The in basket: Monica Dowden of Olalla read the March 24 Road
Warrior dealing with why Subase Bangor is the only listed
destination leading to the off-ramp on northbound Highway 303 onto
northbound Highway 3 in Silverdale and made the following inspired
observation:
“This seems like a really silly question but what is a
‘subase’??
The in basket: Monica Dowden of Olalla read the March 24 Road
Warrior dealing with why Subase Bangor is the only listed
destination leading to the off-ramp on northbound Highway 303 onto
northbound Highway 3 in Silverdale and made the following inspired
observation:
“This seems like a really silly question but what is a
‘subase’?? I have been seeing this sign for years and it fills
me with consternation. I would have thought that it would be a
Sub Base or a perhaps even a Sub-base, and yet they spell it
“Subase” and I cannot figure out what happened to the other b. Am I
wrong in thinking it is actually short for the two words
“submarine base”?
Considering that I thought the “Undersea Museum” would actually
have a portion of it where you could see under the water, or at
least the creatures that live there, I am allowing for the
possibility that I am a dork.”
The out basket: I don’t have a definitive answer for you, but I
would guess the state bought into the Navy’s love for acronyms
constructed not of the first letter of words in the title, but more
that one letter from the start of each word and skipping some
letters altogether.
SUBPAC, for example, is Submarine Forces Pacific. They take a chunk
right out of the middle of Atlantic to denote connections to the
other coast, hence SUBLANT is Submarine Forces Atlantic. My
favorite has always been BUPERS for Bureau of Naval Personnel.
Back in March, the state said it would add Poulsbo to the
destination signs on Highway 303 when the new 303-3 interchange is
complete next year. Bangor also will be listed, Subase, whatever
its origins, is a goner regardless. The Navy now calls it Naval
Base Kitsap-Bangor.
