Submarine

A submarine is a type of ship capable of traveling underwater. Experiments with submarines began in the 18th century, with the first submarine that managed to destroy a ship being the CSS Hunley during the American Civil War. Submarines would not achieve prominence as a key part of the Navy until the Great War, however.

The main advantage of a submarine is stealth, and the typical armament of modern submarines consists of torpedos and submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

Examples of Historical Submarines

• Akula class (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics/Russian Federation)
• Alvin
• Astute class (United Kingdom)
• Barracuda class (France)
• Churchill class (United Kingdom)
• Collins class (Australia)
• German Type VII submarine (Nazi Germany)
• Los Angeles class (United States)
• Oberon class (United Kingdom, Australia, Canada)
• Ohio class (United States of America)
• Rubis class (France)
• Seawolf class (United States)
• Swiftsure class (United Kingdom)
• Trafalgar class (United Kingdom)
• Upholder class (United Kingdom)
• Valiant class (United Kingdom)
• Victor III class (Russian Federation)
• Victoria class (Canada)
• Virginia class (United States)
• Xia class (People's Republic of China)
• Yasen class (Russian Federation)

Submarines in Science Fiction

Submarines play a role in science fiction. Occasionally spacecraft have been shown in science fiction to be able to operate underwater, despite the fact that operating underwater has a very different set of challenges from operating in space. In space there is basically no external pressure and underwater there is heavy external pressure.

In addition, some space warships are capable of fulfilling a submarine-like role by employing stealth technology, such as cloaking devices.

Science Fiction Submarines

• Nautilus
• UEO seaQuest DSV 4600
• Red October