Given their stealth, capability to remain submerged for extended periods of time, and nuclear weapons they possess, submarines are the ultimate maritime threat. This technique takes the last accurate position of the submarine (determined by GPS, radar etc.) and then uses gyroscopes to calculate how far the sub has travelled and in which direction. Another method used is ‘inertial guidance’.
SONAR uses the reflection of pulses sent out by the submarine to detect the position of enemy threats or the sea floor. Therefore, directing a submarine whilst underwater requires other techniques. Whilst GPS navigation works at the surface, it is ineffective once the submarines have dived. Uploaded by Nevit Dilmen on Wikimedia Commons. Finally, fresh drinking water is created through the distillation of seawater on board a submarine using various types of equipment. Importantly, carbon dioxide is removed from the air using devices called ‘scrubbers’. This is where an electric current running through entrained seawater within the submarine produces oxygen. For example, oxygen is created and circulated throughout the submarine via electrolysis. But won’t they run out of oxygen and water? One of the key reasons submarines are able to remain submerged for extended periods of time is due to their utilisation of seawater. Surprisingly, the only thing limiting a nuclear submarines endurance underwater, is food. Image on the left taken by Meena Kadri on Flickr. Only needing to be refuelled every couple of decades, nuclear submarines possess the ability to remain submerged for as long as their food supply on board allows. Nuclear powered submarines on the other hand are a different story. As a result, diesel-electric submarines such as the Australian Collins-Class can only last so long underwater without having to re-surface. Importantly, Diesel-electric submarines need to be at the surface for the diesel engines to run and charge batteries that drive the submarines motor once submerged. The two main power sources used to run submarines are diesel-electric and nuclear. A schematic diagram of how submarines dive and re-surface. Additionally, dive plans (hydroplanes) attached to the submarine allow for it to be manoeuvred up and down, whilst a rudder attached to the rear gives left and right movement. This is done be either filling the tanks with water through vents (giving the submarine negative buoyancy), or releasing pressurized air from within the submarine forcing water out of the tank (giving a positive buoyancy). The role of the ballast tank is to control the buoyancy of a submarine, helping them dive (sink) or re-surface. Between these two hulls are what are known as ballast tanks. They posses two hulls, an outer hull that moulds the shape of the submarine, and a pressure hull that keeps the submariners safe from freezing cold water and immense pressure. Submarines generally have a few key features.
Collins Class submarine HMAS Waller in Sydney Harbour. Let’s take a look at the science behind these underwater machines and reveal some submerged information.
But for the men and women who work as submariners around the world, this is their life. A deep dive into the underwater world of submarinesĭoes being trapped inside a metal box hundreds of meters below the surface of the ocean scare you? If yes, don’t hesitate to add me to that list as well.
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