Living in the Deep: What They Don’t Tell You About Submarine Service

#17: The Excitement of Ballast Tank Accuracy Tests

Testing a submarine’s ballast tanks for accuracy includes a method known as “angles and dangles”—a controlled series of steep tilts and turns to check balance and stability. While the maneuvers serve a serious purpose, they also make for a strange onboard experience.

Water fountains pour at odd angles, pushups feel off-balance, and wet trash bags on sloped floors suddenly become unintended slip-and-slides. Everyday actions turn awkward, sometimes hilarious, as the boat shifts beneath your feet.