Underwater speed record
Encyclopedia
In 1968 there was an incident when a Russia
n November class submarine
tracked an American carrier group traveling at 31 knots (57 km/h or 36 mph). This led the United States Navy
to develop the Los Angeles class submarine
s, whose reported speed is 30-32 knots.
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There are established reports and manufacturer's claims that would indicate two (or perhaps more) submarines are capable of speeds exceeding 30 knots. In 1965 the USS Albacore
reported a speed of 33 knots (61 km/h or 38 mph) but this was not an official record. The Akula class submarine
(Russian word for Shark) class vessel is reportedly capable of travelling submerged at 35 knots (65 km/h or 40 mph), its predecessor, the Alfa class submarine
, could attain short speed bursts of 40-45 knots while submerged. There are claims that the Russian titanium submarine K-162 reached 44.7 knot on trials, fully submerged, in 1969. However, due to the rather secretive nature of these vessels, confirmations of these numbers is highly suspect and unlikely.
The British Spearfish torpedo
designed to counter high speed Russian submarines, such as the Alfa class submarine
, is reputed to have a speed in excess of 70 knots (130 km/h or 80 mph). The Russian rocket-powered supercavitating
torpedo VA-111 Shkval
is reportedly capable of speed in excess of 200 knots (370 km/h or 230 mph). German
press reports of an underwater anti-torpedo missile named Barracuda that allegedly reaches 800 km/h . The U.S. Navy has contracted with the General Dynamics Electric Boat Division to support development of the Underwater Express, an undersea transport capable of controllable speeds up to 100 knots (185 km/h) through supercavitation
.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n November class submarine
November class submarine
The Project 627 class submarine was the Soviet Union's first class of nuclear-powered submarines. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization used the standard radio communication phonetic alphabet to denote submarine classes...
tracked an American carrier group traveling at 31 knots (57 km/h or 36 mph). This led the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
to develop the Los Angeles class submarine
Los Angeles class submarine
The Los Angeles class, sometimes called the LA class or the 688 class, is a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines that forms the backbone of the United States submarine fleet. With 43 submarines on active duty and 19 retired, the Los Angeles class is the most numerous nuclear powered...
s, whose reported speed is 30-32 knots.
USS Albacore (AGSS-569)
USS Albacore was a unique research submarine that pioneered the American version of the teardrop hull form of modern submarines. The revolutionary design was derived from extensive hydrodynamic and wind tunnel testing, with an emphasis on underwater speed and maneuverability...
reported a speed of 33 knots (61 km/h or 38 mph) but this was not an official record. The Akula class submarine
Akula class submarine
Project 971 Щука-Б , is a nuclear-powered attack submarine first deployed by the Soviet Navy in 1986...
(Russian word for Shark) class vessel is reportedly capable of travelling submerged at 35 knots (65 km/h or 40 mph), its predecessor, the Alfa class submarine
Alfa class submarine
The Soviet Union/Russian Navy Project 705 was a class of hunter/killer nuclear powered submarines. The class is also known by the NATO reporting name of Alfa...
, could attain short speed bursts of 40-45 knots while submerged. There are claims that the Russian titanium submarine K-162 reached 44.7 knot on trials, fully submerged, in 1969. However, due to the rather secretive nature of these vessels, confirmations of these numbers is highly suspect and unlikely.
The British Spearfish torpedo
Spearfish torpedo
The Spearfish torpedo is the heavy torpedo used by the submarines of the Royal Navy. It can be guided by wire or by autonomous active or passive sonar, and provides both anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface ship warfare capability.It replaces the unreliable Tigerfish torpedo, which was...
designed to counter high speed Russian submarines, such as the Alfa class submarine
Alfa class submarine
The Soviet Union/Russian Navy Project 705 was a class of hunter/killer nuclear powered submarines. The class is also known by the NATO reporting name of Alfa...
, is reputed to have a speed in excess of 70 knots (130 km/h or 80 mph). The Russian rocket-powered supercavitating
Supercavitation
Supercavitation is the use of cavitation effects to create a bubble of gas inside a liquid large enough to encompass an object traveling through the liquid, greatly reducing the skin friction drag on the object and enabling achievement of very high speeds...
torpedo VA-111 Shkval
VA-111 Shkval
The VA-111 Shkval torpedo and its descendants are supercavitating torpedoes developed by the Soviet Union. They are capable of speeds in excess of 200 knots .-Design and capabilities:...
is reportedly capable of speed in excess of 200 knots (370 km/h or 230 mph). German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
press reports of an underwater anti-torpedo missile named Barracuda that allegedly reaches 800 km/h . The U.S. Navy has contracted with the General Dynamics Electric Boat Division to support development of the Underwater Express, an undersea transport capable of controllable speeds up to 100 knots (185 km/h) through supercavitation
Supercavitation
Supercavitation is the use of cavitation effects to create a bubble of gas inside a liquid large enough to encompass an object traveling through the liquid, greatly reducing the skin friction drag on the object and enabling achievement of very high speeds...
.