Submarines are underwater vehicles that can be used for recreational, scientific, or military purposes. The DSV Alvin is a famous scientific submarine that can travel more than half a mile below the ocean’s surface. Military submarines, such as the American Seawolf class, are the largest and most expensive, with a range limited only by the crew’s supplies and sanity.
A submarine is an underwater vehicle with a better range than a submersible, and is defined as relatively autonomous and independent. Crude submarines have been built for centuries, but submarine design didn’t take off until the 19th century. Some of the first modern submarines were used for warfare, still by far their primary mode of use, but over the past 19 years many research submarines have been built for scientific and archaeological purposes, expanding the role of these fascinating machines. A submarine was even used to descend into the Mariana Trench, the deepest point in the ocean, which is about seven miles below the surface.
Three main types of submarines are recreational submarines, scientific submarines, and military submarines. Recreational submarines are usually quite small and expensive, used by the wealthy to admire the underwater life. These aren’t as popular, as snorkel or scuba diving gear generally performs the same function at a fraction of the cost. Scientific submarines are used to investigate the bottom of oceans or lakes and bring back biological samples or artifacts. Military submarines are used for naval warfare, reconnaissance and to contain nuclear missiles, forming a crucial node of the nuclear triad together with ballistic missiles and heavy bombers.
One of the most famous scientific submarines is the DSV Alvin, a 16-ton deep-sea research submersible that was the first maneuverable deep-ocean research vessel. The ship was made possible by the development of syntactic foam, a composite material made up of tiny hollow microspheres embedded in a larger structure. The microbeads decrease its density while maintaining strength, allowing for deeper dives. The DSV Alvin is one of the few vessels in existence capable of traveling more than half a mile below the surface of the ocean. Most other vessels, including military submarines, would have been completely destroyed at a depth of no more than half a mile.
The best known, largest and most expensive submarines are all used by militaries around the world, especially the US, British and Russian militaries. An example would be the American submarine of the Seawolf class, which has a displacement of 8,000 tons, a length of 353 feet (107 m), a beam of 40 feet (12 m), a complement of 140 and, thanks to its nuclear , a range limited only by the crew’s food supplies and sanity. These submarines can go anywhere on Earth where the World Ocean extends, including the water under the floating ice of the North Pole.
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