burgi, replies to your replies: 1) That could be if it's a very early model. as I understand it pre spp-719 they had no verical launch tubes at all, for a short time after that the area just behind the sail had an array of launch tubes - these have been replaced with a 'SEAL' area for launching/retreiving their operations underwater ... but it still looks as though you're launching from the control room. 2) compressed water is used for the 4 horizontal launch tubes as they are concerned that air bubbles giving away the sub's position. Not sure if this applies to the (now 12) vertical launch tubes as well. It seems that if you're launching those, it's a game over senerio anyway so it might well be compressed air. - TJ