subject: The Use Of Submarine Warfare [print this page] Submarine warfare is otherwise known as underwater warfare and involves the use of submarines in the full range of their operations. Underwater warfare is more far reaching than submarine warfare and can consists of every type of warfare conducted underwater to include underwater demolitions, mine laying etc.
The first known submarines were used during the Civil War and were not very effective at all. They were cumbersome and impractical. They had to be propelled and maneuvered by submariners by hand which was tiring and time consuming. Initially they destroyed the target ship by attacking an explosive charge to it and attempting to escape before the charge went off. They were very inefficient and many of the first submariners lost their lives in the process. Their use was pretty much abandoned until they were improved upon and made technologically good enough to perform their intended mission. During the interim period ironclads were experimented with as warships. The ironclad was a ship but was different from the regular ship in the sense that most of its hull remained underwater. The biggest fallacy of the ironclad ships was that they were slow and difficult to maneuver. They were also difficult to aim and fire effectively.
The submarine came into its own during WWI. We have all heard of the German U boats which were small submarines used to attack allied shipping. The Germans had the foresight to see the benefits of this type of warfare, and the determination to build a submarine fleet which was quite effective. The U boat war may have been too effective because they would indiscriminately attack merchant ships. Their sinking of American merchant ships is the single most important factor which brought the United States into that war.
Submarines are primarily used to attack surface vessels but they can also be used to attack other subs as well as land based targets. Older submarines were limited in that they were diesel powered and had to surface quite often. They were vulnerable when they surfaced so this was a major disadvantage. They were also limited to the use of torpedoes as offensive weapons although many were equipped with a small caliber cannon or a machinegun on their decks. Modern submarines can be equipped with nuclear as well as conventional missiles which allow them to attack targets which may be located deep inland.
Submarines are also used to screen naval fleets, gather intelligence, patrol, and deploy special operations troops close to shore.
As submarine warfare began to develop and the use of submarines became more widespread opposing navies began to develop different tactics to be able to combat or neutralize them. Therefore submarines had to increase their own capabilities in order to not be destroyed.
The nuclear powered submarines of today can move through the water faster than the diesel powered subs of yesterday. They can also remain at sea and submerged for much longer periods of time and definitely dont have to be refueled at sea.
The introduction of the submarine to naval warfare has changed the face of naval warfare forever. Military Ring Express
