Waste Oil Smith what he was doing.  He confidently explained, “I’m building up my stamina for the Permit Pressure Test - of course!”  Waste Oil Smith knew that if he was going to have a chance at winning the competition, he was going to have to practice.

The day of the test the contestants began to line up to show their stuff.  The Torpedo Room was packed to capacity with on lookers!  The contestants were kept in the crews mess and not allowed in the Torpedo Room, which lead to the Air Regeneration Room, so they wouldn’t see the other contestants.  Waste Oil Smith was one of the first to show up, with no shirt on to the amusement of the audience of course!  (Any experienced competitor understands you have to take any competition seriously if you want to win.  True athletes, just like boxers, don’t wear shirts.)

When it came time for Waste Oil Smith to enter the Air Regeneration Room, he pulled a wash cloth out from his back pocket, rolled it up, and put it in his mouth to clench his teeth on.  At this point we knew Waste Oil Smith was very serious!  Many of the crew members had to cover their mouths so Waste Oil Smith wouldn’t notice their laughter.  Waste Oil Smith entered the Air Regeneration Room, put both his index fingers in the vice and proclaimed, “LETS GO!”

Sure enough, Waste Oil had been practicing and it showed.  He was clearly the leader, withstanding much more than any of the other competitors!  Only he didn’t know it – one of the safety measures you know.  Waste Oil Smith kept saying, “I can take more!”  The contest official tightening the vice didn’t want to go any farther, but Waste Oil Smith kept saying, “Come on.  I can take more!”  “KEEP GOING, I CAN TAKE MORE”, barked Waste Oil Smith.  Reluctantly the official tightened the vice a bit more.  “COME ON”, Waste Oil Smith demanded.  “I CAN TAKE MORE!”

After Waste Oil Smith’s fingers were locked securely in the vice, one of the judges asked Waste Oil if he wanted his belt loosened so he could get more oxygen.  “YEAH YEAH!”, Waste Oil exclaimed.  Next the judge next asked Waste Oil Smith if he wanted his pants unzipped so he could get more oxygen.  “YEAH YEAH”, Waste Oil Smith yelled.