Submarines – Extreme Technology – Big Bigger Biggest

Element 18・2 minutes read

The USS Pennsylvania is a nuclear-powered submarine that can stay submerged for six months, generating oxygen from seawater to sustain the crew while silently navigating the Pacific Ocean. Submarine technology has evolved over 200 years, from the Turtle in 1776 to the nuclear-powered USS Pennsylvania in 1989, with developments in propulsion, weapons systems, and stealth capabilities.

Insights

  • The USS Pennsylvania, the largest U.S. Navy submarine, showcases over 200 years of submarine technology evolution, from the Turtle's bomb-carrying design in 1776 to the modern use of electrolysis for oxygen production and optic fiber-guided torpedoes for precise targeting.
  • Nuclear-powered submarines like the USS Nautilus and USS Pennsylvania revolutionized naval warfare by eliminating the need for refueling at sea, enhancing operational range and stealth capabilities, with advancements like the Polaris missile launch system demonstrating the continuous innovation in underwater warfare technology.

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Recent questions

  • What is the USS Pennsylvania?

    A nuclear-powered submarine in the U.S. Navy.

  • How do submarines generate oxygen?

    Through electrolysis of seawater.

  • What was the first war submarine?

    The Turtle, created in 1776.

  • How do submarines control depth?

    Using fairwater and stern planes.

  • What was the purpose of the "milk cow" submarine?

    To refuel other submarines at sea.

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Summary

00:00

Evolution of Submarine Technology: A Brief History

  • The USS Pennsylvania is an Ohio-class submarine, the largest in the U.S. Navy, capable of diving over 250 meters and staying submerged for six months.
  • The submarine's existence is the result of over 200 years of engineering evolution, with six key stages in submarine technology development.
  • Captain Bradford S. Neff commands the USS Pennsylvania on patrols lasting about 72 days, during which the submarine silently navigates the Pacific Ocean.
  • In 1776, the world's first war submarine, the Turtle, was created by the Americans to carry a bomb underwater and remain hidden until reaching enemy ships.
  • The Turtle's operator faced challenges due to limited air supply, similar to a modern experiment showing oxygen depletion in a sealed box.
  • The USS Pennsylvania generates oxygen from seawater through electrolysis, producing over 4,000 liters of oxygen per hour to sustain the crew.
  • The H.L. Hunley, a submarine during the American Civil War, used fins for control, similar to the USS Pennsylvania's fairwater and stern planes for depth and angle control.
  • The German U-66 U-boat in World War II utilized torpedoes powered by compressed air, later replaced by electric motor-driven torpedoes to reduce bubble trails.
  • The USS Pennsylvania's Mark 48 torpedoes can be guided onto targets using optic fiber spooling, allowing for precise targeting and multiple attacks without returning to base.
  • Engineers working on the USS Nautilus during World War II sought a new power source to extend operational time, leading to the development of nuclear-powered submarines.

26:17

Evolution of Submarines: From Milk Cows to Missiles

  • U-boats aimed to disrupt Britain's supply line from North America, leading to the creation of the "milk cow" submarine to refuel at sea.
  • The milk cow carried 400 tons of fuel in extra tanks and had to surface to deliver fuel through a line, leaving it vulnerable to attack during refueling.
  • Allies sank all 10 German milk cows by the end of the war, highlighting the dangers of refueling at sea.
  • The USS Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered submarine, was unveiled in 1954, capable of traveling 100,000 kilometers on four kilograms of uranium fuel.
  • The Nautilus' nuclear reactor was powerful, propelling the submarine without the need for refueling at sea.
  • The USS Pennsylvania, commissioned in 1989, has not required refueling due to its nuclear reactor, limiting its range only by food supplies for the crew.
  • Submarines evolved to carry nuclear missiles, with the USS George Washington launching Polaris missiles from underwater in 1960.
  • To launch missiles underwater, engineers developed a system using compressed air to propel the missile through the water, enabling stealthy launches from submarines.
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