How many wheels on a submarine?

Answer 1

One assumes you mean steering and up and down controls, not wheels for traction. On the older pattern- all WW-2 and earlier and early Nuclear subs- there are three wheels, the steering wheel proper is in the center line of the control room- a duplicate in the conning tower( above the CR) used only on the surface, natch) this controls the lateral steering control and is equipped with gyroscopic compass, etc as the sub navigates blindly. on one side of the control room are two - usually one behind the other handwheels- hydraulically boosted like automobile Power Steering ( not however automatic) for control in the vertical plane with the Bow and stern Diaplanes sometimes called with some accuracy, Ballast wheels. (The up and down) the officer of the deck funnels control commands to the quartermaster at the main wheel, and the bow and stern planesman, also the officer in charge of the Ballast panel, usually a comissioned officer- this is a vital spot, behind the Christmas Tree, to issue routine commands to conn the ship. the more modern nuclear subs have ( De Haviland yokes) side by side for the two planesmen-steermen and these control both course and up and down motion like airplane control yokes. De Havilland was a British aircraft company. the ballast I have already discussed. on Fleet type subs once cleared and all hatches, vents in the proper positions ( Green Board!) it was Take Her Down! Flood One, Three, Five and Seven ( odd numbered forward tanks) that should get rapid decent action in as little as 60 seconds at normal power settings. try the submarine technical manual offered by Mil Issue- it is fascinating reading has good diagrams of the controls and instruments involved, is on the level, submerged, that isl. was published originally in l946 for the Navy.