Inside look at U.S. military's nuclear-powered attack submarines

One of the U.S. military's most powerful weapons, nuclear-powered attack submarines, operate in local waters in secret.

Action News Jax was given access aboard an attack sub right off our coast. Reporter Bridgette Matter went inside for a very personal look at how local sailors undertake one of the most dangerous jobs in our armed forces.

USS California is a nuclear-powered attack submarine operated by 132 sailors.

The submarines operate in secret and silence with virtually no contact with the outside world.

“It's really a brotherhood that forms on board," said Cmdr. Eric Sager. “We have to work really well with each other."

The narrow hallways and stairwells mean close quarters.

USS California is preparing for a 6-month deployment later this year. While on board, the crew practices wartime scenarios.

Our crew was submerged for about 10 hours, but the submarine can stay underwater for months, only needing to surface for supplies.

A periscope on the bridge is equipped with a high-tech camera that can spot vessels miles away.

There is also a room full of torpedoes. To protect national security, a lot of the questions asked about the powerful torpedoes couldn't be answered.

“They are designed to sink almost any enemy vessel,” said 23-year-old Caleb Fuhrken, Torpedo Division LPO.

Fuhrken spends most of his time in the torpedo room.

"This is where I sleep, there is a torpedo above me and I sleep right next to one as well," Fuhrken said.

His service lets us all sleep a little better, knowing someone is watching from the waters off our coast.

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