Snorkel

A snorkel (also spelled "schnorkel" or "schnorchel") is a tube that allows a person, vehicle, or vessel to draw air while submerged under water.

Vehicle snorkel

Military wheeled vehicles, like Jeeps, are capable of mounting snorkels for the air intake and engine exhaust, to allow them to wade through relatively deep water, limited by the height of the driver's head. In the case of a Jeep, all of the engine openings and wiring are sealed, and the driver must first operate a damper that over-pressures the engine vacuum, to prevent water from entering. After fording, the vehicle's wheel bearings must be repacked by a mechanic.

Related Topics:
Jeep - Engine vacuum - Bearing

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Such snorkelling equipment is available as an aftermarket accessory for some four wheel drive vehicles. The snorkel is typically routed out through one of the front wings and up beside the "A" pillar to the level of the roofline where it is terminated with either a mushroom intake or a forward-facing intake.

Related Topics:
Aftermarket - Four wheel drive - Vehicles

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Deep-wading tanks

Many modern tanks and armoured fighting vehicles have snorkel equipment for wading across rivers up to about five metres deep. Deep-wading operations are very dangerous, and not normally attempted unless there is no other alternative.

Related Topics:
Tank - Armoured fighting vehicle

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Western tanks' wading snorkels usually include a wide tube attached to the commander's hatch on the turret. In case the tank stalls under water, the crew can escape through a ladder inside the snorkel. The snorkelling equipment is bulky, and only issued to tank crews when needed. Soviet/Russian/CIS forces use such equipment only as training snorkel. In the field, each tank is normally equipped with two narrow snorkels, and tank crew is issued with rebreathing respirators, in case of emergency.

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Wading operations are only attempted where a shallow river bank approach and bottom have been reconnoitred and prepared in advance by engineers. Tanks under water are somewhat buoyant, and tend to turn wildly. Each tank's snorkel has a flag affixed, and the tank company commander remains on the river bank to give navigation orders to each crew as they traverse the river. In the case of the Soviet T-72, a stalled engine means loss of over-pressure, and a quickly flooding engine compart (and subsequently, crew compartment). Underwater escape is extremely hazardous, and crews have been known to panic and drown during training.

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