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Submarines
Submarines are naval craft that can operate for an extended period of time underwater. They are used primarily as warships, as well as for business, scientific and other purposes. Submarines are different from submersibles, which only have limited underwater capability.
2,056 Questions
The trick is to use Alka-Selter tablets and something to weight it down enough to ensure that the bottle will sink. It's an old trick used by submarine models I had when I was a kid, long before I served onboard real submarines.
Try this:
Use a length of copper tubing and duct-tape it to one side of the bottle as a ballast weight. Punch holes (nail size should be good enough) in the side where the ballast weight is. You'll need to leave the cap off or the water won't flow through the holes in the bottom.
To get it to rise again, you'll need several Alka-Selter tablets along with a surgical or cleaning glove, or alternatively, a long balloon. You'll have to break the tablets (don't crush them) to make them small enough to get through the neck of the bottle.
A balloon is a better choice. Put the tablets into the empty balloon, and then use a plastic tube (or something else) to ensure that the mouth of the balloon stays wide open. Put the balloon with the tablets into the bottle so that the mouth goes in first.
If you do it right, when you put the bottle in the water, the ballast weight should allow the water to come through the holes in bottom and the bottle neck. Eventually as it sinks, the water will enter the mouth of the balloon, and hit the Alka-Seltzer tablets. The gas from the tablets will fill the balloon and it should force it against the bottle neck and keep water from coming in. The gas should also force the water out of the holes in the bottom and float it to the surface again.
You can also try keeping the cap on and putting a hole in the opposite side of the bottle from the weight to let the air out as it sinks, but remember that when the balloon inflates it needs to close the whichever hole you use.
You might have to experiment with the right amount of weight and tablets, but you get the idea.
Who invented the first submarine used in war?
Though David Bushnell's Turtle is the first submarine credited with use in combat during the Revolutionary War, it never made much of an impact as none of its attacks were successful.
The Confederate States' Army confiscated the privately built submarine H.L. Hunley (now being preserved in Charleston, S.C. after her discovery a few years ago) for use as a warship during the Civil War. The Hunley was privately designed and built by marine engineer Horace L. Hunley, James McClintock, and Baxter Wilson. Contrary to popular belief, the Hunley was never a commissioned vessel in the Confederate Navy; it was operated by the Confederate Army, and crewed by 8 Confederate Army soldiers and 1 Confederate Navy sailor.
Though the U.S. Navy also had a commissioned submarine in the Civil War (USS Alligator, 1862), the Hunley is considered to be the first submarine to be successfully used in war, and is also credited with the first sinking of a ship by a submarine during wartime. The Hunley successfully attacked and sunk the USS Housatonic, then anchored in Charleston Harbor. The Hunley sank on her return trip back to base following the attack.
Though it's long been believed she sank as a result of flooding as a result of the shockwave from her attack, her position when found, plus forensic examination of the wreck and crew remains has indicated that they in fact suffocated rather than drowned, as was widely believed at the time. This has led to the belief that she sank after her crew became unconscious and unable to power the boat. Regardless, her impact on naval warfare is undeniable, and would likely have changed naval tactics far sooner had she survived.
Submarines are used both for military and rersearch purposes.
When water fills a submarines flotation tanks the overall density of the submarine does what?
the overall density goes up.
How do submarines locate where they are?
Modern submarine use several methods of navigation; a common misconception is that they use Sonar to navigate, but that's limited and not practical, except in a very few circumstances.
All submarines use charts (corroborated with dead reckoning plotter and fathometer soundings), satellite (GPS), electronic gyro, visual references, radar (close to shore), for primary navigation in most oceans. On rare occasions, uncharted mountains or navigational screwups have led to submarine accidents. My own boat hit an underwater mountain in the Mediterranean in 1977; the USS San Francisco hit an uncharted mountain a few years ago.
The main periscope can also be fixed with a sextant if necessary to get a star fix or to take a sun line. Of course the Navigator can also do it the old fashioned way and take a sextant to the bridge while on the surface as well. There are always multiple backups for all submarine systems.
GPS is the primary method of navigation; sensors are located within the main periscope, (along with lots of other cool stuff). Navigational fixes are taken at periscope depth when a boat is doing routine housekeeping operations (e.g., trash disposal, receiving radio traffic, blowing sanitary tanks, etc.). However, no one fix, even GPS, is taken at face-value; fixes are taken from each navigational system, and then checked against each other for accuracy by the Quartermasters. The results are then reported to the Navigator.
The reason for cross-checking is because electronic systems are not infallible. It was this error that led to my boat's accident in '77.
At that time, there were several systems in place as there are today; the boat was in the Mediterranean Sea, and was carrying a replacement Quartermaster. Rather than follow proper procedure (as it turned out during the post-accident investigations and courts-martial) he trusted only one system for a fix, which was hyper accurate on his own boat. However, at the time, that system on my boat was malfunctioning. He also failed to report his findings to the Navigator. When the analysis was done later, it showed that the boat was almost 2 miles off course. The QM's dereliction was the only reason that the CO, XO, and the Navigator weren't relieved of their positions, as is customary in such cases, particularly with nuclear vessels. Typically it is a career-ender for all officers involved.
Has a submarine ever gone under the north pole?
Absolutely; the first boat to do so was the USS Nautilus (SSN-571) on her historic trip under the Pole in August 1958. In the past 35 years, regular visits by submarines (known as ICEX's, or Ice Expeditions) to the North Pole happen every year, usually supported by the Applied Physics Laboratory Ice Station (APLIS).
Having been there myself, the Arctic is a completely different world, both on the ice surface and underneath. Sonar-wise, it's extremely noisy, due to the ice floes constantly shifting and cracking with the water movement and storm activity on the surface. This makes for a perfect hiding area for Ballistic Missile submarines, and is a large reason why Arctic submarine activity has increased significantly during and since the Cold War.
Have a look at my Supervisor Bio page for some pics I took during LANTSUBICEX '86.
What was the fate of the us submarine swordfish?
There have been 2 submarines in the U.S. Navy named for the Swordfish:
1. USS Swordfish (SS-193) was a WW2 Sargo-class submarine. She was reported as presumed lost on January 15, 1945, after failing to report by radio, or in case of radio failure, report to ports in either Saipan or Midway.
The USS Kete (369), also operating in the area around Okinawa, detected a submarine on radar believed to be Swordfish. Several hours later, Ketedetected heavy depth charging in the same area, and this is believed to be the cause of Swordfish's loss.
2. USS Swordfish (SSN-579) was a highly decorated submarine in the Pacific fleet. She was stricken from the Naval Register and entered the Submarine Recycling Program in 1989, and finally scrapped in 1995.
How many bombs can a submarine have?
A typical US ballistic missile submarine has either:
- 24 Trident II missiles, each carrying 1 to 12 warheads
- 4 torpedo tubes with an unknown number of nuclear torpedos
24 to 288 missile warheads plus nuclear torpedos
- 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles
- 4 torpedo tubes with an unknown number of nuclear torpedos
154 missile warheads plus nuclear torpedos
Actual numbers for various types of submarine will vary.
Why did john holland build submarines?
John Holland built submarines to provide a new and effective means of naval warfare and to address the limitations of surface ships. His designs focused on stealth and the element of surprise, allowing submarines to operate undetected and strike from beneath the water. Holland's innovations laid the foundation for modern submarine technology, as he aimed to enhance naval capabilities and protect maritime interests. His work ultimately led to the development of the first successful military submarines.
What is the best shape for a plastecine submarine?
A fish or a cigar. Just the way they're designed now.
How is air recycled in submarines?
In modern submarines, the electrolyser separates oxygen from hydrogen in seawater to produce breathable oxygen. There is also a scrubber that removes excess CO2 from the air.
How does a steel submarine float on top of the water while it is in the harbor?
When a subs surfaced, it's a regular ship. It displaces water (it's filled with air NOT WATER).
How many nuclear submarines have ever sank?
A total of 8 known nuclear submarines have sunk (all but one due to accidents) in the almost 55 years since they were created.
U.S. NAVY
USS Thresher (SSN-593) - Thresher-class (lead boat) Fast-Attack. April 10, 1963, during sea trials off Cape Cod. Major hull valve failure, leading to the SUBSAFE program.
USS Scorpion (SSN-589) - Skipjack-class Fast-Attack. May 22, 1968, returning home from Med deployment. Suspected torpedo hot-run incident and subsequent detonation before disarming.
SOVIET NAVY
K-27 - Experimental Soviet Fast-Attack, (2 lead-bismuth reactors in a modified November-class hull). Scuttled after a reactor control rod failure in the Kara Sea, September 6, 1982, in violation of International Regulations.
K-8 - November-class Fast-Attack, sank April 11, 1970 while being towed in rough seas following a major onboard fire.
K-219 - Yankee I class Ballistic Missile submarine. Sank East of Bermuda on October 3, 1986 while being towed after suffering major casualties and damage following an onboard missile explosion.
K-218 (Komsomolets) - Mike-class Fast-Attack, sank April 7, 1989 following a major onboard fire.
RUSSIAN NAVY (Post USSR)
K-214 (Kursk) - Oscar II class Fast-Attack. Sank August 12, 2000 in the Barents Sea following multiple onboard torpedo explosions (one triggered 2 others). The Kursk is the only nuclear submarine to sink after suffering major damage and later be salvaged. The History Channel and Discovery Channel often show documentaries on the raising of the Kursk.
K-159 - Decommissioned November-class Fast Attack. Sank August 28, 2003 after she broke from her mooring pontoons.
All boats are periodically checked for radation leakage of any type (reactors or weapons) and for any evidence of wreck tampering / attempted salvage. Most of the wrecks are in waters deep enough to preclude any salvage or tampering though.
How does a submarine control its rate of ascent and descent?
It is the control planes on the submarine that are the primary method of normally controlling the rate of ascent or descent of the craft. Note that submarines have a few different configurations as regards planes. The stern planes are used alone, or in conjunction with the bow planes, if the boat is equiped with the latter ones, to change what is called "the bubble" or the angle of attack. On some boats, there are planes on what is called the fairwater or sail ("conning tower"), and these, the so-called fairwater planes, can be used to change depth slowly while maneuvering. It is these planes that are instrumental in maintaining depth on a properly trimmed boat as they are centrally mounted, and act to push the "whole boat" down or up without changing the bubble. Ballast tanks are flooded completely to dive and to conduct subsurface operations. The bouyancy of the boat (along with the trim) is controlled by the partially flooding the trim tanks.
What country was the submarine made?
The first navigable submarine was made in England in 1620 by Conelius Drebbel.
American Colonies, 1776, by David Bushnell; the TURTLE piloted by Sgt. Lee Continental Army.
What is the most efficient model of a submarine?
Until the advent of Nuclear Power for submarines, which gave them much greater speed capability underwater than on the surface, submarines were essentially designed as low-profile surface vessels with limited submergence capability. As such, their overall design made them noiser underwater and faster on the surface rather than quieter and faster underwater, the hallmark of modern submarine designs.
The most hydrodynamically efficient model of submarine is the elongated teardrop shape that is characteristic of most large modern military u-boats. These boats have a rounded nose, a hull diameter that is appropriate to the design objectives of that particular boat, and then the hull tapers down in diameter back past midships to just a few feet around at the aft end where the screw is attached to the shaft. It makes for really good hydrodynamic performance and good efficiency. It's a quiet shape, too, and it's all about the noise, isn't it? Sharp points on the bow make for extreme difficulties in design and add little to nothing to the performance of the hydrofoil. (It's more about cross-sectional area after considerations regarding the shape of the nose, or bow.)
Also, as mentioned, a nuclear submarine is operationally efficient because it can operate at sea for extended periods without the need for fuel, and, more importantly, can operate UNDER the water for a long time because the propulsion system doesn't require air - oxygen - as part of its power generating cycle. Lastly, think about this: an old diesel electric submarine, when it is operating underwater using its battery banks to drive an electric motor to turn the screw, is REALLY quiet. A nuclear boat constantly runs pumps and steam turbines while underwater, and these actually make more noise than the electric systems that drive the old boats when they are submerged. Of course, when the old boats surface to run engines to charge batteries, they can be heard for many miles and identified for what they are.
What does the letter v stand for in the numbering of US Navy aircraft carriers?
The "V" stands for "vehicular"
Where does water enter a starfish?
Water enters the starfish through the madreporite or the tube feet, but mainly the madreporite.
Why was there a definite shift in dominance from battleships to submarines in World War 2?
The primary reason for the shift to Submarines rather than Battleships and other surface combatants is that in previous wars, most naval engagements were between surface warships, or warships against merchant vessels. With the advent of better submarine technology in WWI, and the early successes of the Kriegsmarine U-Boats in the Battle of the Atlantic, it became apparent that submarines as a weapons delivery platform had become a viable threat.
Advances in Air Power had shown also that Battleships were vulnerable to airplane attacks; until that time, airplanes were not believed to be capable of sinking or seriously damaging a Battleship. However, a static controlled test (the results of which were initially "skewed" by the Navy) conclusively proved that airplanes as a mobile artillery delivery system (bombers and torpedo planes) were a serious threat to the Battleship. The sinking of the Bismarck by WWI vintage torpedo planes from the British carrier Ark Royal, along with the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, were the final nails in the coffin of the Battleship as the premier weapons platform of the fleet. After that, carriers and submarines were the preferred weapons of choice, and remain so today because of their ability to be rapidly positioned in hot spots around the world. Carriers are more obvious since they cannot be easily hidden - they are an overt statement of a country's projection of power around the globe. However, no carrier battle group is ever without a submarine escort.
While the carrier can project air power to any part of the planet, and has today become a symbol of the host country's overall power, the submarine's inherent ability to control the shipping lanes and stop supplies are what led to Japan's ultimate defeat in WWII. Though they had carriers early in the war, they failed to replace them. As their supply lines grew longer and longer across the Pacific, it became easier for American submarines to interdict and destroy enemy shipping and cutoff vital supplies. Even today, most heavy supplies are moved by ship, as well as strategic minerals and raw materials necessary for National Security. It is this reason why the Navy exists to begin with - to control the seas and shipping lanes and ensure that vital supplies necessary to the country get here.
There are many raw materials that the US needs to survive that are not found within the borders of the US; they must be shipped in via merchant vessels. Oil is but one strategic import; Titanium is widely used in aerospace applications, but is not found here. The list of strategic materials is longer than most people realize, but it is oil that is usually singled out.
Submarines in World War II were not true submersibles as we know them today; they were surface vessels with a limited ability to remain submerged for extended periods. It wasn't until the advent of Nuclear Power in the '50's when Admiral Rickover led the effort to design, build and install the first reactor in a submarine that the true submarine was born. Today, only crew limitations require submarines to enter port and resupply.
The Japanese military did not cooperate with the axis navies. Their enemies were in the Pacific Ocean, so they would not have sent ships to the Atlantic. The allies controlled the locks at Panama, so if Japanese ships wanted access to the Atlantic, they would have had to have sailed south between South America and Antarctica.
So, no, the Japanese subs and ships did not play an important role in the "battle of the Atlantic", whatever that would have been.
