My wife and I joined with some neighbors and visitors a few weeks ago at No Anchor Fine Foods and Provisions on Pearl Street in Noank for an excellent pasta buffet. It was followed by a short, informative talk by retired U.S. Navy Capt. Michael Hewitt, and then a feature film involving submarine warfare.

Mike served as a U.S. Navy submarine captain during the very active Cold War period, commanding the USS Jacksonville, Buffalo and Bluefish. This was followed by a term at the Pentagon before coming to Groton to command the sub tender Fulton, stationed at State Pier.

He gave us a short history of submarines, starting with the Hunley, a manually operated submersible vessel which was used in the Civil War against a Union Navy blockade. The Hunley sunk the Housatonic, but the explosive nose charge also destroyed the submarine vessel itself along with the crew.

The first U.S. powered submarine was initially designed by John Holland circa 1900, and submarines were later designed and built by the company that eventually became known as Electric Boat, which operated in Massachusetts before coming to Groton. However, in World War I, Germany was the largest user of submarines and their sinking of the British passenger liner Lusitania in 1915, with a large number of Americans on board, was a major factor in the U.S. entering that war.

Early American submarines utilized gasoline engines on the surface to charge batteries for electric propulsion when the subs were briefly submerged. Later subs were built more efficiently using diesel engines. Once again, the German Navy, this time fully supported by Hitler, had more U-boats in service during early World War II with devastating results against Britain in the Atlantic.

The tables were turned in the Pacific, with U.S. submarines accounting for sinking 30 percent of Japan’s Navy and 60% of Japanese merchant shipping, as U.S. subs were the only boats that could get close to the enemy shorelines. However, this did come at a loss of 52 U.S. subs and 3,506 men.

Today’s modern nuclear/electric submarines are capable of staying and operating submerged for long periods. They fall into two basic categories, one being the fast-attack subs, the other types being strategic ballistic missile subs (“boomers”)” whose inter-continental missiles have an accurate range of 5,000 miles.

Mike Hewitt’s discussion led to the feature movie of the evening, “Hunter-Killer,” a military adventure story about an American nuclear submarine on the hunt for another U.S. sub in distress in the Arctic Ocean. The plot involved a secret Russian coup that threatens to dismantle the world order, and Navy SEALs sneaking through enemy waters to rescue the kidnapped Russian president to prevent World War III.

It was a complicated plot but an enjoyable film, especially the depiction of life and activities on board a modern submarine.

My only active experience with submarines consisted of banging my head a few times while walking around inside the Nautilus floating museum at the local U.S. Naval Submarine Base, where it was definitely not an advantage to be 6 feet, 6 inches tall. So I literally take my hat off to those who so bravely serve on those ships.

My hat is off also to the management and staff of the No Anchor establishment for putting on a great meal and a fine program. I’m told they will be hosting similar events this season.

Ed Johnson lives in Noank.