Fluther: Can a submarine jump out of the water like a dolphin?

Can a submarine jump out of the water like a dolphin?

Asked by Cornelis1977 (346

) May 5th, 2021
16 responses
“Great Question” (2

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Obviously, I dont expect an absolute positive answer. But its an interesting subject regarding maths and inertia to consider. This question includes civil and military vessels and perhaps the development of a model to make such useless jump possible. So also the actual performances of existing subs in these venture.

To some degree, I can imagine a modified torpedo to do such, or even a small sub, capable of carrying one crewmember. The greater the size and mass, the greater the speed and propulsion needs to be. Mass, friction and speed would matter, as well the right angle when exiting the water. And no rocket propulsion!

Anyone taking the bait?

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Topics: submarines, mathematics, propulsion

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Answers

It is not going to become airborne, if that is what you are asking.

ragingloli (51958

)“Great Answer” (2

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Watch the movie Hunt for Red October. About ⅔ of the way through, there is a US missile sub that sort of surfaces and jumps out of the water to avoid a torpedo.

elbanditoroso (33146

)“Great Answer” (2

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You mean, like the Seaview? Or its flying sub?

Here is the technical manual.

Some real subs can, to some extent. Examples.

And here is a letter from a submariner about it.

Zaku (30353

)“Great Answer” (4

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Total airborne from bow to rudder is nice, but im not that strict. As far as i recall, current achievement is about 25% of the mass. I would say the reverse, meaning 75% of the mass and size going out of the water. More is always welcome.

Cornelis1977 (346

)“Great Answer” (0

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It’s the wording of the question that throws me around. “can” would seem to be asking “is there a submarine in existence capable of duplicating dolphin ‘jumps’?” To which the answer is of course that it is very unlikely that any sub exists capable of matching a dolphin’s prowess at jumping. It is interesting to speculate on whether such a submarine might be devised, but clearly the mass of the vessel would have to be reduced to dolphin proportions for any chance of the thing to match the dolphin’s agility.

stanleybmanly (24153

)“Great Answer” (2

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Response moderated (Unhelpful)

Here is a smaller one that can jump out of the water

ragingloli (51958

)“Great Answer” (3

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Response moderated (Unhelpful)

@ragingloli So I’m wrong (again). One does exist. Actually this one still doesn’t jump as well as a dolphin.

stanleybmanly (24153

)“Great Answer” (2

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Response moderated (Unhelpful)

I’ve seen them come close to clearing the surface, maybe 55%, but not entirely, not like a dolphin.

kritiper (25757

)“Great Answer” (2

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Response moderated (Unhelpful)

@ragingloli your first video brings back memories, Thames River in Connecticut. We used to race sailboats in that river and more than once had to alter the course for Subs.

Tropical_Willie (31119

)“Great Answer” (1

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Having been on a submarine, I can tell you that you never want to find out. The first video presented by @ragingloli is similar to another one I remember. They were done as a photo op for “good press” for the navy. As I remember, quite a few of the sailors on board were injured quite badly. What you would have to do is (A) get the sub moving at a good forward speed and (B) blow the ballast tanks. The effect is to make it suddenly more buoyant while you are driving towards the surface. When that large of a machine pops up out of the water and then slams down again, everything inside of it is shaken quite severely.

seawulf575 (16658

)“Great Answer” (5

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