In a Torpedo Tube while in a Colission!

What's it like to be in a torpedo tube when the "Collission Alarm" sounds? Well, I can tell you, because I did it (and not on purpose)! 1963 While in port in San Diego, California, I had to clean the torpedo tubes out (part of my job discription). I was 6' 2" tall and weighed 198 lbs. I had was eighth up from the shortest (of 93 men) on the boat (Submarines are called 'boats'). The torpedo tubes are 22' long and 21" (inches) in diameter. In order to clean them you have to go inside. This is to get the barnacles out that will grow inside there from the saltwater that is used to fire the torpedos. The tolerance of the torpedeo and the tube is very close and when you are loading a torpedo you can't have something that will stop the "fish" from going in (about two fingernail thicknesses). In order to get in you put a 'creeper' in the tube (like mechanics use to go under cars, only these are shaped like the tube). You then put your cleaning eqitment in front of the creeper (brush, small bucket w/soap and fresh water, and some rags) then you put your drop light in with these things - all infront of the creeper. Now you grab ahold of the front of the tube and pull yourself into the tube so you are up to your belt buckle on the creeper. Oh, your arms are out in front of you because you can't bend them back to scratch your nose - NO ROOM! Now you push yourself along with the toes of your feet to move to the end of the tube. When you get all the way inside; start cleaning (all around - top, sides, and bottom - in that order). As you clean, you use your toes to forward and back. On this occasion I was half done with the tube and I heard the "Collision Alarm" go off; now my mind went to work - we were tied to the dock in San Diego Harbor. How could we be involved in a collision? There was no continuity (in my mind) to these events. #1 - I was inside a torpedo tube and couldn't get out fast enough to repond to the alarm. #2 - Someone came into the room and unplugged my light and threw the cord in the tube with me, then they shut and locked the door. #3 - Then I felt the boat rock from the impact of what or who had hit us, THIS WAS NO DRILL! I can now testify as to the definition of DARK! Yes, we had been rammed by a Submarine Rescue Vessel (I guess business was slow that week). I was in the tube for about thirty-five minutes until they were sure we weren't going to sink because of any damage. When they open the door they asked if I was alright, and I said sure, it was the safest place on the boat - I was encased in a 1" thick bronze cylinder. The Captain interviewed me to make sure I wasn't looney from the experience and didn't have any anxiety about being on Submarines. "It is just one of those things that happens". We did sail to San Francisco to go into drydock to investigate any damage (We did it on the surface).