There is a certain mystique about the sea bottom and the metal boats that make journey into the abyss possible.
“I like sub commanders. They have no time for bullshit, and neither do I.” -John Voight, as FDR in the 2001 movie Pearl Harbor.
I wholeheartedly concur.
Jules Verne introduced the world to Capt. Nemo in his 1870 novel, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. His work has served as inspiration for Steampunk enthusiasts since the late 1980s, when the genre was created. I really like the 1954 Disney live-action movie version, starring Kirk Douglas. Although the special effects don’t really stand up to the sophisticated CGI tastes of audiences today, fighting the giant squid remains one of my favorite movie scenes of all time.
And submarines have continued to be popular for years.
As a kid, I walked through the U-505 German U-boat at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. It’s the only German submarine in the US, and it has been a visitor favorite since 1954.
My kids and I spent the night on the WWII submarine USS Cobia when they were in Scouts. It’s docked at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowok Wisconsin, and offers excellent educational overnights. If you ever get the opportunity, don’t miss it!
Growing up in the 70s and 80s, you may remember the kid exclaiming “You Sank My Battleship!” from the commercial for the eponymous Milton Bradley naval combat game.
As much as I liked that game, it was its lesser-known spin off that really took things to the next level. (Next THREE levels, that is.)
Sub Search was similar to Battleship; it played out on a grid patterned game board, used white and red pegs with holes in the tops of the ships, and involved a “cat and mouse” guessing style of play by opposing participants. But instead of playing on just a flat ocean, it features 3D warfare – on the surface, AND 100, 200, and 300 meters below the sea. Surface ships drop depth charges on enemy submarines hidden below them, while the subs return fire with torpedo shots. Similar action also takes place on the opposite side of the board, with roles reversed. Play continues back and forth until either player finds all of his opponent’s submarines or loses all of his surface ships. About the only thing not to like about the game is setting it up. Setup and take down of the 4 level structure takes about as long as the games themselves, and because of how much room it occupies, leaving it erect between gaming sessions isn’t really an option. Tedious assembly notwithstanding, it is a very cool game. Despite extensive research (like, 2 or 3 minutes on Google,) I wasn’t able to find exact dates, but it appears to have ceased production sometime in the late 70s or early 80s. I’m surprised it hasn’t been re-released at least once since then, with electronic score keeping or some other superficial gimmick riddled upgrade. I was able to get a complete one in great shape on Ebay several years ago.
Until next time, Run silent. Run deep, my friends.
-Toph
