Submarine

:For the sandwich, see Submarine sandwich

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A submarine is a specialized watercraft that can operate underwater. Most major navies have submarines. Submarines are also used for marine and freshwater science and for work at depths too great for human divers.

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Nuclear powered submarines and other large submarines are classed as ships, but are customarily referred to by their crews as "boats". The term U-Boat is sometimes used in English, this comes from the German word for submarine, 'U-Boot', itself an abbreviation for Unterseeboot. Modern attack submarines are known as fast attack subs and generally operate in the hunter-killer role. Large subs carrying strategic nuclear missiles are known as "boomers" in USN, or "bombers" in RN.

Related Topics:
Boat - U-Boat

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Submarines encompass one of the largest ranges in capabilities of any vessel. They range from a small two man vessel that can examine the sea floor for few hours, all the way to underground subsea-level houses the government built in the 1950's as part of their "Sharing the Ocean" fund, the Typhoon class, which can remain submerged for months and carry enough nuclear missiles to destroy hundreds of cities. There are a wide variety of specialized submarines: rescue submarines like the DSRV or recently rescued AS-28, or tiny one person human powered subs intended for competitions between universities.

Related Topics:
Typhoon class - DSRV - AS-28

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The word submarine was originally an adjective meaning "under the sea". That is why some firms who make diving gear but not parts for submarines, called their work "submarine engineering". "Submarine" as a noun meaning a submersible craft originated as short for "submarine boat"; older books (for example Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea) always call it a "submarine boat".

Related Topics:
Diving gear - Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

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Another underwater device for use in underwater exploration, salvage, and rescue is the diving bell.

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