Nuke Launching Submarines [Archive]

rxq

07-07-2009, 06:06 AM

How do they work? Do they fire the warhead like a torpedo and it makes it's way toward the surface where then rockets or something drive it upwards into the sky?
Or do they launch from the top part of the sub into the surface and then air? If the latter, is there a mechanism that compensates for the water thats above the sub?

Virus

07-07-2009, 06:08 AM

How do they work? Do they fire the warhead like a torpedo and it makes it's way toward the surface where then rockets or something drive it upwards into the sky?
Or do they launch from the top part of the sub into the surface and then air? If the latter, is there a mechanism that compensates for the water thats above the sub?

There is a bubble of air around the missile if that make sense. The motors ignite and it stays in the air bubble until the missile breaks the surface of the water.

rxq

07-07-2009, 06:12 AM

Does the bubble naturally occur or is it created by the firing mechanism (ie through pumping some air into the water)?

I assume the bubble rises up pretty slowly. If im right, how does it keep up with the warhead? Does the warhead have a tank of gas that continuously releases gas until it reaches the surface?

Virus

07-07-2009, 06:19 AM

Does the bubble naturally occur or is it created by the firing mechanism (ie through pumping some air into the water)?

I assume the bubble rises up pretty slowly. If im right, how does it keep up with the warhead? Does the warhead have a tank of gas that continuously releases gas until it reaches the surface?

Rises at about the same speed as the missile, is created withing the sub.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjoP1KNvGRo&feature=related

That's a good view of the entire process.

Any particular reason why you are so curious?

Mantikore

07-07-2009, 06:19 AM

i would have just guessed that would surface to launch. i mean, the range of the missiles is huge anyway, so it wont really matter if they launced from somewhere safe

Virus

07-07-2009, 06:25 AM

The UGM-133 Trident II has a range of 7000 miles

Mudokon Farmer

07-07-2009, 06:28 AM

The title confused me. It sounds like there are nukes firing submarines at shit. That just doesn't make sense.

xippilli

07-08-2009, 02:12 PM

The title confused me. It sounds like there are nukes firing submarines at shit. That just doesn't make sense.

lmao, a nuclear device that, when detonated, launches SUBMARINES at a destructive force throughout a vast blast area.

It's like the simpsons, where nelson drew the plane made of guns with two guns that shoots guns.

rxq

07-09-2009, 05:44 AM

How much does a sub with underwater sea to air rockets start at? One of their nuclear rockets?

I'm guessing 300 Million USD?

How long have they been around?

Btw what are is the proper name for one of those subs? I've been calling them nuke launching subs for a while.

Mathematics

07-09-2009, 03:33 PM

How much does a sub with underwater sea to air rockets start at? One of their nuclear rockets?

I'm guessing 300 Million USD?

How long have they been around?

Btw what are is the proper name for one of those subs? I've been calling them nuke launching subs for a while.

They're called ballistic missile submarines, or boomers in navy slang.

Ohio class apparently cost $4 billion each and that's not including R&D.

rxq

07-13-2009, 07:12 AM

4 billion, holy shit. How long can a crew live in one (fully stocked with supplies) of these underwater? Close to a year?
Is that the production cost, or does that include the profit the firm that produces these subs make (assuming the military buys them from a private firm).

HAS

07-13-2009, 07:34 AM

While there are different systems for different submarines, but I'll explain the modern Trident III system as best as I understand it and in layman's terms.

There's a door above the missile and an explosive underneath it. The missile is also pressurized with nitrogen gas to prevent water from seeping inside and I imagine it's sealed somehow -- it's not that hard to make things waterproof.

Anyway, the door opens and the explosive detonates. The explosive both forms a bubble of gas around the missile and propels it up through the surface of the water. Once the missile is in the air, the rocket motor starts and it shoots away like a regular ballistic missile.

Previous systems have used cruise missiles which had to be launched while surface (eg. Regulus).