USS BUFFALO (SSN-715)

After decommissioning the Skate, I was ready for a relatively new boat where most everything worked. My detailer gave me a choice of three boats, and I took the newest of the bunch. The difference was amazing. There was so much more space, and things actually worked.

The whole design philosophy was different on the Buffalo. Whereas the Skate had been quickly assembled, and allowed to evolve according to the whims of the crew, the Los Angeles class boats were all built and maintained to the same set of drawings. Any deviation from the class drawing took a substantial amount of paperwork. The Buffy was a much better fighting boat than the Skate could ever dream of being. It was bigger, faster, cleaner, and just all around more effective. During my time on board Buffy we earned 2 battle 'E' ribbons, and shortly after I left, they got a third one.

The photo shown above is the Buffalo breaking the surface doing an emergency blow. I was on board when the photo was taken. Some retired admiral had written a book and wanted a photo of a modern boat in that position, so the navy arranged to make it happen. During the blow, the most fun place to be is all the way forward (at least to the forward end of the pressure hull). That way you get the sensation of rising up in the air, hanging momentarily, and then crashing down onto the water. That's where I was as the photo was taken.

As of early 2005, the Buffalo is still out there steaming around. I hope they're doing ok without me.