<story><title>Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub</title><url>https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/35106/check-out-this-sailor-holding-a-laser-dazzler-rifle-aboard-nuclear-submarine-uss-minnesota</url></story><parent_chain></parent_chain><comment><author>fode</author><text>Wow, this explains it all! I currently live on the beach in Dakar Sénégal. About 2 weeks ago, I was up late on my balcony and saw these dazzling green lights coming from really far out in the ocean. For one I was wondering what it was, and two, I was surprised that the green lights seemed to be coming from so far out from the ocean, but yet they were lighting up the beach like someone was standing right there with a flash light. And I&amp;#x27;m talking super far!&lt;p&gt;I had a hunch that it might be military related. It was fascinating to see how powerful the green lights were after they bounced off the water and hit the sand.&lt;p&gt;I&amp;#x27;m so glad I caught this article here. I was going nuts for a while there lol</text></comment>
<story><title>Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub</title><url>https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/35106/check-out-this-sailor-holding-a-laser-dazzler-rifle-aboard-nuclear-submarine-uss-minnesota</url></story><parent_chain></parent_chain><comment><author>supernova87a</author><text>Two side observations unrelated to the laser rifle:&lt;p&gt;1) It&amp;#x27;s surprising or kind of amusing that such a huge and complex submarine uses plain old Raytheon &amp;#x2F; Raymarine radar when operating in harbor, etc. as if were just a little sailboat.  But whatever works and is effective!  I wonder how it has to be dismantled and put up, taken down each time?  Perhaps it&amp;#x27;s mostly for being visible to other ships&amp;#x2F;monitoring stations?  I recalled hearing that a sub is never in such places without accompanying surface fleet&amp;#x2F;tugs&amp;#x2F;etc anyway.&lt;p&gt;2) Looking at the periscope mast, the amount of technological sophistication in that thing must be incredible.  The amount of communications (radio, laser, metallurgy, stealth coatings, etc) gadgetry there I&amp;#x27;m sure would boggle the mind.  Yet it all goes to the theme -- here is a boat worth many billions of $ and the pinnacle of US military sophistication, being put into the hands and trust of mostly 20-something young sailors, and mostly without incident.  Truly amazing that we&amp;#x27;re able to do that.</text></comment>