The "deep-sea galley" of submarines is quite restrictive
As a kind of weapon and equipment specially used for naval operations, the internal structure of the submarine is destined to have many restrictions on life, especially in terms of kitchen and diet.
This is mainly due to two characteristics of submarines: first, space is extremely limited; Second, in order to ensure concealment, the environment inside the boat must be closed and isolated.
Specifically, first of all, every inch of space inside the submarine is carefully calculated for the placement of various combat equipment, weapons and instruments. Therefore, the space left for the kitchen is very simple, only able to accommodate the most basic cooking tools, which is far from the average home kitchen.
At best, it's a place where the ingredients are heated and handled simply, and it's hard to show off your cooking skills.
Secondly, since the interior of the submarine is almost completely closed, the air cannot be convection, and any odor molecules will stay for a long time. Therefore, you should not use an open flame to fry or cook irritating ingredients, otherwise a strong smell will fill the entire cabin.
Food can only be heated with electric heat or water vapor, which limits the variety of dishes.
In addition, in order to conceal the whereabouts of the submarine, it is necessary to keep quiet inside the submarine at all times, and any loud noise may reveal the position. Therefore, when preparing food in the kitchen, there should be no big movements, let alone dishes that need to be chopped.
Even if the fish is deboned, it can only be done with careful movements.
It can be said that the need for closure and concealment has made the submarine's "deep-sea kitchen" a "fireless kitchen" in disguise, and there are many restrictions on cooking utensils and dishes, which has added a lot of difficulty to the submariners' diet.
But in order to be able to survive underwater for a long time, these are all trade-offs that have to be made. It embodies the hardships of life in a submarine.
The submariners were well fed
Despite the extremely difficult living and combat environment, in terms of treatment, submariners are actually one of the best fed units in the entire army. On the one hand, this reflects the importance that the state attaches to them, and on the other hand, it also stems from the special nature of their tasks.
Specifically, the food treatment of submariners is the same as that of the pilots of the Air Force, which belongs to the highest "four types of stoves" in the army. Before each mission, the logistics department will carefully prepare a variety of quick-frozen vacuum-packed foods according to scientific nutrition principles, and reserve sufficient fresh vegetables and fruits.
Strict control of dietary structure and nutritional mix ensures that they can still receive a balanced and nutritious diet even when they are unable to receive supplements for a long time.
In the daily diet, it is generally Western-style, this kind of food is mainly steamed and baked, does not require a lot of oil, is easy to operate, can reduce the workload of the kitchen, and is also conducive to keeping the boat clean.
Of course, Chinese staple foods such as dumplings and noodles will also be prepared in a certain amount to increase the variety of dishes.
During some festivals, in order to enliven the mood of the crew and improve the quality of life, some delicious desserts such as cream cakes will be specially prepared. This was an unimaginable luxury in the era when you could only rely on canned food to survive.
It can be said that with the improvement of the country's overall strength, the food of submariners has become increasingly rich and nutritionally balanced, and is getting closer and closer to the dietary level of ordinary people. This not only improves their quality of life, but also helps to maintain physical and mental health and better task completion.
Therefore, despite the harsh environment, they are indeed well taken care of by the state in terms of food.
Submariners eat differently
Different from ordinary military camps, submariners also have a very special way of eating. Due to the small space inside the submarine and the need to maintain the balance of the hull, they could not eat in a group canteen like on land, but ate in batches according to strict regulations.
Specifically, submariners serve five meals a day, mainly because they usually work in three shifts, with three time slots for the main meal and two additional suppers.
Meal times are staggered for each shift, and generally 2 to 4 people eat together at a time.
They also face a very different environment than on land, which is very cramped and cramped, with only enough room for a few people. In order to save space, we do not put tableware when eating, and bring out the bowls after eating.
Everyone took care of each other and staggered by.
Due to factors such as air and noise, it is not possible to speak loudly during meals, and maintain a quiet and rapid eating rhythm. Basically leaving after a meal in a hurry, few people stay at the table for long periods of time.
It can be said that this kind of batch dining not only saves space, but also spreads the pressure of the kitchen work. At the same time, by controlling the flow of personnel, it is conducive to maintaining the balance and stability of the submarine.
It embodies all the inconveniences and self-restraint of submarine life, but these are necessary to ensure the success of the mission.
Submarine garbage disposal
Living in a closed environment, garbage disposal has also become an important issue. Submariners adopt different disposal methods according to different types of garbage to maintain the hygiene and environment in the boat.
In the case of solid household waste, it is usually compressed first and encapsulated in a special metal container. When the submarine reaches a safer area, the encapsulated containers are discharged from the torpedo tubes and eventually sink to the bottom of the sea.
This avoids direct discharge of waste in sensitive sea areas and does not accumulate excessive solid waste in the boat.
Food waste and other liquid waste in the kitchen can be tricky. Direct discharge will cause environmental pollution, and it is also easy to expose whereabouts. You can only choose to collect and store it in the boat, and wait for the end of the mission before transporting it back to land for processing.
Sometimes, if possible, simple crushing and drying are carried out to minimize the amount of sewage discharged.
It can be seen that the submariners are careful in every step of disposing of the garbage, and follow the standard process to avoid any noise or environmental changes, so as to ensure the concealment and safety of the submarine.
This fully reflects their selfless dedication to the interests of the country and their care for the ecological environment.
The task of submariners is arduous and worthy of admiration
The tasks undertaken by submariners can be said to be the most arduous and complex in the entire army. They work and live in cramped and confined conditions, full of unpredictable dangers, and have to be away from their families and isolated from the outside world for long periods of time.
It's a huge test for their body and mind.
First of all, the hardships of the environment are obvious. Inside a small submarine, where air cannot circulate, the temperature and humidity are high, and noise from the operation of various machinery is everywhere.
This can lead to poor sleep quality and fatigue. The complete isolation from the outside world adds to the psychological pressure.
Secondly, there is a lot of pressure at work. Piloting and operating a submarine is like "flying" on the bottom of the sea, with a high level of concentration and unforeseen circumstances. At the same time, the long-term inability to see sunlight, the biological clock is disturbed, and the mood is easily affected.
There can be no mistakes in the execution of tasks, and the mental pressure is self-evident.
The inability to contact family members for a long time also made the submariners miss their relatives from time to time. This loneliness, as well as the longing for home, can also affect the quality of eating and sleeping, and have a negative impact on physical and mental health.
Despite the harsh environment and dangerous missions, the submariners quietly took on the heavy responsibility of defending the country. It is their fearless and selfless dedication that has kept our ocean fronts safe and sound.
They deserve the admiration of the people of the whole country. The mainland needs to continue to improve the working and living conditions of submariners so that they can better fulfill their sacred mission.