Submarine A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater . It differs from a submersible , which has more limited underwater capability . The term most commonly refers to a large , crewed , autonomous vessel . It is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely operated vehicle s and robots , as well as medium - sized or smaller vessels , such as the midget submarine and the wet sub . Used as an adjective in phrases such as " submarine cable " , " submarine " means " under the sea " . The noun " submarine " evolved as a shortened form of " submarine boat " ( and is often further shortened to " sub " ) . For reasons of naval tradition , submarines are usually referred to as " boats " rather than as " ships " , regardless of their size . Although experimental submarines had been built before , submarine design took off during the 19th century , and they were adopted by several navies . Submarines were first widely used during World War I ( 1914 – 1918 ) , and now figure in many large navies . Military usage includes attacking enemy surface ships ( merchant and military ) , submarines , aircraft carrier protection , blockade running , ballistic missile submarines as part of a nuclear strike force , reconnaissance , conventional land attack ( for example using a cruise missile ) , and covert insertion of special forces . Civilian uses for submarines include marine science , salvage , exploration and facility inspection / maintenance . Submarines can also be modified to perform more specialized functions such as search - and - rescue missions or undersea cable repair . Submarines are also used in tourism , and for undersea archaeology . Most large submarines consist of a cylindrical body with hemispherical ( and / or conical ) ends and a vertical structure , usually located amidships , which houses communications and sensing devices as well as periscopes . In modern submarines , this structure is the " sail " in American usage , and " fin " in European usage . A " conning tower " was a feature of earlier designs : a separate pressure hull above the main body of the boat that allowed the use of shorter periscopes . There is a propeller ( or pump jet ) at the rear , and various hydrodynamic control fins as well as ballast tanks . Smaller , deep diving and specialty submarines may deviate significantly from this traditional layout . Submarines have one of the widest ranges of types and capabilities of any vessel . They range from small autonomous examples and one or two - person vessels that operate for a few hours , to vessels that can remain submerged for six months — such as the Russia n , the biggest submarines ever built . Submarines can work at greater depths than are survivable or practical for human divers . Modern deep - diving submarines derive from the bathyscaphe , which in turn evolved from the diving bell . History . First submersibles . The first submersible of whose construction we have reliable information was built in 1620 by Cornelius Drebbel , a Dutchman in the service of James I of England . It was created to the standards of the design outlined by English mathematician William Bourne . It was propelled by means of oars . The precise nature of the submarine type is a matter of some controversy ; some claim that it was merely a bell towed by a boat . Two improved types were tested in the Thames between 1620 and 1624 . In 2002 , a two - person version of Bourne ' s design was built for the BBC TV program " Building the Impossible " by Mark Edwards , and successfully rowed under water at Dorney Lake , Eton , Berkshire . Though the first submersible vehicles were tools for exploring under water , it did not take long for inventors to recognize their military potential . The strategic advantages of submarines were set out by Bishop John Wilkins of Chester , England , in " Mathematical Magick " in 1648 : First military models . The first military submarine was the " Turtle " ( 1775 ) , a hand - powered acorn - shaped device designed by the American David Bushnell to accommodate a single person . It was the first verified submarine capable of independent underwater operation and movement , and the first to use screws for propulsion . During the American Revolutionary War , " Turtle " ( operated by Sgt . Ezra Lee , Continental Army ) tried and failed to sink the British warship , flagship of the blockaders in New York harbor on September 7 , 1776 . In 1800 , France built a human - powered submarine designed by American Robert Fulton , the . The French eventually gave up on the experiment in 1804 , as did the British when they later considered Fulton ' s submarine design . During the War of 1812 , in 1814 , Silas Halsey lost his life while using a submarine in an unsuccessful attack on a British warship stationed in New London harbor . The " Submarino Hipopótamo " was the first submarine in South America built and tested in Ecuador on September 18 , 1837 . It was designed by Jose Rodriguez Labandera , who successfully crossed the Guayas River in Guayaquil accompanied by Jose Quevedo . Rodriguez Labandera had enrolled in the Ecuadorian Navy in 1823 , becoming a Lieutenant by 1830 . The " Hipopotamo " crossed the Guayas on two more occasions , but it was then abandoned because of lack of funding and interest from the government . Today , a few engravings and a scale model of the original design are preserved by the Maritime Museum of the Ecuadorian Navy . In 1851 , a Bavarian artillery corporal , Wilhelm Bauer , took a submarine designed by him called the " Brandtaucher " ( incendiary - diver ) , which sank on its first test dive in Kiel Harbor — but its three crewmen managed to escape , after flooding the vessel , which allowed the inside pressure to equalize . This submarine was built by August Howaldt and powered by a treadwheel . The submarine was re - discovered during a dredging operation 1887 , and was raised sixteen years later . The vessel is on display in a museum in Dresden . The submarine was commissioned in 1865 by the Chilean government during the war of Chile and Peru against Spain ( 1864 – 1866 ) . It was built by the German engineer Karl Flach . The submarine sank during tests in Valparaiso bay on May 3 , 1866 , with the entire eleven - man crew . In the American Civil War . During the American Civil War , both sides successfully built working submarines . The Confederate States of America submarines were all designed to attack the Union blockade of Southern ports . Two operational unnamed Confederate submarines were spotted during the latter half of 1861 , one in the James River in Virginia and another in New Orleans . The United States Navy was first interested in submarines as a way to clear obstacles . Interest in attack submarines began at least by May 1861 , when French engineer Brutus de Villeroi tested an early submarine design in Philadelphia harbor in what may have been an effort to attract the Navy ' s attention . Most Confederate submarines were built under the auspices of the Confederate Secret Service rather than the Confederate Navy , with only three being well known and documented . Others , both Confederate and Union , are known to have existed but their names and designs have escaped the historical record . In all , evidence indicates that a combined total of over twenty operational submarines were built by both sides during the conflict . First launched on May 1 , 1862 , the Villeroi - designed was the first U . S . Navy submarine . It was also the first to feature compressed air for an air supply and an air filtration system . Initially propelled by sixteen hand - powered paddles protruding from the sides , it was converted after six months to a screw propeller powered by a hand crank . At 47 feet ( 14 . 3 m ) long and about 4 feet ( 1 . 2 m ) in diameter , the " Alligator " was the largest of the documented American Civil War submarines . It was lost in a storm off Cape Hatteras on April 1 , 1863 , while under tow to its first combat deployment at Charleston . One other notable submarine designed and built in the North during the war but not launched until immediately after is Julius H . Kroehl ' s human - powered Sub Marine Explorer . It was a double - hulled fully submersible craft with both compressed air and ballast tanks between the hulls . It also employed compressed air to pressurize the inner hull to permit the opening of a bottom - facing door as if it were a closed diving bell . It was successful enough to use for commercial pearl harvest in Panamanian waters in the late 1860s . Unfortunately , due to the still unrecognized issue of decompression sickness , the Explorer was abandoned on the shore of the isle San Telmo in the Pearl Islands after the deaths of its crew members . The first documented Confederate submarine was the New Orleans - built . It was long . This submarine sank a target schooner using a towed mine during tests on Lake Pontchartrain in February 1862 . It was never used in combat , having been scuttled by Confederate forces before New Orleans was captured by the Union in April 1862 . The Bayou St . John Confederate Submarine is another Louisiana - built submarine that is contemporaneous with the " Pioneer " , although no history is known . It is now on display at the Louisiana State Museum . The second documented Confederate submarine was the " American Diver " , also known as the " Pioneer II " , built in Mobile , Alabama . It was initially designed to be propelled by an electric motor but this proved too weak . A steam engine was installed next , but also was insufficient . Finally , a hand - cranked propeller was installed . The " Diver " was long with a beam . It was lost during a storm while under tow during trials in Mobile Bay in late February 1863 . The third documented Confederate submarine was the , named for one of its financiers , Horace Lawson Hunley . Also built in Mobile , it was launched in July 1863 . It was long with a beam . " Hunley " was designed to be propelled by a hand - crank turned by eight men , as opposed to four men for " Diver " , and was armed with a spar torpedo . The submarine was to approach an enemy vessel , attach the explosive with a barb by ramming into the wooden hull of the enemy , move away , and then detonate it . " Hunley " was hazardous to operate , and had no air supply other than what was contained in the hull . The " Hunley " sank on three different occasions . On August 29 , 1863 , five out of the nine crew members drowned during a trial run . The second incident occurred on October 15 , 1863 , when all eight people on board , including Hunley , drowned during a diving exercise . Then , on February 17 , 1864 , the salvaged and renovated vessel sank the off Charleston Harbor . Soon after signaling success , the submarine sank due to unknown cause ; and again the entire eight - man crew drowned . The location of " Hunley " was unknown until 1995 , and it was raised in 2000 . The sinking of " Housatonic " by " Hunley " was the first successful submarine attack on a warship . Submarines did not have a major impact on the outcome of the Civil War , but the war did lead to increased interest in submarines ' naval potential and ultimately foreshadowed their importance in modern navies . Mechanically powered , late 19th century . The first submarine not relying on human power for propulsion was the French ( " Diver " ) , launched in 1863 , and using compressed air at 180 psi ( 1241 kPa ) . The first air independent and combustion powered submarine was the " Ictineo II " , designed by the Spanish intellectual , artist and engineer Narcís Monturiol . Launched in Barcelona in 1864 , it was originally human - powered , but in 1867 Monturiol invented an air independent engine to power it underwater . The long craft was designed for a crew of two , performed dives of and remained underwater for two hours . Both the " Ictineo I " and " II " were double hulled vessels that solved pressure and buoyancy control problems that had troubled and limited the functionality of earlier submarines . In 1870 , the French writer Jules Verne , published the science fiction classic " 20 , 000 Leagues under the Sea " , which concerns the adventures of a maverick inventor of the " Nautilus " , a submarine more advanced than any at the time . An international success , the story encouraged inventors around the world to work towards making such a vehicle a reality . In 1879 , the Peruvian government , during the War of the Pacific , commissioned and built the fully operational submarine " Toro Submarino " . It never saw military action before being scuttled by the Peruvians after their defeat in the war to prevent its capture by the Chileans . The first mass - produced submarine was a human - powered vessel designed by the Polish inventor Stefan Drzewiecki . Fifty units were built in 1881 for the Russian government . In 1884 Drzewiecki built the first electric - powered submarine . Discussions between the English clergyman and inventor George Garrett and the Swedish industrialist Thorsten Nordenfelt led to a series of steam - powered submarines . The first was the " Nordenfelt I " , a 56 tonne , 19 . 5 metre ( 64 ft ) vessel similar to Garret ' s ill - fated " Resurgam " ( 1879 ) , with a range of 240 kilometres ( 150 mi , 130 nm ) , armed with a single torpedo , in 1885 . Like " Resurgam " , " Nordenfelt I " operated on the surface by steam , then shut down its engine to dive . While submerged the submarine released pressure generated when the engine was running on the surface to provide propulsion for some distance underwater . Greece , fearful of the return of the Ottomans , purchased it . Nordenfelt then built " Nordenfelt II " ( ) in 1886 and " Nordenfelt III " ( " Abdül Mecid " ) in 1887 , a pair of 30 metre ( 100 ft ) submarines with twin torpedo tube s , for the Ottoman navy . " Abdülhamid " became the first submarine in history to fire a torpedo submerged . Nordenfelt ' s efforts culminated in 1887 with " Nordenfelt IV " , which had twin motors and twin torpedoes . It was sold to the Russians , but proved unstable , ran aground , and was scrapped . Two submarines , both launched in September 1888 , marked the rapidly maturing state of naval submarine technology as the nineteenth century was drawing to a close . One was the Peral Submarine , launched by the Spanish Navy . It had 3 Schwarzkopf torpedoes 14 in ( 360 mm ) and one torpedo tube in bow , new air systems , hull shape , propeller , and cruciform external controls anticipating much later designs . " Peral " was an all - electrical powered submarine . After two years of trials the project was scrapped by naval officialdom who cited , among other reasons , concerns over the range permitted by its batteries . The other was the , launched by the French Navy . " Gymnote " was also an electrically powered and fully functional military submarine . It completed over 2 , 000 successful dives using a 204 - cell battery . Although the " Gymnote " was scrapped for its limited range , its side hydroplanes became the standard for future submarine designs . Many more designs were built at this time by various inventors , but submarines were not put into service by navies until 1900 . End of the 19th century to the Russo - Japanese War . The turn of the 20th century marked a pivotal time in submarine development , and a number of important technologies appeared . A number of nations built and used submarines . Diesel electric propulsion became the dominant power system and equipment such as the periscope became standardized . Countries conducted many experiments on effective tactics and weapons for submarines , which led to their large impact in World War I . In 1896 , the Irish inventor John Philip Holland designed submarines that , for the first time , made use of internal combustion engines on the surface and electric battery power submerged . His first submarine , " Fenian Ram " , was launched in 1881 . " Holland VI " was launched on May 17 , 1897 , at Navy Lt . Lewis Nixon ' s Crescent Shipyard of Elizabeth , New Jersey . On April 11 , 1900 , the United States Navy purchased the revolutionary " Holland VI " and renamed it , America ' s first commissioned submarine . This design was developed into by the U . S . and by the Royal Navy . ( Holland ' s company , the Holland Torpedo Boat Company / Electric Boat Company became General Dynamics ' Cold War progeny and is the builder of technologically advanced submarines today ) . Commissioned in June 1900 , the French steam and electric " Narval " introduced the classic double - hull design , with a pressure hull inside the outer shell . These 200 - ton ships had a range of over 100 miles ( 160 km ) underwater . The French submarine " Aigrette " in 1904 further improved the concept by using a diesel rather than a gasoline engine for surface power . Large numbers of these submarines were built , with seventy - six completed before 1914 . In the Russo - Japanese War . The first mechanically powered series of submarines put into service by navies , which included Great Britain , Japan , Russia , and the United States , were the Holland submersibles built by Irish designer John Philip Holland in 1900 . Several of each of them were retained in both the Imperial Russian and Japanese Navies during the Russo - Japanese War in 1904 - 1905 . The Imperial Japanese Navy ( IJN ) started their submarine service with five Holland Type VII submarines purchased from the Electric Boat Company in 1904 . The five vessels were delivered in sections , arriving in Japan on 14 June 1904 . After re - assembly , the five Hollands were ready for combat operations in August 1905 , but the Russo - Japanese War was nearing its end by that date , and no IJN submarines would see action in that war . The first submarines built in Japan were constructed by Kawasaki beginning in 1904 . The " Kaigun Holland " Type # 6 and # 7 were each launched on 28 September but a year apart , in 1905 and 1906 respectively . Both submarines were modified versions of the original imported " Hollands . " However , while the original vessels had each displaced over a 100 tons submerged , and were approximately 67 ' long and 11 ' wide ; the " Kawasaki " boats displaced only 63 / 95 tons submerged , and measured 73 ' / 84 ' by 7 ' respectively for the number 6 & 7 submarines . The " Kawasaki " machines had increased horse - power by 1 / 2 , and reduced fuel consumption by 1 / 4 , but could only launch one 18 " torpedo and carried 14 men , while the " Hollands " could fire two 18 " torpedoes and operate with only 13 crewmen . The " Kaigun Holland # 6 " submarine has been preserved as a memorial at Kure , Japan . The Imperial Russian Navy ( IRN ) preferred the German constructed submersibles built by the Germaniawerft shipyards out of Kiel . In 1903 Germany successfully completed its first fully functional engine - powered submarine , the " Forelle " ( Trout ) . This vessel was sold to Russia in 1904 and shipped via the Trans - Siberian Railway to the combat zone during the " Russo - Japanese War " . In 1901 , two IRN Lieutenants , Kolbasieff and Kuteinoff designed and built the electric submarine , which was operated by bicycle pedals , but no other versions were built . During the final weeks of the Port Arthur siege in 1904 , the IRN attempted to place the " Piotr Koschka " into operation , its bicycle pedals having been replaced by an automobile engine . But the attempt to deploy the submarine into the Port Arthur battle was unsuccessful . A prototype version of the or A - class submarines , the " Fulton " , was developed at Nixon ' s Crescent Shipyard for the United States Navy before the construction of the A - class submarines there in 1901 . A naval architect and shipbuilder from the United Kingdom , Arthur Leopold Busch , superintended the development of these first submarines for Holland ' s company . However the " Fulton " was never purchased by the U . S . Navy and was eventually sold to the Imperial Russian Navy during the Russo - Japanese War of 1904 - 1905 . Two other A - class vessels were built on the West Coast of ( USA ) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard / Union Iron Works circa 1901 . In 1902 , Holland received a patent for his persistent pursuit to perfect the underwater naval craft . By this time , Holland was no longer in control of the day - to - day operations at Electric Boat , as others were now at the helm of the company he once founded . The acumen of business were now in control of these operations as Holland was forced to step down . He resigned from the company in April 1904 . Due to the blockade at Port Arthur , Russia sent the remainder of their submarines to Vladivostok , where by 1 January 1905 there were seven boats , enough to create the world ' s first " operational submarine fleet " . The new submarine fleet sent out its first patrol on 14 February , usually lasting for about 24 hours . The first confrontation with Japanese warships occurred on 29 April 1905 when the IRN sub " Som " was fired upon by IJN torpedo boats , but then withdrew . In 1904 , the Imperial Russian Navy ordered several more submersibles from the Kiel shipyard , submarines from the . One sample of which was modified and improved , and commissioned into the Imperial German Navy in 1906 as its first U - Boat , the . " U - 1 " was retired from service in 1919 , and is currently preserved and on display in the Deutsches Museum in Munich . In World War I . Shortly before the outbreak of World War I submarines were employed by the Italian Regia Marina during the Italo - Turkish War without seeing any naval action , and by the Greek Navy during the Balkan Wars , where notably the French - built became the first such vessel to launch a torpedo against an enemy ship ( albeit unsuccessfully ) . Military submarines first made a significant impact in World War I . Forces such as the U - boat s of Germany saw action in the First Battle of the Atlantic , and were responsible for the sinking of , which was sunk as a result of unrestricted submarine warfare and is often cited among the reasons for the entry of the United States into the war . At the very outbreak of war Germany had only 20 submarines immediately available for combat , although these included vessels of the diesel - engined U - 19 class with the range ( 5 , 000 miles ) and speed ( eight knots ) to operate effectively around the entire British coast . By contrast the Royal Navy had a total of 74 submarines , though of mixed effectiveness . In August 1914 , a flotilla of ten U - boats sailed from their base in Heligoland to attack Royal Navy warships in the North Sea in the first submarine war patrol in history . Their aim was to sink capital ships of the British Grand Fleet , and so reduce the Grand Fleet ' s numerical superiority over the German High Seas Fleet . With much depending more on luck than strategy , the first sortie was not a success . Only one attack was carried out , when " U - 15 " fired a torpedo ( which missed ) at , while two of the ten U - boats were lost . The had better luck . On 22 September 1914 while patrolling the Broad Fourteens , a region of the southern North Sea , " U - 9 " found a squadron of three obsolescent British armoured cruiser s ( , , and ) , which were assigned to prevent German surface vessels from entering the eastern end of the English Channel . The " U - 9 " fired all six of its torpedoes , reloading while submerged , and sank all three cruisers in less than an hour . The U - boats ' ability to function as practical war machines relied on new tactics , their numbers , and submarine technologies such as combination diesel - electric power system developed in the preceding years . More submersibles than true submarines , U - boats operated primarily on the surface using regular engines , submerging occasionally to attack under battery power . They were roughly triangular in cross - section , with a distinct keel to control rolling while surfaced , and a distinct bow . During World War I more than 5 , 000 Allied ships were sunk by U - boats . Interwar developments . Various new submarine designs were developed during the interwar years . Among the most notable ones were submarine aircraft carrier s , equipped with a waterproof hangar and steam catapult to launch and recover one or more small seaplanes . The submarine and its plane could then act as a reconnaissance unit ahead of the fleet , an essential role at a time when radar still did not exist . The first example was the British , followed by the French , and numerous aircraft - carrying submarines in the Imperial Japanese Navy . In World War II . Germany . Germany had the largest submarine fleet during World War II . Because the Treaty of Versailles limited the surface navy , rebuilding German surface forces had only begun in earnest a year before World War II started . Expecting to defeat the Royal Navy through underwater warfare , the German High Command pursued commerce raiding and immediately stopped all construction on capital surface ships , save the nearly completed s and two cruisers — switching its resources to submarines , which it could build more quickly . Though it took most of 1940 to expand the production facilities and get the mass production started , Germany built more than a thousand submarines by the end of the war . During World War II , Germany used submarines to devastating effect in the Second Battle of the Atlantic , where it attempted to cut Britain ' s supply routes by sinking more merchant ships than Britain could replace . ( Shipping was vital to supply Britain ' s population with food , industry with raw material , and armed forces with fuel and armaments . ) While U - boat s destroyed a significant number of ships , the strategy ultimately failed . Although the U - boats had been updated in the interwar years , the major innovation was improved communications , encrypted using the famous Enigma cipher machine . This allowed for mass - attack tactic s ( " Rudeltaktik " , commonly known as " wolfpack " ) , but was also ultimately the U - boats ' downfall . After putting to sea , U - boats operated mostly on their own , trying to find convoys in areas assigned to them by the High Command . If a convoy was found , the submarine did not attack immediately , but shadowed to guide other submarines in the area . These then attacked more or less simultaneously , preferably at night while surfaced , which offered a speed advantage over the escorting corvette s and denied the Allies the ability to use ASDIC , which was unable to detect surfaced submarines . During the first few years of World War II the " Ubootwaffe " ( " U - boat force " ) scored unprecedented success with these tactics ( " First Happy Time " ) , but were too few to have any decisive success . By the spring of 1943 , German U - boat construction was at full capacity , but this was more than nullified by increased numbers of convoy escorts and aircraft , as well as technical advances like radar and sonar . High Frequency Direction Finding ( HF / DF , known as Huff - Duff ) and Ultra allowed the Allies to route convoys around wolfpacks when they detected radio transmissions from trailing boats . The results were devastating : from March to July of that year , over 130 U - boats were lost , 41 in May alone . Concurrent Allied losses dropped dramatically , from 750 , 000 tons in March to only 188 , 000 in July . Although the Second battle of the Atlantic would continue to the last day of the war , the U - boat arm was unable to stem the tide of personnel and supplies , paving the way for Operation Torch , Operation Husky , and ultimately , D - Day . Winston Churchill wrote the U - boat " peril " was the only thing to ever give him cause to doubt eventual Allied victory . By the end of the war , almost 3 , 000 Allied ships ( 175 warships , 2 , 825 merchantmen ) were sunk by U - boats . Of the 40 , 000 men in the U - boat service , 28 , 000 ( 70 % ) lost their lives . Japan . During World War II , the IJN operated the most varied fleet of submarines of any navy ; including " Kaiten " crewed torpedoes , midget submarines ( and es ) , medium - range submarines , purpose - built supply submarines and long - range fleet submarines . They also had submarines with the highest submerged speeds during World War II ( s ) and submarines that could carry multiple aircraft ( s ) . They were also equipped with one of the most advanced torpedoes of the conflict , the oxygen - propelled Type 95 . Nevertheless , despite their technical prowess , Japan had chosen to utilize its submarines for fleet warfare , and consequently were relatively unsuccessful , as warships were fast , maneuverable and well - defended compared to merchant ships . In 1942 , a Japanese submarine sank one aircraft carrier , damaged one battleship , and damaged one destroyer ( which sank later ) from one torpedo salvo ; and during the Battle of Midway were able to deliver the coup de grâce to another fleet aircraft carrier , again , sinking another destroyer , for another multiple score from one salvo . But with the lack of fuel oil and air supremacy , Imperial submarines were not able to sustain those kind of results afterwards . By the end of the war , submarines were instead often relegated to transport supplies to island garrisons . United States . After the attack on Pearl Harbor , many of the U . S . Navy ' s front - line Pacific Fleet surface ships were destroyed or severely damaged . The submarines survived the attack and carried the war to the enemy . Lacking support vessels , the submarines were asked to independently hunt and destroy Japanese ships and submarines . They did so very effectively and without the assistance of other supporting ships . During World War II the submarine force was the most effective anti - ship and anti - submarine weapon in the entire American arsenal . Submarines , though only about 2 percent of the U . S . Navy , destroyed over 30 percent of the Japanese Navy , including 8 aircraft carriers , 1 battleship and 11 cruisers . U . S . submarines also destroyed over 60 percent of the Japanese merchant fleet , crippling Japan ' s ability to supply its military forces and industrial war effort . Allied submarines in the Pacific War destroyed more Japanese shipping than all other weapons combined . This feat was considerably aided by the Imperial Japanese Navy ' s failure to provide adequate escort forces for the nation ' s merchant fleet . Of note , whereas Japanese submarine torpedoes of the war are considered the finest , those of U . S . Navy are considered the worst . For example , the U . S . Mark 14 torpedo typically ran ten feet too deep and was tipped with a Mk VI exploder , with both magnetic influence and contact features , neither reliable . The faulty depth control mechanism of the Mark 14 was corrected in August 1942 , but field trials for the exploders were not ordered until mid - 1943 , when tests in Hawaii and Australia confirmed the flaws . In addition , the Mark 14 sometimes suffered circular runs , which sank at least one U . S . submarine , . Fully operational Mark 14 torpedoes were not put into service until September 1943 . The Mark 15 torpedo used by U . S . surface combatants had the same Mk VI exploder and was not fixed until late 1943 . One attempt to correct the problems resulted in a wakeless , electric torpedo ( the Mark 18 ) being placed in submarine service ; was lost to a circular run by one of these torpedoes . Given the prevalence of circular runs , there were probably other losses among boats which simply disappeared . During World War II , 314 submarines served in the United States Navy , of which nearly 260 were deployed to the Pacific . On December 7 , 1941 , 111 boats were in commission ; 203 submarines from the , , and es were commissioned during the war . During the war , 52 US submarines were lost to all causes , with 48 directly due to hostilities ; 3 , 505 sailors were lost , the highest percentage killed in action of any US service arm in World War II . U . S . submarines sank 1 , 560 enemy vessels , a total tonnage of 5 . 3 million tons ( 55 % of the total sunk ) , including 8 aircraft carriers , a battleship , three heavy cruisers , and over 200 other warships . In addition , the Japanese merchant marine lost 16 , 200 sailors killed and 53 , 400 wounded , of some 122 , 000 at the start of the war , due to submarines . United Kingdom . During the First and Second World Wars , the Royal Navy Submarine Service was used primarily in the classic British blockade role . During the Second World War , its major operating areas were around Norway , in the Mediterranean ( against the Axis supply routes to North Africa ) , and in the Far East . In that war , British submarines sank 2 million tons of enemy shipping and 57 major warships , the latter including 35 submarines . Among these is the only documented instance of a submarine sinking another submarine while both were submerged . This occurred when engaged the ; the " Venturer " crew manually computed a successful firing solution against a three - dimensionally manoeveuring target using techniques which became the basis of modern torpedo computer targeting systems . Seventy - four British submarines were lost , the majority , 42 , in the Mediterranean . Snorkel . Diesel - electric submarines need air to run their diesel engines , and so carried very large batteries for submerged operation . The need to recharge the batteries from the diesel engines limited the endurance of the submarine while submerged and required it to surface regularly for extended periods , during which it was especially vulnerable to detection and attack . The snorkel , a pre - war Dutch invention , was used to allow German submarines to run their diesel engines whilst running just under the surface , drawing air through a tube from the surface . The German Navy also experimented with engines that used hydrogen peroxide to help run diesel engines while submerged , but technical difficulties were great . The Allies experimented with a variety of detection systems , including chemical sensors to " smell " submarine exhaust . Cold - war diesel - electric submarines — such as the — used batteries to power their electric motors to run silently . They can recharge the batteries using the diesel engines without ever surfacing . The diesel engines can only be operated with external ventilation , but this can be obtained either while on the surface or when shallowly submerged by use of two snorkels which can be raised from the fin . One snorkel brings in new air to the boat while the other takes exhaust fumes from the engines . Modern military models . The first launch of a cruise missile ( SSM - N - 8 Regulus ) from a submarine occurred in July 1953 , from the deck of , a World War II fleet boat modified to carry this missile with a nuclear warhead . " Tunny " and her sister boat , , were the United States ' first nuclear deterrent patrol submarines . They were joined in 1958 by two purpose built Regulus submarines , , , and , later , by the nuclear - powered . In the 1950s , nuclear power partially replaced diesel - electric propulsion . Equipment was also developed to extract oxygen from sea water . These two innovations gave submarines the ability to remain submerged for weeks or months , and enabled previously impossible voyages such as ' crossing of the North pole beneath the Arctic ice cap in 1958 and the s submerged circumnavigation of the world in 1960 . Most of the naval submarines built since that time in the United States and the Soviet Union / Russia have been powered by nuclear reactors . The limiting factors in submerged endurance for these vessels are food supply and crew morale in the space - limited submarine . In 1959 – 1960 , the first ballistic missile submarine s were put into service by both the United States ( ) and the Soviet Union ( ) as part of the Cold War nuclear deterrent strategy . While the greater endurance and performance from nuclear reactors makes nuclear submarine s better for long - distance missions or the protection of a carrier battle group , their reactor cooling pumps have traditionally made them noisier , and thus easier to detect , than conventional diesel - electric submarines . Both nuclear and non - nuclear powers continued to produce diesel - electrics submarines — as they only make significant noise when they run the diesel engine to recharge the ship ’ s battery . Recent technological advances in sound damping , noise isolation , and cancellation have made nuclear subs quieter and substantially eroded this disadvantage . Though far less capable regarding speed and weapons payload , conventional submarines are also cheaper to build . The introduction of air - independent propulsion boats , conventional diesel - electric submarines with some kind of auxiliary air - independent electricity generator , have led to increased sales of such types of submarines . During the Cold War , the United States and the Soviet Union maintained large submarine fleets that engaged in cat - and - mouse games . The Soviet Union suffered the loss of at least four submarines during this period : was lost in 1968 ( which the CIA attempted to retrieve from the ocean floor with the Howard Hughes - designed ship " Glomar Explorer " ) , in 1970 , in 1986 , and in 1989 ( which held a depth record among military submarines — 1000 m ) . Many other Soviet subs , such as ( the first Soviet nuclear submarine , and the first Soviet sub to reach the North Pole ) were badly damaged by fire or radiation leaks . The US lost two nuclear submarines during this time : due to equipment failure during a test dive while at its operational limit , and due to unknown causes . During the Indo - Pakistani War of 1971 , the Pakistan Navy ' s sank the Indian frigate . This was the first kill by a submarine since World War II . In 1971 , the , a on loan to Pakistan from the US , was sunk in the Indo - Pakistani War . It was the first submarine war loss since World War II . In 1982 during the Falklands War , the Argentine cruiser was sunk by the British submarine , the first sinking by a nuclear - powered submarine in war . The Yugoslav Navy finished its own design for nuclear power submarine and made tolls for production in Split , but the project was permanently abandoned after the disintegration of Yugoslavia . The submarine was to have been powered by Soviet reactors , but its main characteristics remain unknown . More recently , Russia has had three high - profile submarine accidents . The went down with all hands in 2000 ; the sank while being towed to a scrapyard in 2003 , with nine lives lost ; and the had an accident with the fire - extinguishing system resulting in twenty deaths in late 2008 . India launched its first indigenous nuclear - powered submarine , the , on July 26 , 2009 . A North Korean submarine ' s torpedo allegedly sank the South Korean navy ship on 26 March 2010 . Usage . Military . Before and during World War II , the primary role of the submarine was anti - surface ship warfare . Submarines would attack either on the surface or submerged , using torpedo es or ( on the surface ) deck guns . They were particularly effective in sinking Allied transatlantic shipping in both World Wars , and in disrupting Japanese supply routes and naval operations in the Pacific in World War II . Mine - laying submarines were developed in the early part of the 20th century . The facility was used in both World Wars . Submarines were also used for inserting and removing covert agents and military forces , for intelligence gathering , and to rescue aircrew during air attacks on islands , where the airmen would be told of safe places to crash - land so the submarines could rescue them . Submarines could carry cargo through hostile waters or act as supply vessels for other submarines . Submarines could usually locate and attack other submarines only on the surface , although managed to sink with a four torpedo spread while both were submerged . The British developed a specialized anti - submarine submarine in WWI , the R class . After WWII , with the development of the homing torpedo , better sonar systems , and nuclear propulsion , submarines also became able to hunt each other effectively . The development of submarine - launched ballistic missile and submarine - launched cruise missiles gave submarines a substantial and long - ranged ability to attack both land and sea targets with a variety of weapons ranging from cluster bomb s to nuclear weapon s . The primary defense of a submarine lies in its ability to remain concealed in the depths of the ocean . Early submarines could be detected by the sound they made . Water is an excellent conductor of sound ( much better than air ) , and submarines can detect and track comparatively noisy surface ships from long distances . Modern submarines are built with an emphasis on stealth . Advanced propeller designs , extensive sound - reducing insulation , and special machinery help a submarine remain as quiet as ambient ocean noise , making them difficult to detect . It takes specialized technology to find and attack modern submarines . Active sonar uses the reflection of sound emitted from the search equipment to detect submarines . It has been used since WWII by surface ships , submarines and aircraft ( via dropped buoys and helicopter " dipping " arrays ) , but it gives away the position of the emitter and is susceptible to counter - measures . A concealed military submarine is a real threat , and because of its stealth , can force an enemy navy to waste resources searching large areas of ocean and protecting ships against attack . This advantage was vividly demonstrated in the 1982 Falklands War when the British nuclear - powered submarine sank the Argentine cruiser . After the sinking the Argentine Navy recognized that they had no effective defense against submarine attack , and the Argentine surface fleet withdrew to port for the remainder of the war , though an Argentine submarine remained at sea . Civil . Although the majority of the world ' s submarines are military , there are some civil submarines . They have a variety of uses , including tourism , exploration , oil and gas platform inspections , and pipeline surveys . The first tourist submarine was launched in 1985 , and by 1997 there were 45 of them operating around the world . Submarines with a crush depth in the range of are operated in several areas worldwide , typically with bottom depths around , with a carrying capacity of 50 to 100 passengers . In a typical operation ( for example , Atlantis submarines ) , a surface vessel carries passengers to an offshore operating area , where passengers are exchanged with those of the submarine . The submarine then visits underwater points of interests , typically either natural or artificial reef structures . To surface safely without danger of collision the location of the submarine is marked with an air release and movement to the surface is coordinated by an observer in a support craft . A recent development is the deployment of so - called narco submarine s by South American drug smugglers to evade law enforcement detection . Although they occasionally deploy true submarines , most are self - propelled semi - submersibles , where a portion of the craft remains above water at all times . In September 2011 , Colombian authorities seized a 16 - meter - long submersible that could hold a crew of 5 , costing about $ 2 million . The vessel belonged to FARC rebels and had the capacity to carry at least 7 tonnes of drugs . Technology . Submersion and trimming . All surface ships , as well as surfaced submarines , are in a positively buoyant condition , weighing less than the volume of water they would displace if fully submerged . To submerge hydrostatically , a ship must have negative buoyancy , either by increasing its own weight or decreasing its displacement of water . To control their weight , submarines have ballast tanks , which can hold varying amounts of water and air . For general submersion or surfacing , submarines use the forward and aft tanks , called Main Ballast Tanks , or MBTs , which are filled with water to submerge or with air to surface . Submerged , MBTs generally remain flooded , which simplifies their design , and on many submarines these tanks are a section of interhull space . For more precise and quick control of depth , submarines use smaller Depth Control Tanks , or DCTs - also called hard tanks , due to their ability to withstand higher pressure . The amount of water in depth control tanks can be controlled to change depth or to maintain a constant depth as outside conditions ( chiefly water density ) change . Depth control tanks may be located either near the submarine ' s center of gravity , or separated along the submarine body to prevent affecting trim . When submerged , the water pressure on a submarine ' s hull can reach for steel submarines and up to for titanium submarines like , while interior pressure remains relatively unchanged . This difference results in hull compression , which decreases displacement . Water density also increases with depth , as the salinity and pressure are higher , but this incompletely compensates for hull compression , so buoyancy decreases as depth increases . A submerged submarine is in an unstable equilibrium , having a tendency to either fall or float to the surface . Keeping a constant depth requires continual operation of either the depth control tanks or control surfaces . Submarines in a neutral buoyancy condition are not intrinsically trim - stable . To maintain desired trim , submarines use forward and aft trim tanks . Pumps can move water between these , changing weight distribution , creating a moment pointing the sub up or down . A similar system is sometimes used to maintain stability . The hydrostatic effect of variable ballast tanks is not the only way to control the submarine underwater . Hydrodynamic maneuvering is done by several surfaces , which can be moved to create hydrodynamic forces when a submarine moves at sufficient speed . The stern planes , located near the propeller and normally horizontal , serve the same purpose as the trim tanks , controlling the trim , and are commonly used , while other control surfaces may not be present on many submarines . The fairwater planes on the sail and / or bow planes on the main body , both also horizontal , are closer to the centre of gravity , and are used to control depth with less effect on the trim . When a submarine performs an emergency surfacing , all depth and trim methods are used simultaneously , together with propelling the boat upwards . Such surfacing is very quick , so the sub may even partially jump out of the water , potentially damaging submarine systems . Hull . Overview . Modern submarines are cigar - shaped . This design , visible in early submarines ( see below ) is sometimes called a " teardrop hull " . It reduces the hydrodynamic drag when submerged , but decreases the sea - keeping capabilities and increases drag while surfaced . Since the limitations of the propulsion systems of early submarines forced them to operate surfaced most of the time , their hull designs were a compromise . Because of the slow submerged speeds of those subs , usually well below 10 kt ( 18 km / h ) , the increased drag for underwater travel was acceptable . Late in World War II , when technology allowed faster and longer submerged operation and increased aircraft surveillance forced submarines to stay submerged , hull designs became teardrop shaped again to reduce drag and noise . On modern military submarines the outer hull is covered with a layer of sound - absorbing rubber , or anechoic plating , to reduce detection . The occupied pressure hulls of deep diving submarines such as are spherical instead of cylindrical . This allows a more even distribution of stress at the great depth . A titanium frame is usually affixed to the pressure hull , providing attachment for ballast and trim systems , scientific instrumentation , battery packs , syntactic flotation foam , and lighting . A raised tower on top of a submarine accommodates the periscope and electronics masts , which can include radio , radar , electronic warfare , and other systems including the snorkel mast . In many early classes of submarines ( see history ) , the control room , or " conn " , was located inside this tower , which was known as the " conning tower " . Since then , the conn has been located within the hull of the submarine , and the tower is now called the " sail " . The conn is distinct from the " bridge " , a small open platform in the top of the sail , used for observation during surface operation . " Bathtubs " are related to conning towers but are used on smaller submarines . The bathtub is a metal cylinder surrounding the hatch that prevents waves from breaking directly into the cabin . It is needed because surfaced submarines have limited freeboard , that is , they lie low in the water . Bathtubs help prevent swamping the vessel . Single and double hulls . Modern submarines and submersibles , as well as the oldest ones , usually have a single hull . Large submarines generally have an additional hull or hull sections outside . This external hull , which actually forms the shape of submarine , is called the outer hull ( " casing " in the Royal Navy ) or light hull , as it does not have to withstand a pressure difference . Inside the outer hull there is a strong hull , or pressure hull , which withstands sea pressure and has normal atmospheric pressure inside . As early as World War I , it was realized that the optimal shape for withstanding pressure conflicted with the optimal shape for seakeeping and minimal drag , and construction difficulties further complicated the problem . This was solved either by a compromise shape , or by using two hulls ; internal for holding pressure , and external for optimal shape . Until the end of World War II , most submarines had an additional partial cover on the top , bow and stern , built of thinner metal , which was flooded when submerged . Germany went further with the Type XXI , a general predecessor of modern submarines , in which the pressure hull was fully enclosed inside the light hull , but optimized for submerged navigation , unlike earlier designs that were optimized for surface operation . After World War II , approaches split . The Soviet Union changed its designs , basing them on German developments . All post – World War II heavy Soviet and Russian submarines are built with a double hull structure . American and most other Western submarines switched to a primarily single - hull approach . They still have light hull sections in the bow and stern , which house main ballast tanks and provide a hydrodynamically optimized shape , but the main cylindrical hull section has only a single plating layer . The double hulls are being considered for future submarines in the United States to improve payload capacity , stealth and range . Pressure hull . The pressure hull is generally constructed of thick high - strength steel with a complex structure and high strength reserve , and is separated with watertight bulkheads into several compartments . There are also examples of more than two hulls in a submarine , like the , which has two main pressure hulls and three smaller ones for control room , torpedoes and steering gear , with the missile launch system between the main hulls . The dive depth cannot be increased easily . Simply making the hull thicker increases the weight and requires reduction of onboard equipment weight , ultimately resulting in a " bathyscaphe " . This is acceptable for civilian research submersibles , but not military submarines . WWI submarines had hulls of carbon steel , with a maximum depth . During WWII , high - strength alloyed steel was introduced , allowing depths . High - strength alloy steel remains the primary material for submarines today , with depths , which cannot be exceeded on a military submarine without design compromises . To exceed that limit , a few submarines were built with titanium hulls . Titanium can be stronger than steel , lighter , and is not ferromagnetic , important for stealth . Titanium submarines were built by the Soviet Union , which developed specialized high - strength alloys . It has produced several types of titanium submarines . Titanium alloys allow a major increase in depth , but other systems must be redesigned to cope , so test depth was limited to for the , the deepest - diving combat submarine . An may have successfully operated at , though continuous operation at such depths would produce excessive stress on many submarine systems . Titanium does not flex as readily as steel , and may become brittle during many dive cycles . Despite its benefits , the high cost of titanium construction led to the abandonment of titanium submarine construction as the Cold War ended . Deep diving civilian submarines have used thick acrylic pressure hulls . The deepest deep - submergence vehicle ( DSV ) to date is " Trieste " . On October 5 , 1959 " Trieste " departed San Diego for Guam aboard the freighter " Santa Maria " to participate in " Project Nekton " , a series of very deep dives in the Mariana Trench . On January 23 , 1960 , " Trieste " reached the ocean floor in the Challenger Deep ( the deepest southern part of the Mariana Trench ) , carrying Jacques Piccard ( son of Auguste ) and Lieutenant Don Walsh , USN . This was the first time a vessel , manned or unmanned , had reached the deepest point in the Earth ' s oceans . The onboard systems indicated a depth of , although this was later revised to and more accurate measurements made in 1995 have found the Challenger Deep slightly shallower , at . Building a pressure hull is difficult , as it must withstand pressures at its required diving depth . When the hull is perfectly round in cross - section , the pressure is evenly distributed , and causes only hull compression . If the shape is not perfect , the hull is bent , with several points heavily strained . Inevitable minor deviations are resisted by stiffener rings , but even a one - inch ( 25 mm ) deviation from roundness results in over 30 percent decrease of maximal hydrostatic load and consequently dive depth . The hull must therefore be constructed with high precision . All hull parts must be welded without defects , and all joints are checked multiple times with different methods , contributing to the high cost of modern submarines . ( For example , each attack submarine costs US $ 2 . 6 billion , over US $ 200 , 000 per long ton of displacement . ) Propulsion . Originally , submarines were human propelled . The first mechanically driven submarine was the 1863 French , which used compressed air for propulsion . Anaerobic propulsion was first employed by the Spanish " Ictineo II " in 1864 , which used a solution of zinc , manganese dioxide , and potassium chlorate to generate sufficient heat to power a steam engine , while also providing oxygen for the crew . A similar system was not employed again until 1940 when the German Navy tested a hydrogen peroxide - based system , the Walter turbine , on the experimental V - 80 submarine and later on the naval and type XVII submarines . Until the advent of nuclear marine propulsion , most 20th - century submarines used batteries for running underwater and gasoline ( petrol ) or diesel engines on the surface , and for battery recharging . Early submarines used gasoline , but this quickly gave way to kerosene ( paraffin ) , then diesel , because of reduced flammability . Diesel - electric became the standard means of propulsion . The diesel or gasoline engine and the electric motor , separated by clutches , were initially on the same shaft driving the propeller . This allowed the engine to drive the electric motor as a generator to recharge the batteries and also propel the submarine . The clutch between the motor and the engine would be disengaged when the submarine dived , so that the motor could drive the propeller . The motor could have multiple armatures on the shaft , which could be electrically coupled in series for slow speed and in parallel for high speed ( these connections were called " group down " and " group up " , respectively ) . Electric transmission . Diesel - electric . Early submarines used a direct mechanical connection between the engine and propeller , switching between diesel engines for surface running , and electric motors for submerged propulsion . In 1928 , the United States Navy ' s Bureau of Engineering proposed a diesel - electric transmission . Instead of driving the propeller directly while running on the surface , the submarine ' s diesel drove a generator that could either charge the submarine ' s batteries or drive the electric motor . This made electric motor speed independent of diesel engine speed , so the diesel could run at an optimum and non - critical speed . One or more diesel engines could be shut down for maintenance while the submarine continued to run on the remaining engine or battery power . The U . S . pioneered this concept in 1929 , in the S - class submarines , , and . No other navy adopted the system before 1945 , apart from the Royal Navy ' s U - class submarines , though some submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy used separate diesel generators for low speed running . Other advantages of such an arrangement were that a submarine could travel slowly with the engines at full power to recharge the batteries quickly , reducing time on the surface or on snorkel . It was then possible to insulate the noisy diesel engines from the pressure hull , making the submarine quieter . Additionally , diesel - electric transmissions were more compact . Air - independent propulsion . During World War II , German Type XXI submarine s were designed to carry hydrogen peroxide for long - term , fast air - independent propulsion , but were ultimately built with very large batteries instead . At the end of the War , the British and Soviets experimented with hydrogen peroxide / kerosene ( paraffin ) engines that could run surfaced and submerged . The results were not encouraging . Though the Soviet Union deployed a class of submarines with this engine type ( codenamed by NATO ) , they were considered unsuccessful . Today several navies use air - independent propulsion . Notably Sweden uses Stirling technology on the and s . The Stirling engine is heated by burning diesel fuel with liquid oxygen from cryogenic tanks . A newer development in air - independent propulsion is hydrogen fuel cells , first used on the German Type 212 submarine , with nine 34 kW or two 120 kW cells and soon to be used in the new Spanish s . Nuclear power . Steam power was resurrected in the 1950s with a nuclear - powered steam turbine driving a generator . By eliminating the need for atmospheric oxygen , the length of time that a modern submarine could remain submerged was limited only by its food stores , as breathing air was recycled and fresh water distilled from seawater . More importantly , a nuclear submarine has unlimited range at top speed . This allows it to travel from its operating base to the combat zone in a much shorter time and makes it a far more difficult target for most anti - submarine weapons . Nuclear - powered submarines have a relatively small battery and diesel engine / generator powerplant for emergency use if the reactors must be shut down . Nuclear power is now used in all large submarines , but due to the high cost and large size of nuclear reactors , smaller submarines still use diesel - electric propulsion . The ratio of larger to smaller submarines depends on strategic needs . The US Navy , French Navy , and the British Royal Navy operate only nuclear submarines , which is explained by the need for distant operations . Other major operators rely on a mix of nuclear submarines for strategic purposes and diesel - electric submarines for defense . Most fleets have no nuclear submarines , due to the limited availability of nuclear power and submarine technology . Diesel - electric submarines have a stealth advantage over their nuclear counterparts . Nuclear submarines generate noise from coolant pumps and turbo - machinery needed to operate the reactor , even at low power levels . Some nuclear submarines such as the American can operate with their reactor coolant pumps secured , making them quieter than electric subs . A conventional submarine operating on batteries is almost completely silent , the only noise coming from the shaft bearings , propeller , and flow noise around the hull , all of which stops when the sub hovers in mid - water to listen , leaving only the noise from crew activity . Commercial submarines usually rely only on batteries , since they never operate independently of a mother ship . Several serious nuclear and radiation accidents have involved nuclear submarine mishaps . The reactor accident in 1961 resulted in 8 deaths and more than 30 other people were over - exposed to radiation . The reactor accident in 1968 resulted in 9 fatalities and 83 other injuries . The accident in 1985 resulted in 10 fatalities and 49 other people suffered radiation injuries . Alternative propulsion . Oil - fired steam turbines powered the British K - class submarines , built during World War I and later , to give them the surface speed to keep up with the battle fleet . The K - class subs were not very successful , however . Toward the end of the 20th century , some submarines — such as the British " Vanguard " class — began to be fitted with pump - jet propulsors instead of propellers . Though these are heavier , more expensive , and less efficient than a propeller , they are significantly quieter , providing an important tactical advantage . Magnetohydrodynamic drive ( MHD ) was portrayed as the operating principle behind the titular submarine ' s nearly silent propulsion system in the film adaptation of " The Hunt for Red October " . However , in the novel the " Red October " did not use MHD , but rather something more similar to the above mentioned pump - jet . Although experimental surface ships have used this system , speeds have been below expectations . In addition , the drive system can induce bubble formation , compromising stealth , and the low efficiency requires high powered reactors . These factors make it unlikely for military usage . Armament . The success of the submarine is inextricably linked to the development of the torpedo , invented by Robert Whitehead in 1866 . His invention is essentially the same now as it was 140 years ago . Only with self - propelled torpedoes could the submarine make the leap from novelty to a weapon of war . Until the perfection of the guided torpedo , multiple " straight - running " torpedoes were required to attack a target . With at most 20 to 25 torpedoes stored on board , the number of attacks was limited . To increase combat endurance most World War I submarines functioned as submersible gunboats , using their deck guns against unarmed targets , and diving to escape and engage enemy warships . The importance of guns encouraged the development of the unsuccessful " Submarine Cruiser " such as the French and the Royal Navy ' s and M - class submarines . With the arrival of Anti - submarine warfare ( ASW ) aircraft , guns became more for defense than attack . A more practical method of increasing combat endurance was the external torpedo tube , loaded only in port . The ability of submarines to approach enemy harbours covertly led to their use as minelayers . Minelaying submarines of World War I and World War II were specially built for that purpose . Modern submarine - laid mines , such as the British Mark 5 Stonefish and Mark 6 Sea Urchin , can deploy via a submarine ' s torpedo tubes . After World War II , both the US and the USSR experimented with submarine - launched cruise missile s such as the SSM - N - 8 Regulus and P - 5 Pyatyorka . Such missiles required the submarine to surface to fire its missiles . They were the forerunners of modern submarine - launched cruise missiles , which can be fired from the torpedo tubes of submerged submarines , for example the US BGM - 109 Tomahawk and Russian RPK - 2 Viyuga and versions of surface to surface anti - ship missile s such as the Exocet and Harpoon , encapsulated for submarine launch . Ballistic missiles can also be fired from a submarine ' s torpedo tubes , for example missiles such as the anti - submarine SUBROC . With internal volume as limited as ever and the desire to carry heavier warloads , the idea of the external launch tube was revived , usually for encapsulated missiles , with such tubes being placed between the internal pressure and outer streamlined hulls . The strategic mission of the SSM - N - 8 and the P - 5 were taken up by submarine - launched ballistic missile beginning with the US Navy ' s Polaris missile , and subsequently the Poseidon and Trident missiles . Germany is working on the torpedo tube - launched short - range IDAS missile , which can be used against ASW helicopters , as well as surface ships and coastal targets . Sensors . A submarine can have a variety of sensors , depending on its missions . Modern military submarines rely almost entirely on a suite of passive and active sonar s to find prey . Active sonar relies on an audible " ping " to generate echoes to reveal objects around the submarine . Active systems are rarely used , as doing so reveals the sub ' s presence . Passive sonar is a set of sensitive hydrophones set into the hull or trailed in a towed array , generally several hundred feet long . The towed array is the mainstay of NATO submarine detection systems , as it reduces the flow noise heard by operators . Hull mounted sonar is employed to back up the towed array , and in confined waters where obstacles could foul a towed array . Submarines also carry radar equipment to detect surface ships and aircraft . Submarine captains are more likely to use radar detection gear than active radar to detect targets , as radar can be detected far beyond its own return range , revealing the submarine . Periscopes are rarely used , except for position fixes and to verify a contact ' s identity . Civilian submarines , such as the or the Russian " Mir " submersibles , rely on small active sonar sets and viewing ports to navigate . The human eye cannot detect sunlight below about underwater , so high intensity lights are used to illuminate the viewing area . Navigation . Early submarines had few navigation aids , but modern subs have a variety of navigation systems . Modern military submarines use an inertial guidance system for navigation while submerged , but drift error unavoidably builds over time . To counter this , the crew occasionally uses the Global Positioning System to obtain an accurate position . The periscope — a retractable tube with a prism system that provides a view of the surface — is only used occasionally in modern submarines , since the visibility range is short . The and s use photonics mast s rather than hull - penetrating optical periscopes . These masts must still be deployed above the surface , and use electronic sensors for visible light , infrared , laser range - finding , and electromagnetic surveillance . One benefit to hoisting the mast above the surface is that while the mast is above the water the entire sub is still below the water and is much harder to detect visibly or by radar . Communication . Military submarines use several systems to communicate with distant command centers or other ships . One is VLF ( Very Low Frequency ) radio , which can reach a submarine either on the surface or submerged to a fairly shallow depth , usually less than . ELF ( Extremely Low Frequency ) can reach a submarine at much greater depths , but has a very low bandwidth and are generally used to call a submerged sub to a shallower depth where VLF signals can reach . A submarine also has the option of floating a long , buoyant wire antenna to a shallower depth , allowing VLF transmissions by a deeply submerged boat . By extending a radio mast , a submarine can also use a " burst transmission " technique . A burst transmission takes only a fraction of a second , minimizing a submarine ' s risk of detection . To communicate with other submarines , a system known as Gertrude is used . Gertrude is basically a sonar telephone . Voice communication from one submarine is transmitted by low power speakers into the water , where it is detected by passive sonars on the receiving submarine . The range of this system is probably very short , and using it radiates sound into the water , which can be heard by the enemy . Civilian submarines can use similar , albeit less powerful systems to communicate with support ships or other submersibles in the area . Crew . A typical nuclear submarine has a crew of over 80 . Non - nuclear boats typically have fewer than half as many . The conditions on a submarine can be difficult because crew members must work in isolation for long periods of time , without family contact . Submarines normally maintain radio silence to avoid detection . Operating a submarine is dangerous , even in peacetime , and many submarines have been lost in accidents . Women . Most navies prohibited women from serving on submarines , even after they had been permitted to serve on surface warships . The Royal Norwegian Navy became the first navy to allow female crew on its submarines in 1985 . The Royal Danish Navy allowed female submariners in 1988 . Others followed suit including the Swedish Navy ( 1989 ) , the Royal Australian Navy ( 1998 ) , the German Navy ( 2001 ) and the Canadian Navy ( 2002 ) . In 1995 , Solveig Krey of the Royal Norwegian Navy became the first female officer to assume command on a military submarine , . On 8 December 2011 , British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond announced that the UK ' s ban on women in submarines was to be lifted from 2013 . Previously there were fears that women were more at risk from a build - up of carbon dioxide in the submarine . But a study showed no medical reason to exclude women , though pregnant women would still be excluded . Similar dangers to the pregnant woman and her fetus barred females from submarine service in Sweden 1983 , when all other positions were made available for them in the Swedish Navy . Today , pregnant women are still not allowed to serve on submarines in Sweden . However , the policymakers thought that it was discriminatory with a general ban and demanded that females should be tried on their individual merits and have their suitability evaluated and compared to other candidates . Further , they noted that a female complying with such high demands is unlikely to become pregnant . Women have served on U . S . Navy surface ships since 1993 , and , began serving on submarines for the first time . Until presently , the Navy only allowed three exceptions to women being on board military submarines : female civilian technicians for a few days at most , women midshipmen on an overnight during summer training for Navy ROTC and Naval Academy , and family members for one - day dependent cruises . In 2009 , senior officials , including then - Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus , Joint Chief of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen , and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead , began the process of finding a way to implement females onboard submarines . In 2011 , the first classes of female submarine officers graduated from Naval Submarine School ' s Submarine Officer Basic Course ( SOBC ) at the Naval Submarine Base New London . Additionally , more senior ranking and experienced female supply officers from the surface warfare specialty attend SOBC as well , and proceed to fleet Ballistic Missile ( SSBN ) and Guided Missile ( SSGN ) submarines along with the new female submarine line officers beginning in late 2011 / early 2012 . Both the U . S . and British navies operate nuclear - powered submarines that deploy for periods of six months or longer . Other navies that permit women to serve on submarines operate conventionally powered submarines , which deploy for much shorter periods — usually only for one or two months . Prior to the recent change by the U . S . , no nation using nuclear submarines permitted women to serve on board . In 2012 , the U . S Navy announced that 2013 is the first year that women will serve on U . S . attack submarines . In 2013 , U . S . Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said that the first women to join " Virginia " - class attack subs had been chosen . They were newly commissioned female officers scheduled to report to their subs in fiscal year 2015 . Life support systems . With nuclear power or Air - independent propulsion , submarines can remain submerged for months at a time . Conventional diesel submarines must periodically resurface or snorkel to recharge their batteries . Most modern military submarines generate breathing oxygen by electrolysis of water . Atmosphere control equipment includes a CO scrubber , which uses an amine absorbent to remove the gas from air and diffuse it into waste pumped overboard . A machine that uses a catalyst to convert carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide ( removed by the CO scrubber ) and bonds hydrogen produced from the ship ' s storage battery with oxygen in the atmosphere to produce water , is also used . An atmosphere monitoring system samples the air from different areas of the ship for nitrogen , oxygen , hydrogen , R - 12 and R - 114 refrigerants , carbon dioxide , carbon monoxide , and other gases . Poisonous gases are removed , and oxygen is replenished by use of an oxygen bank located in a main ballast tank . Some heavier submarines have two oxygen bleed stations ( forward and aft ) . The oxygen in the air is sometimes kept a few percent less than atmospheric concentration to reduce fire danger . Fresh water is produced by either an evaporator or a reverse osmosis unit . The primary use for fresh water is to provide feed water for the reactor and steam propulsion plants . It is also available for showers , sinks , cooking and cleaning once propulsion plant needs have been met . Seawater is used to flush toilets , and the resulting " black water " is stored in a sanitary tank until it is blown overboard using pressurized air or pumped overboard by using a special sanitary pump . The method for blowing sanitaries overboard is difficult to operate , and the German Type VIIC boat was lost with casualties because of a mistake with the toilet . Water from showers and sinks is stored separately in " grey water " tanks , which are pumped overboard using the drain pump . Trash on modern large submarines is usually disposed of using a tube called a Trash Disposal Unit ( TDU ) , where it is compacted into a galvanized steel can . At the bottom of the TDU is a large ball valve . An ice plug is set on top of the ball valve to protect it , the cans atop the ice plug . The top breech door is shut , and the TDU is flooded and equalized with sea pressure , the ball valve is opened and the cans fall out assisted by scrap iron weights in the cans . The TDU is also flushed with seawater to ensure it is completely empty and the ball valve is clear before shutting the valve . Abandoning the vessel . In an emergency , submarines can transmit a signal to other ships . The crew can use Submarine Escape Immersion Equipment to abandon the submarine . The crew can prevent a lung injury from the pressure change known as pulmonary barotrauma by exhaling during the ascent . Following escape from a pressurized submarine , the crew is at risk of developing decompression sickness . An alternative escape means is via a Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle that can dock onto the disabled submarine . 1900 / Russo - Japanese War 1904 - 1905