Wet sub

Last updated January 19, 2024

A wet sub is a type of underwater vehicle, either a submarine or a submersible, that does not provide a dry environment for its occupants. It is also described as an underwater vehicle where occupants are exposed to ambient environment during operations.^[1] The watercraft is classified as medium-sized or small vessel.^[2] This type of submarine differs from other underwater personal transport devices by the fact that it has a hull around it and it is not a "bare bones" design.

Usually, scuba divers ride outside the device as one would ride a motorcycle or in a semi-enclosed opening like a kayak or bobsled, although it can be designed to fully enclose its occupant(s) to reduce drag. An enclosed vehicle may also provide a dry viewing chamber for the occupant(s). The sub is generally propelled by an electric motor and is battery powered. The depth and endurance is typically limited by the requirements of the divers, particularly water temperature and breathable air.^[3]

Military use

Wet subs have been used to transport and deploy special operations forces in waters too shallow for an ordinary submarine, lay mines (particularly for attaching limpet mines directly to a ship), firing torpedoes, or gathering intelligence in harbors. They have also been used to plant listening and recording devices on undersea cables in Operation Ivy Bells.^[4] For military use, the operator will sometimes use a rebreather device so as not to leave a trail of bubbles. Military wet subs are deployed from a larger submarine or from a surface ship. The SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) used by the United States Navy SEALs and British Special Boat Service is an example that is in use today. The SDV is used to insert Navy SEALs in shallow coastal waters or attack surface ships ^[5]

The Motorised Submersible Canoe, developed by the British Special Operations Executive during World War II, is another example.

Hobbyists

A wet sub is attractive to the amateur or small commercial builder since many of the problems associated with a dry sub are avoided as only the propulsion and power systems need to be waterproof and life support is much less of an issue than it is with a sealed occupant chamber. Complete submarines of this type are also available commercially.

Wet sub designs are often used for human-powered submarines because they are smaller and lighter than dry submarines.^[6] An example is the pedal-operated wet-sub called "the Scubster", which is powered by a twin propeller connected to the pedal belt.^[7]

Research

Every two years, a human-powered submarine race takes place at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Bethesda, Maryland.^[8]

Related Research Articles

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Naval Special Warfare Group 3 (NSWG-3), based at the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in California, was one of six constituent formations of the United States Naval Special Warfare Command. Until 2008, NSWG-3 was composed of two SEAL Delivery Vehicle Teams: SDVT-1 in Pearl Harbor and SDVT-2 in Little Creek. In 2008, SDVT-2 was disestablished and merged into SDVT-1, which was then now headquartered in Pearl Harbor and operated detachments in Pearl Harbor and Little Creek. SDV Teams are SEAL teams with an added underwater delivery capability. SDVT-2 was reactivated on 8 March 2019. NSWG-3 was deactivated alongside NSWG-10 in August 2021 and replaced by Naval Special Warfare Group 8 which took in all units previously under NSWG-3 and NSWG-10.

Operation Thunderhead was a highly classified combat mission conducted by U.S. Navy SEAL Team One and Underwater Demolition Team 11 (UDT-11) in 1972. The mission was conducted off the coast of North Vietnam during the Vietnam War to rescue two U.S. airmen said to be escaping from a prisoner of war prison in Hanoi. The prisoners, including Air Force Colonel John A. Dramesi were planning to steal a boat and travel down the Red River to the Gulf of Tonkin.

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The R-2 Mala is a class of swimmer delivery vehicles (SDVs) built for the Yugoslav, and later on, Croatian Navy. The two man wet SDVs are used for transporting naval commandos into hostile waters where they would perform sabotage on enemy warships and coastal installations. Weapons at their disposal included limpet mines.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to underwater diving:

The following index is provided as an overview of and topical guide to underwater diving:

Shallow Water Combat Submersible Manned submersible and a type of swimmer delivery vehicle

The Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS) is a crewed submersible and a type of swimmer delivery vehicle that is planned to be used to deliver United States Navy SEALs and their equipment for special operations missions. It will replace the current Mark 8 SEAL Delivery Vehicle. The Navy planned to introduce the SWCS in 2018, although "slippage in the development" has delayed its introduction until 2019. In 2020, the U.S. Navy stated that it was undergoing sea trials and testing. As of October 2018, two subs have been delivered to the Navy while another two were in production. The SWCS will serve alongside the Dry Combat Submersible (DCS), a midget submarine with a dry interior being developed by Lockheed Martin as a replacement for the cancelled Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS).

Dry Combat Submersible Midget submarine project

The Dry Combat Submersible (DCS) is a midget submarine delivered to USSOCOM by Lockheed Martin.

The Sea Skimmer was a leisure Personal Watercraft (PWC) unique within the family of Personal Watercraft, whereas the operator laid prone on the boat and steered with shifting leg motions and body weight to control the craft, reaching speeds up to 25 MPH. The Sea Skimmer preceded the modern Jet Ski / Sea Doo. It was transferred into classified Military service in 1962 with boats modified by Aqua Dart INC. It was instrumental in River Reconnaissance missions during the Vietnam war by the United States Naval Special Warfare Command.

References

↑ Needham, Robert (2012). Team Secrets of the Navy SEALs: The Elite Military Force's Leadership Principles for Business. Skyhorse. ISBN 978-1-62087-326-7.
↑ Chandar (Retd.), Col Y. Udaya (2017-04-24). The Modern Weaponry of the World's Armed Forces. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-946983-79-4. Archived from the original on 2022-04-07. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
↑ Sutton, H. I. (2016-05-05). Covert Shores: The Story of Naval Special Forces Missions and Minisubs (2nd ed.). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 9781533114877.
↑ Introduction to Naval Special Warfare Archived 2008-01-16 at the Wayback Machine
↑ "SEAL Delivery Vehicles". National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
↑ Brueggeman, Peter (1997-12-31). "Scientific Bibliography on Human Powered Submarines, through 1997" (PDF). UC San Diego Bibliography. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-01-02. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
↑ "French engineers test pedal-boat submarine". Reuters. 2010-07-29. Archived from the original on 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
↑ "Submarine Races Sail into Carderock Once Again". Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 2019-07-01. Retrieved 2020-02-06.

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[1] Needham, Robert (2012). Team Secrets of the Navy SEALs: The Elite Military Force's Leadership Principles for Business. Skyhorse. ISBN 978-1-62087-326-7.

[2] Chandar (Retd.), Col Y. Udaya (2017-04-24). The Modern Weaponry of the World's Armed Forces. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-946983-79-4. Archived from the original on 2022-04-07. Retrieved 2024-01-18.

[Sutton-3] Sutton, H. I. (2016-05-05). Covert Shores: The Story of Naval Special Forces Missions and Minisubs (2nd ed.). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 9781533114877.

[nsw-4] Introduction to Naval Special Warfare Archived 2008-01-16 at the Wayback Machine

[Museum-5] "SEAL Delivery Vehicles". National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2018.

[6] Brueggeman, Peter (1997-12-31). "Scientific Bibliography on Human Powered Submarines, through 1997" (PDF). UC San Diego Bibliography. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-01-02. Retrieved 2024-01-18.

[7] "French engineers test pedal-boat submarine". Reuters. 2010-07-29. Archived from the original on 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2020-04-28.

[8] "Submarine Races Sail into Carderock Once Again". Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 2019-07-01. Retrieved 2020-02-06.

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