Submarines

A submarine is used as a subsurface naval weapons platform, or as a tool of exploration and recreation. The latter may be manned or robotic, and have a wide range of characteristics and applications. They are usually operated from or with direct reliance on a support vessel of some kind. We've seen them carrying investigators to the deepest oceans, or surveying shipwrecks on the bottom of the sea.

The former are usually sophisticated naval vessels capable of great range and extended independent operation. They can carry torpedoes to sink other vessels, or guided missiles to be launched at distant targets to deliver nuclear payloads. The newer munitions include cruise missiles which can be launched from the submarine, or anti-ship missiles which can also be launched from below the surface. Certainly there are a number of instances of "spooks" working with the submarine service in a number of espionage or "black ops" projects. It could be the insertion of a SEAL team, or the gathering of intelligence in various ways.

Yes, nuclear submarines generate nuclear power. There is a nuclear reactor on board (hence the tern nuclear submarine) which creates steam to drive the main engines to turn the screw(s).

No - in the past, the torpedoes were longer than the boat's beam, so it would've been physically impossible. Today's torpedoes are acoustically and wire guided, so it makes no difference if the target is in front, to the side, or behind you when it's launched. It already knows where the target is before it leaves the tube. Essentially, in the past it wasn't feasible - over the past 40 years, there's been no reason for it.

Rarely. Unarmed German merchant subs in WW1 were refitted with beam tubes which were angled as the beam was too narrow to allow perpendicular firing. [In the 1960's, USN Thresher-class subs also used beam tubes. They were intended to hunt and kill enemy submarines, and the beam tubes allowed more extensive sonar in the bow.]

During World War 2, it is reported that over 2,000 variants of Japanese Submarines were used during World War 2. Out of this, it is estimated that 10,000s were likely to be used during WW2.

ballast. the sub takes in and releases water to change the bouancy of the entire boat making it either sink or float respectively.

Men built them in the 1600's, 1776, 1850, 1890; by the 20th century, nearly every nation was building submarines.

SONAR

The USS Nautilus was built in Groton, Connecticut.

The 'Nereus' ROV, owned by Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst. has dived to 34,000 feet in the Challenger Deep, one of the very deepest parts of the Pacific ocean.

No - all submarines, be it nuclear or diesel-electric, use diesel fuel, either for primary engines (DE) or backup generator (nuclear).

Do people know anything these days? If you know alot about U boats Ext.I myself have a U boat book that list from the U1 to the U 4001 that all through those numbers were lost only about 30 ww2 U boats remain today

The physical size of the ship is the upper limit on how many people can fit in a submarine. Operationally, the atmosphere control systems and food supplies further constrain the maximum load. U.S. attack submarines deploy for about six months; when we left home, we actually had to walk on food cans at times. The lower limit would be set by the operational and maintenance needs to conduct submerged operations. Thus, there is an engineered balance between the duration of the expected missions, ability to replenish stores

In my service on three U. S. submarines, the crewing was very much mission-dependent. On an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, Jackson's "Submarines of the World" lists the crew as 155, which seems about right to me. Variables for our ship included shortages in some crew ratings at times, to having extra crew on board for training purposes. That number holds up for submerged operations of about ten weeks, but on one occasion I had to be out for twelve weeks. During some operations, such as inspections or builder's trials, the number could swell to 300 or so for a day or two. The same source suggests 175 for Russia's Typhoon-class (I'll use NATO labels), and I expect their actual numbers vary for inspections etc as well.

In contrast, the Los Angeles-class were engineered for about 110 on board, but often carry about 135 to support crew training and mission requirements. Russia's Victor III-class is built for 100, but probably can carry more for an extended period. Their newer Akula may actually require less crew, I've always heard the Russians like to automate operations as much as they can. The Russian Oscar-class SSGN is listed at 130. I would guess the Ohio-class ships converted to SSGNs probably need about the same crew as the regular ones. Special operations complements aboard could add more, maybe a hundred or so for shorter duration missions.

In contrast, I went aboard a fairly modern Chilean Type 209-class sub visiting our base in Pearl Harbor one Sunday morning. One of the crew indicated that they had deployed with just 33 crew (Jackson suggests 22). It wasn't cramped at all, and the senior enlisted guy I talked to said everyone had their own bunk, the CO had a small stateroom. The galley was just a griddle over a small oven, quite small, and the dining area was just a couple of four-seat dinettes. I don't remember seeing a wardroom. The engine room was small, with four small diesels and a Siemens switchboard, in a separate compartment. The crewman back there talked to me in a normal voice, and I came to realize one of the diesels was actually running; it was quiet, like my Civic.

During WW2 the US Navy built 126 submarines.

5 mph

The first navigable submarine was built in 1620 in England by Cornelius Drebbel using English mathematician William Bourne's plans from 1578.

America (not the US back then) used the first submarine, built by American Colonist David Bushnell in 1776.

to keep the sub level or help it to dive and surface

World War I submarines were primarily used to locate and attack surface cargo and warships.

No - ABM weapons are either high-energy weapons (particle beams or lasers), or high velocity intercept missiles that use radar tracking from several sources to lock on and intercept a ballistic missile in-flight, before it can separate its warheads.

See flying Tiger Submarine Launching Tags, anywhere from $28 to $400

The submarine has scrubbers. They remove carbon dioxide from the air and break it down to release the oxygen back into the air. There are also a few tanks to supplement the oxygen content if necessary.

Yes, German U-boats will attack any ship or vessel going to Britain, without warning. Even if the country that the ship is coming from is neutral.

Since its free-fall nuclear weapons arsenal was decomissioned in 1998, the United Kingdom's only means of nuclear weapons delivery is via submarines and SLBMs.

There were no submarines sunk or damaged during the attack on Pearl Harbor; all vessels either sunk or damaged were capital ships (battleships, cruisers, etc.) or support vessels (tenders, tugs, etc.).

Submarines probably can't be seen, but we might find them with sonar, or possibly with a magnetic anomaly detector of some kind.