Why Submarines Are So Slow

Submarines are among the most fascinating and powerful machines in the world. They can dive deep into the oceans and perform various tasks, such as spying, attacking, exploring, or rescuing. However, they are also known for being very slow compared to other vehicles. The average speed of a submarine is around 5 to 10 knots, which is equivalent to 6 to 12 miles per hour.

This is much slower than the speed of a car, which can travel at around 60 miles per hour. Why are submarines so slow? There are several reasons for this.

One reason is that submarines are designed to be stealthy and avoid detection, which requires them to move slowly to minimize the noise they make. Submarines use propellers or jet propulsion to move through the water, but these also create sound waves that can be picked up by sonar or hydrophones. The faster the submarine moves, the louder it becomes, and the easier it is for enemies to locate and track it. Therefore, submarines have to balance their speed and their stealth, and often choose to sacrifice the former for the latter.

Another reason is that submarines are bulky and heavy, and not designed for speed, but rather for endurance and carrying large payloads. Submarines have to carry a lot of equipment and weapons, such as torpedoes, missiles, mines, sensors, batteries, fuel, and crew. They also have to withstand the high pressure and low temperature of the deep sea. All these factors add weight and drag to the submarine, making it harder to accelerate and maneuver. Submarines are also limited by their power source, which can be diesel-electric or nuclear. Diesel-electric submarines have to surface periodically to recharge their batteries using air-breathing engines, which reduces their speed and stealth Nuclear submarines can stay submerged for longer periods of time, but they also generate more heat and noise.

Despite their slow speed, submarines are still an important part of modern warfare and science. They can carry out missions that other vehicles cannot do, such as attacking enemy ships or submarines, launching strategic nuclear strikes, protecting friendly ships or aircraft carriers, conducting covert operations behind enemy lines, exploring and mapping the ocean floor, collecting data and samples of marine life, water, rocks, and minerals for scientific analysis, recovering lost items from sunken ships or planes, or offering underwater sightseeing tours or rides to visitors. Submarines have changed the course of history and enriched our knowledge and culture.

Let's keep learning, Share it.