Underwater shipbuilding has several goals. All of them, one way or another, are associated with a decrease in the ability to detect a submarine due to an increase in the distance between it and the water surface, as well as some other factors. Of course, the military-industrial complex is generally a special area, the goals of which are often very different from the aspirations of an ordinary peaceful person. However, in the proposed article, we will consider some data on what is the depth of submersion of submarines, as well as the limits within which this value varies.
A bit of history: bathyscaphe
The material in question will, of course, be about warships. Although human studies of the sea open spaces include a visit to him even the planetary maximum of depth - the bottom of the Mariana Trench, which, as you know, is located more than 11 km from the surface of the oceans. However, the historical immersion, which took place back in 1960, was carried out in the bathyscaphe. This is an apparatus that does not have buoyancy in the full sense, since it can only sink, and then rise due to the tricks of the engineering genius. In general, during the operation of the bathyscaphe, there is no question of moving in a horizontal plane at any serious distance. Therefore, the diving depth of submarines, which, as you know, can cover huge distances, is much less than the record for the bathyscaphe, at least for now.
The most important characteristic
Speaking about the records in the development of ocean open spaces, we should not forget about the true purpose of the submarines. Military targets and warhead, usually located on such ships, implies not only the highest mobility necessary for them. In addition, they should skillfully hide in water strata ideally suited for this, emerge at the right moment and as quickly as possible sink to the depth necessary for survival after the military operation. In fact, the latter determines the level of combat capability of the ship. Thus, the maximum immersion depth of the submarine is one of its most important characteristics.
Increase factors
There are several considerations in this regard. Increasing the depth allows you to improve the maneuverability of the submarine in the vertical plane, since the length of the warship is usually at least several tens of meters. Thus, if it is 50 meters under water, and its dimensions are twice as large, moving down or up is fraught with a complete loss of masking.
In addition, in the water column there is such a thing as “thermal layers”, which strongly distort the sonar signal. If you go below them, the submarine becomes almost "invisible" to the tracking equipment of surface ships. Not to mention the fact that at great depths such an apparatus is much more difficult to destroy with any weapon on the planet.
The greater the immersion depth of the submarines, the stronger the hull must be able to withstand incredible pressure. This, again, is at the mercy of the ship’s overall defenses. Finally, if the depth limit allows you to lie on the ocean floor, it also increases the invisibility of the submarine for any location equipment available to modern tracking systems.
Basic terminology
There are two main characteristics that show the ability of the submarine to dive. The first is the so-called working depth. In foreign sources, she also appears as operational. This characteristic shows what is the depth of submersion of the submarines, which you can descend an unlimited number of times for the entire period of operation. For example, the American Thresher normally completed 40 dives per year within a given value, while the next attempt to exceed it tragically died with the entire crew in the Atlantic. The second most important characteristic is the calculated or destructive (in foreign sources) depth. Corresponds to its value at which the hydrostatic pressure exceeds the strength of the casing, calculated during the design of the apparatus.
Test depth
There is another characteristic that should be mentioned in context. This is the submersion depth of the submarine, which is the limiting according to calculations, being below which can cause the destruction of the skin itself, or frames, or other external equipment. It is also called a "test" in foreign sources. In no case should it be exceeded for a specific device.
Returning to the Thresher: with a calculated value of 300 meters, he went to a test depth of 360 meters. By the way, in the USA the submarine goes to this depth immediately after launching from the plant and, in fact, “runs” on it for a certain time before being transferred to the ordering department. We conclude the sad story of Thresher. The tests at 360 meters for him ended tragically, and although this was caused not by the depth itself, but by technical problems with the nuclear engine of the submarine, however, the accidents, apparently, were not accidental.
The submarine lost speed due to engine shutdown, ballast tank blowing did not give a result, and the apparatus went to the bottom. According to experts, the destruction of the hull of the submarine occurred at a depth of about 700 meters, so as you can see, there is still a decent difference between the test value and the really destructive one.
Average figures
Over time, of course, the depths increase. If the submarines of World War II were designed for values of 100-150 meters, then subsequent generations increased these limits. With the invention of the possibility of using nuclear decay to create engines, the immersion depth of nuclear submarines has also increased. In the early 60s, it was already about 300-350 meters. Modern submarines have limits of the order of 400-500 meters. While on this front there is a clear stagnation, it seems that the matter is for future developments, although one should mention the extraordinary project created in the Soviet Union in the 80s.
Absolute record
We are talking about the submarine "Komsomolets", unfortunately, tragically sunk, but it still belongs to the unconquered peak in the development of the deep sea by modern submarines. This unique project has no analogues worldwide. The fact is that for the manufacture of its case a very durable, expensive and extremely inconvenient in processing material was used - titanium. The maximum immersion depth of the submarine in the world is still owned by Komsomolets. This record was set in 1985, when the Soviet submarine reached 1, 027 meters below the surface of the sea.
By the way, the working value for it was 1000 m, and the estimated value was 1250. As a result, Komsomolets sank in 1989 due to a severe fire that started at a depth of about 300 meters. And although he, unlike the same Thresher, managed to come up, the story still turned out to be very tragic. The fire so damaged the submarine that it sank almost immediately. Several people died in the fire, and about half of the crew drowned in ice water while help arrived.
