How Long Can a Submarine Stay Submerged? Exploring Submarine Endurance

Discover how long submarines can stay underwater, including differences between nuclear and diesel-electric submarines.

32 views

Submarine endurance depends on several factors, such as the type of submarine and its power source. Nuclear submarines can remain submerged for up to 90 days due to their nuclear reactors, which provide a virtually unlimited power supply. Diesel-electric submarines are more limited, typically staying submerged for a few days to a couple of weeks. Factors such as crew endurance and food supplies also play a significant role.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What is the typical endurance of a nuclear submarine? Nuclear submarines can stay submerged for up to 90 days, thanks to their nuclear reactors providing virtually unlimited power.
  2. How long can diesel-electric submarines remain underwater? Diesel-electric submarines typically have a submerged endurance of a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on various factors.
  3. What factors influence a submarine's underwater endurance? Key factors include the type of submarine, its power source, crew endurance, and available food supplies.
  4. Can submarines operate indefinitely underwater? While nuclear submarines have longer endurance than diesel-electric ones, they cannot operate indefinitely due to human factors and resource limitations.