U-boatU-boats are naval submarines operated by Germany, especially during World War I and World War II. The term is an anglicized form of the German word U-Boot, a shortening of Unterseeboot (lit.'under-sea boat'). Austro-Hungarian Navy submarines were also known as U-boats. U-boats are especially known for their use in unrestricted submarine warfare in both world wars, attempting to disrupt merchant traffic towards the United Kingdom to force them out of the war.
Underwater warfareUnderwater warfare, also known as undersea warfare or subsurface warfare, is naval warfare involving underwater vehicle or combat operations conducted underwater. It is one of the four operational areas of naval warfare, the others being surface warfare, aerial warfare, and information warfare.
Nuclear submarineA nuclear submarine is a submarinepowered by a nuclear reactor, but not necessarily nuclear-armed. Nuclear submarines have considerable performance advantages over "conventional" (typically diesel-electric) submarines. Nuclear propulsion, being completely independent of air, frees the submarine from the need to surface frequently, as is necessary for conventional submarines.Anti-submarine warfareRoyal Navy officers on the bridge of a destroyer on convoy escort duties keep a sharp look out for enemy submarines during the Battle of the Atlantic, October 1941Anti-submarine warfare (ASW, or in the older form A/S) is a branch of underwater warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, submarines, or other platforms, to find, track, and deter, damage, or destroy enemy submarines.
Allies of World War IMilitary coalition in World War IThe Allies or the Entente (UK: , US: ) was an international military coalition of countries led by the French Republic, the United Kingdom, the Russian Empire, the United States, the Kingdom of Italy, and the Empire of Japan against the Central Powers of the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and the Tsardom of Bulgaria in World War I (1914–1918).Turtle (submersible)Turtle (also called American Turtle) was the world's first submarine, or by modern standards a submersible, with a documented record of use in combat. It was built in 1775 by American David Bushnell as a means of attaching explosive charges to ships in a harbor, for use against the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War.
SubmarineWatercraft capable of independent underwater operationRussian Akula-class submarine of the Northern Fleet, in 2008World War II fleet submarine (Gato, Balao or Tench class), commissioned 1941–1945The first nuclear-powered submarineUSS Nautilus (SSN-571), commissioned 1954The ballistic missile submarineUSS George Washington (SSBN-598), commissioned 1959A submarine (often shortened to sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater.
HMS Eagle (1774)HMS Eagle was a British 64-gun third-rateship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 2 May 1774 at Rotherhithe. HistoryOn 7 September 1776, the experimental American submarine Turtle, under the guidance of army volunteer Sergeant Ezra Lee, was alleged to have attacked HMS Eagle, which was moored off what is today called Liberty Island, but was unable to bore through the hull.
Naval mineA naval mine or sea mine is a self-contained explosive weapon placed in water to damage or destroy surface ships or submarines. Similar to anti-personnel and other land mines, and unlike purpose-launched naval depth charges, they are deposited and left to wait until, depending on their fuzing, they are triggered by the approach of or contact with any vessel.Nuclear weaponFor other uses, see Nuke (other).From top, left to right MIRV design of modern ICBM nuclear warheadsSubmarine-launched ballistic missile test, a standard nuclear warhead delivery optionFat Man nuclear bomb in Tinian before use on NagasakiCloud following atomic bombing of NagasakiF-35 drops a dummy B61 nuclear bomb during testingAssortment of US nuclear ICBMsA nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either nuclear fission (fission or atomic bomb) or a combination of fission and nuclear fusion reactions (thermonuclear weapon), producing a nuclear explosion.
TorpedoSelf-propelled underwater weaponBliss–Leavitt Mark 8 torpedoA torpedo is an underwater ranged weapon launched above or below the water surface, self-propelled towards a target, with an explosive warhead designed to detonate either on contact with or in proximity to the target. Historically, such a device was called an automotive, automobile, locomotive, or fish torpedo; colloquially, a fish.
Diesel engineA diesel engine is an internal combustion engine in which ignition of diesel fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air in the cylinder due to mechanical compression; thus, the diesel engine is also called a compression-ignition engine (or CI engine). This contrasts with engines using spark plug-ignition of the air-fuel mixture, such as a petrol engine (gasoline engine) or a gas engine (using a gaseous fuel like natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas).*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.