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World War II submarines were powered by large electric motors. On the surface, the motors drew their power from diesel generators, not unlike how a diesel locomotive operates today. When submerged, the diesel engines could not be operated, and the motors drew their power from huge banks of electric batteries. After the batteries were drained of their power, the submarine would have to surface in order to run its diesel generators to provide propulsion and electric power to the submarine. During this period, the sub's batteries were recharged. Toward the end of World War II the submarine snorkel was invented, which gave a submarine the capability of running its diesel engines while submerged. The submarine was required to stay relatively close to the surface, but it was fully submerged with the exception of the snorkel mast.
Nuclear powered submarines also have banks of electric batteries, but they are only used when the main propulsion plant and/or its steam-powered electric generators are disabled. When a nuclear-powered submarine's batteries are fully drained, they are recharged by the boat's diesel generator if its steam-powered electric generators are not available, or by the steam-powered electric generators when they becomes available. Just like a diesel-electric submarine, a nuclear-powered submarine must operate its diesel generator on or near the ocean's surface.
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How did they heat a World War 2 submarine?
WWII era submarines were heated by Convection Air, direct Steam or Hot Water Radiators, and Plenum systems (forced air duct ventilation). Running diesel engines to recharge batteries on the surface were also great heaters, and still are today, though a bit noisy for most.
What are the disadvantages of World War 1 submarines?
Limited underwater speed and battery capacity, they often had to surface to recharge the batteries, a dangerous job, as fumes could be discharged making the ship a sitting duck for even a low flying scout plane with incendiary bullets- or tracers, aim for the battery boxes. The Russians, give "em credit aimed at eliminating part of this hazard with their Turbo-electric two-shaft A-9 class of Fleet or as we would say task-force submarines.designed to operate with surface craft. these had high surface speed- as did the much later Gamma Boats, and could recharge the batteries at ( Siphon depth) with about 2/3 propulsive power available. no US sub could do this at that time (ww-l;) The A-9 was the top=-fleet almost said top-flight Czarisr Russian sub.
Which assets became the US Navy primary strike assets after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor?
Submarines and Aircraft Carriers
Did submarines have weapons?
Torpedoes are the main armament. older Diesel submarines had deck guns for surface defense and anti-aircraft, but the modern ones do not have fixed deck armament. Of course FBM submarines carry Guided Missiles. More: Most WW2 Submarines carried several torpedoes, and had 4-6 forward firing tubes and 1-2 rear firing tubes. Older subs were not intended to run submerged full time the way modern subs do. There was no snorkel mast (technology taken from captured German subs at end of WW2) on most subs and they had to run on the surface to recharge their batteries for submerged operations. They also were faster on the surface than submerged. So they had surface weapons in addition to torpedo tubes. Usually a main gun, about 5 inches or so; and an anti-air gun similar to a .50 cal. The measurements would vary depending on the country as the US uses standard measurement and most other countries use metric.
How many US submarines were lost in World War 2?
52 US submarines were lost in WW2. This was about 1 in every 5 submarines that the US had in WW2
