Down Periscope, Up Periscope: Tales of Submarine Tours

Tim Migaki
  • 3.7 (3)
  • History

The unofficial podcast of the tour guides on USS Blueback (SS-581). Join us for an adventure beneath the waves on the U.S. Navy's last diesel-electric attack submarine; a permanent exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). We discuss the tours, technology, and history of Blueback and submarine history, in general. Everything from the lighthearted, the serious, and the salty.

  1. May 9

    S1e8: Could Blueback Ever Be Put Back Into Service?

    In this episode, I'll examine two common questions. 1. Could the Navy ever take the submarine back? 2. Could the submarine ever be put back into service?

  2. Apr 5

    S1e7: Why was Blueback Decommissioned?

    Let's examine a report from Blueback's last inspection and why the ship was taken out of service.

  3. Jan 17

    Surface Tension 02: Is Blueback a good place for kids?

    Discussing our thoughts on whether or not the submarine is a safe and appropriate exhibit for children as young as 3 years old.

  4. 12/20/2025

    Surface Tension 01: Rules and Expectations

    Starting a new series discussing the funny, odd, and occasionally frustrating realities of being a USS Blueback tour guide. This episode is about the rules and expectations of visitors on Blueback when taking a tour.

  5. 10/12/2025

    Sea Stories: From Attack Boats to Boomers (feat. Tony Capitano)

    Former USS Barbel sailor, Tony Capitano, recounts his Navy career serving on 2 diesel-electric submarines and a ballistic missile submarine.

  6. 08/12/2025

    Follow Up: A Tin Can Sailor off Vietnam

    Studying USS Hamner's deck logs reveals where she was during the Battle of Dong Hoi and some other interesting activities she did during April 1972.

  7. 06/29/2025

    Sea Stories: Remembering the Gulf War Aboard a Cruiser (feat. Scott Thingelstad)

    An interview with Scott Thingelstad, the longest-serving tour guide on Blueback and our first paid staff member interviewed. Scott talks about his time in the U.S. Navy and serving on a guided missile cruiser during Operations Desert Shield/Storm in 1990 - 1991.

  8. 06/05/2025

    Follow Up: Becoming a Submarine Corpsman

    A correction from my Blueback tour video regarding what it takes to become an Independent Duty Corpsman (IDC) on a submarine.

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3.7
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About

The unofficial podcast of the tour guides on USS Blueback (SS-581). Join us for an adventure beneath the waves on the U.S. Navy's last diesel-electric attack submarine; a permanent exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). We discuss the tours, technology, and history of Blueback and submarine history, in general. Everything from the lighthearted, the serious, and the salty.

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