Imagine diving thousands of feet below the surface of the water and staying there for months! You could if you were in a submarine.
These vessels are a marvel of engineering. Submarines are used not only for research by scientists exploring the ocean depths, but also by the military for warfare.
Fun Fact: Military submarines are very large. They can carry up to 200 crew members, along with weapons and missiles. Research submarines tend to be small, with mechanical arms and cameras attached to them.
Let’s dive into the world of subs to discover some cool facts about these fun ships!
Parts of a Submarine
Like all vessels, the submarine has many parts. Check them out!
Ballast Tanks
Each end of the sub has ballast tanks. These are in charge of controlling whether the submarine dives or rises to the surface. To sink the sub, water fills up the ballast tanks. To allow the submarine to rise, water is released from the ballasts.
Pressure Hull
This is an area inside the submarine where the crew and the machinery are kept. The pressure hull keeps everything safe from being crushed by the pressure of the water.
Rudder
The rudder is at the back of the sub and is used to direct the vessel. The crew can change course by turning the rudder from left or right.
Propeller
The propeller is also located at the back of the submarine. As you might’ve guessed, it propels the vessel through the water.
Power Source
There are four possible power sources for a submarine: a huge battery, nuclear power, an engine, or a combination of the three.
Other Equipment
Some submarines use specialized equipment called sonar to navigate their way through dark water or to locate a target. This is done by releasing sound waves into the ocean.
Submarines also use equipment that provides fresh air into all the compartments. It would get pretty stuffy and stinky without it!
Fun Fact: Submarines used to have a long arm with a lens on it to see above the water’s surface. This is called a periscope. Today, the periscope has been replaced with a high-tech mast.
There’s So Much Pressure!
We may not realize it, but when submarines dive deep into the water, the pressure starts to build. For example, when a sub is only one mile below the surface of the water, the pressure applied to this vessel is about 2,500 PSI. That means there are 2,500 pounds of force applied to every square inch of its hull! That’s why the submarine has to be made from super strong materials, like high-strength alloyed steel or even titanium.
History of the Submarine
The submarine first started as a leather-covered rowboat. In 1620, a Dutch inventor named Cornelis Drebbel built this wondrous machine, and it could actually reach depths of 15 feet.
In 1776, David Bushnell built a submarine from wood. The Turtle was shaped like a barrel and only held one person, but it was successfully used during the American Revolution!
In 1800, a famous U.S. inventor by the name of Robert Fulton was hired by Napoleon to build a small sub that could attach explosives to ships. This ship, called the Nautilus, was the first practical submarine of its kind.
As time went on, other inventors produced better submarines by experimenting with gas, steam, and batteries to power the ship. By the early 1900s, submarines had both diesel engines (using internal combustion) and battery-powered electric motors.
The combination of diesel and electric allowed the submarine to run on both the surface (diesel power) and underwater (electric power).
Fun Fact: The military used these diesel-electric subs in World War I and World War II. The United States also introduced the first nuclear-powered submarine in 1954: the USS Nautilus.
More Fun Sub Facts
Let’s explore more fun facts about the submarine.
Did you know…
- Navy subs can dive up to 800 feet.
- Research submarines have been down over 32,800 feet!
- Technically, a Navy submarine could stay underwater for 25 years. However, most supplies run out within 90 days, so they have to surface to replenish their food and water.
- Subs have raised decks on top of their hulls. This is so crew members can stand on top of it when it is out of the water.
- A submarine was the main topic of an 1870 novel written by Jules Verne titled 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
- One of the hit songs from famous rock group The Beatles is called The Yellow Submarine.
Submarines Are Stupendous!
Who knew the submarine could be so fascinating? From diving to great depths and using sonar to navigate through dark waters, this vessel is truly a stupendous invention.
If you love what you have learned here today, be sure to tell your friends and family all about the submarine!
