Submarine sailor reads book in the deep ocean

In the Vietnam People's Navy, submarines are a special combat force, operating in a special environment and requiring high discipline and precision.

On that special combat vehicle there are special people with “special loyalty, special solidarity, special discipline and special secrecy”.

The 189th Submarine Brigade is a campaign-level submarine unit equipped with Kilo 636 submarines, a fleet of support ships, and a modern, synchronous shore base system. The Brigade is tasked with independently or in coordination with units inside and outside the Service to secretly deploy submarines, search for, detect, track, and suddenly attack and destroy enemy targets.

Narrow living spaces, lack of natural light, no internet connection, phone signal, TV… these are challenges for submarine sailors in finding suitable entertainment after stressful working hours.

Lieutenant Colonel Le Trung Hieu, Political Commissar (Submarine 182-Hanoi) said: “In the special operating conditions of a submarine, after hours of training and stressful shifts, to regenerate energy, health, and maintain the spirit and will of officers and sailors, we maintain many forms of entertainment for officers and sailors to choose from, such as watching movies at the club, organizing chess and Chinese chess exchanges, organizing birthday parties in the depths of the sea, reporting on journeys in the depths of the sea... Among these forms, reading books is the form that is most chosen by officers and sailors.”

Submarine sailors reading books in the middle of the ocean. Photo: Thanh Tri

On a submarine, reading is not just a hobby or entertainment. It is also an effective method for officers and sailors to self-study and research to improve their professional qualifications and situation handling skills while performing their duties.

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Major Tran Trung Nguyen, Head of the radar - sona branch (Ship 187 - Ba Ria - Vung Tau ) shared: "The Kilo 636 submarine is a modern diesel - electric submarine class, integrating many advanced technical technologies, requiring sailors to have high professional qualifications, comprehensive understanding and the ability to handle situations quickly. In that context, reading has become an effective form of self-study, helping me consolidate specialized knowledge, update new knowledge, experience in exploitation, preservation, maintenance, firmly mastering weapons and technical equipment, as a basis for application in the training process, work, research, innovation, technical improvement to serve training tasks and combat readiness".

Reviewing the submarine formation during the 60th Anniversary of the Vietnam People's Navy, 2015. Photo: Navy Newspaper.

Reading is not only a “lonely” journey between people and books, it also becomes a bridge of affection between sailors. They share and exchange books, discuss the content, and tell each other interesting things they have just read. That contributes to building a special atmosphere of solidarity - something extremely valuable in a closed environment like a submarine and during long voyages at sea.

On each submarine there is a small bookcase with many carefully selected books, newspapers and magazines; from political theory books, books about the Party, about Uncle Ho, to classic domestic and international literary works, books on history, geography, submarine engineering,...

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Thuan, Political Commissar (Submarine 183-HCMC), said: “Books are not only regularly supplemented from the Brigade’s library, but also donated by sister units, and some are contributed by the sailors themselves. The books that sailors love, have been attached to during their studies, work, or are given by relatives, now become common property for their comrades.”

To adapt to the special environment under the deep sea, submarine sailors must train and improve their physical fitness. Photo: Navy Newspaper.

Sharing memories of meeting, exchanging, learning and spreading the value of books and reading culture with submarine sailors of Brigade 189, Doctor of Education, poet Nguyen Thuy Anh said: “For submarine sailors, reading books is not simply a way to relax after hours of hard training and on missions deep in the sea, but also a method of self-study and improving qualifications effectively.

The incisive questions asked during book discussions show that sailors are honing their personal skills in speed reading, deep reading, note taking and critical thinking.”

Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Van Dong, Party Secretary and Political Commissar of the Brigade, said: "Reading culture has contributed to building the personality and image of exemplary and beautiful Vietnamese submarine sailors from within the unit, family to society."

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/doc-sach-giua-long-dai-duong-sau-tham-cua-thuy-thu-tau-ngam-2393543.html