How to Make Pizza on a Submarine - Smarter Every Day 246

TL;DR

A look at how food is stored, prepared, and served on a US fast attack nuclear submarine, including challenges like limited space and the need to accommodate crew preferences.

Transcript

• The limiting factor on how long a nuclear submarine can stay submerged is the crew's stomach. A U.S. Navy nuclear submarine has technology that allows it to stay submerged for an incredible amount of time. It can make its own freshwater. It can even generate its own air, and the reactor that generates the power to sustain these systems can operat... Read More

Key Insights

• 😋 A US nuclear submarine can generate its own freshwater and air, but it relies on stored provisions for food.
• 😋 The supply officer is responsible for acquiring and storing all the food on the submarine.
• ⚾ The submarine's menu is planned in advance based on the crew's preferences and the availability of food in different ports.
• 🤣 Cooking on a submarine is challenging due to limited space and the need to manage angles during rolls.
• ✋ Regularly scheduled, high-quality meals are important for crew morale during long periods of submersion.
• 💋 Pizza night is a popular event on submarines, with the crew enjoying homemade pizzas and other snacks like mozzarella sticks and poppers.

Questions & Answers

Q: How long can a US nuclear submarine stay submerged?

A US nuclear submarine can stay submerged for an extended period of time, limited only by the crew's need for food.

Q: How much food does a submarine carry?

A submarine is required to carry enough food to last 30 days, with the ability to load up to 90 days of food if necessary.

Q: Where does a submarine order food from?

The submarine orders food based on its location. If it pulls into a base in a foreign country, it will order food from the catalog of that country, which may present challenges in menu planning.

Q: How does the crew's preferences affect the menu on a submarine?

The crew's preferences are taken into account when planning the menu. The goal is to keep the crew happy by providing meals they enjoy, which can sometimes require adjusting the menu based on available food in different ports.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The crew on a US nuclear submarine can stay submerged for a long time, but they can't grow their own food, so provisions must be stored and prepared.

• The supply officer is responsible for acquiring and storing food, which is ordered based on the submarine's destination.

• The submarine must carry enough food to last at least 30 days, with the ability to load up to 90 days of food if needed.