Navy Submarines

Navy submarines are heavy duty, nuclear powered weapons that can function under water for several months at a time. They are very powerful tools and weapons of defense against other countries. They are used to protect our water ways. The use of Navy submarines helped the United States be successful in World War I and World War II.

Navy submarines carry large arsenals of weapons used to damage and destroy other submarines and water crafts. With the regulations of the Nuclear Arms Control Agreement, Navy submarines are no longer allowed to carry Tomahawk Cruise missiles. However, they still carry guided missiles.

The first United States Navy submarine was the Turtle, developed in 1776. It was slow and carried only one person. The Turtle was unsuccessful at sinking a British ship during the American Revolutionary War. In 1862 the United States Navy used the Alligator, featuring a compressed air system. This submarine could hold a crew of 20. However in 1863 she sank during a terrible storm at sea.

Late in the 19th Century the mechanical powered submarine was introduced. The first such submarine belonged to the French



Navy in 1863. Technology and World War I led to more advances in the design of submarines. Diesel-electric propulsion became popular. These vessels were put into use by the United States, Russia, and Japan.

As World War II came along, Germany had more submarines than any other country. However, their Navy was still not able to block the waterways of the British that were used to get supplies. Japan entered World War II with the most varieties of submarines than any other Navy, but their submarines were very lagging compared to those of other countries.

Nuclear power for submarines became popular in the 1950’s. This development led submarines to be able to be submerged for months at a time. The USS Nautilus made history in 1958 when it successfully crossed under an ice cap at the North Pole.

While submarines continue to improve in quality, speed, agility, and the types of weapons, they are not without risk. There have been nine tragic submarine incidents since the year 2000. Three each involved Russian and American Navy submarines. One incident each involved a Chinese, a Canadian, and an Australian submarine.