Underwater speed record categories can be divided into those of

man-made Artificiality (the state of being artificial or manmade) is the state of being the product of intentional human manufacture, rather than occurring naturally through processes not involving or requiring human activity. Connotations Artificiality ...

underwater vehicles An underwater vehicle is any member of the class of vehicle A vehicle (from la, vehiculum) is a machine that transports people or cargo. Vehicles include wagons, bicycles, motor vehicles (motorcycles, cars, trucks, buses, mobility scoo ...

(including manned submarines,

autonomous underwater vehicles In developmental psychology and moral, political, and bioethical philosophy, autonomy, from , ''autonomos'', from αὐτο- ''auto-'' "self" and νόμος ''nomos'', "law", hence when combined understood to mean "one who gives oneself one's ...

, and

torpedoes A modern torpedo is an underwater ranged weapon launched above or below the water surface, self-propelled towards a target, and with an explosive warhead designed to detonate either on contact with or in proximity to the target. Historically, su ...

) and marine life. In 1968, a

Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nation ...

tracked an American carrier

group A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together. Groups of people * Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity * Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic ide ...

traveling at , leading the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

to develop the s, whose reported speed is . USS Albacore (AGSS-569), launching 1953

Established reports and manufacturer's claims indicate that two (or perhaps more) submarines are capable of speeds exceeding . In 1965, reported a speed of , but this was not an official record. The (Russian: ''shark'')-class vessel is reportedly capable of travelling submerged at . Its predecessor, the , could attain short speed bursts of while submerged. There are also claims that the Soviet twin-propeller submarine '' K-222'', with titanium

inner Interior may refer to: Arts and media * ''Interior'' (Degas) (also known as ''The Rape''), painting by Edgar Degas * ''Interior'' (play), 1895 play by Belgian playwright Maurice Maeterlinck * ''The Interior'' (novel), by Lisa See * Interior de ...

and outer hulls, reached , fully submerged, during

sea trial A sea trial is the testing phase of a watercraft (including boats, ships, and submarines). It is also referred to as a " shakedown cruise" by many naval personnel. It is usually the last phase of construction and takes place on open water, and ...

s in 1969. However, due to the secretive nature of these vessels, the numbers were never confirmed. The British

Spearfish torpedo The Spearfish torpedo (formally Naval Staff Target 7525) is the heavy torpedo used by the submarines of the Royal Navy. It can be guided by wire or by autonomous active or passive sonar, and provides both anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti- ...

, designed to counter high-speed Russian submarines such as the ''Alfa'' class, is reputed to reach speeds in excess of . The Russian VA-111 Shkva rocket-powered supercavitating torpedo is reportedly capable of speeds over . The

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

press reported on an underwater anti-torpedo missile named Barracuda allegedly capable of reaching . The US Navy has contracted with the

General Dynamics Electric Boat General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) is a subsidiary of General Dynamics Corporation. It has been the primary builder of submarines for the United States Navy for more than 100 years. The company's main facilities are a shipyard in Groton, C ...

division to support development of the Underwater Express, an undersea transport capable of controllable speeds up to through supercavitation. The Swordfish is the fastest sea animal, with a recorded speed of 97 km/h (60 mph). (See Fastest animals.)

References

Water speed records {{submarine-stub

See also

References