"THE NAUTILUS"
by Lucas McDowell S. B. Butler School: 5th Grade
It was a brisk January morning at the E.B. ways. Even though it was 8 in the morning the area was filled with hundreds of people. I zipped up my jacket and walked across the gangway decorated with bunting and streamers. Commander Wilkinson piped me aboard and I began my voyage upon the first nuclear powered submarine… The Nautilus.
We slowly motored our way out of the river and the waves seemed to dance around the hull as we sliced through the icy surface. The masses of waving people on the banks seemed endless as I watched from the deck, but quickly disappeared as we passed New London Light. Captain Wilkinson joined me and asked me if I was having fun, I replied with a massive grin. Land soon vanished from sight and so did we as we descended below deck.
The Claxton surprised me as it bellowed its warning around the boat.
Commander Wilkinson said, “Here we go”.
And it seemed as if there was a small decline as the boat gently slid into the water. As we leveled off the captain said on the intercom, “Congratualtions boys for being the first people to submerge in a nuclear powered submarine!” After that there was cheering and clapping but in a moment everyone was back to their normal jobs. Captain Wilkinson told me that if I wanted to I could go get something to eat in the galley. He didn’t bother to show me where it was so I got lost pretty fast in a maze of steel and after a while I realized that I was in the back of the boat. But before long I ran into a sailor who I asked for directions. After I had received them I rapidly reached the galley and dug into a sandwich and a drink. Some sailors watching the strange scene started to laugh and point but quickly stopped when the captain joined me.
After we finished our delicious meal captain Wilkinson said that he would like to give me a tour of the boat. I accepted and we were off. The first thing he showed me was the torpedo room, which was located in the bow of the ship. The greasy smell was as thick as pea soup and pierced our unfortunate noses. There were at least four torpedo tubes and eight sailors manning them. The smell quickly faded as we departed but for a while I couldn’t feel my nose. The next chamber we entered was the control room. I had been in there when we first went below but I din’t know what everything was for. First he introduced me to a screen from which a small “ping ping” noise emitted. The captain told me it was the sonar and told me what was around the sub, by sending out radio waves that when hit something they bounced back to the ship for a picture of the surroundings.
Suddenly the captain walked into the middle of the room and said, “Up periscope.”
What seemed like a slender tube with binoculars the bottom came out of the bulkhead and stopped at the captain’s eyes.
“What’s that?” I proclaimed. “That is the periscope it’s sort of like a telescope but let’s you see your surroundings above water. Take a look.” I peered into this new thing and was amazed when I saw a group of seals playing around, one of them even looked into the periscope itself! I fell back surprised and landed with a thud on the metal floor. Everyone started to laugh and eventually I did too. “Mr. McDowell would you like to steer this boat before you leave?” questioned the captian. I hesitantly agreed and took hold of the wheel, it was easy enough and when I made a mistake the helmsman was there to correct it.
After my adventure in the control room we had a quick steak dinner and they showed me to my bunk. I swiftly fell asleep after my exhausting day and had the best of dreams.
When I awoke the captain was standing over me.
“Time for breakfast.” He said.
I ate a quick breakfast and was hesitant to leave. Most of the crew and I climbed on deck and when I saw the golden sunlight reach my face I gasped, the sunrise was so amazing in New London. We were quickly at the pier. Commander Wilkinson and I stepped on the dock, he saluted me and I saluted him back.
“It has been an honor serving under you commander.”
“Same with you.”
He awarded me with a hat that said Nautilus on it and a dolphin pin. We shook hands and in moments I was there alone on the pier and just went over my adventure in my head again and again.