I wonder, how deep attack nuclear sub can dive?

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Attack nuclear submarines can reportedly dive to depths of around 1,400 meters, although exact capabilities are classified. While some torpedoes can be fired at depths of up to 800 meters, most are limited to around 400 meters, making deep engagements challenging. Submarines are designed to operate underwater for extended periods, with reactor fuel lasting over 20 years, but food supply limits endurance to about 6-9 months. The mental well-being of the crew is also a critical factor, as long deployments can lead to stress. Overall, while submarines can dive deep, their operational depth is often constrained by the limitations of their weaponry and the need for crew welfare.
  • #31
After my navy time, I worked on sonar systems, with the guys who did all of the special effects (noises, etc.) for the Hunt for Red October movie.

Chi, thank your father for his service for me (and thank you for living through a fairly difficult family lifestyle)! And of course he's right, they do go faster than that. I've never told anyone, not even my son, any of the specific digits either :smile: we 'bubbleheads' are 'funny' that way :smile:

Abraham, most naval reactors are water cooled and moderated. It's a two loop system. Primary coolant (pressurized fresh water) runs through a heat exchanger (steam boiler) to make steam on the secondary side which is then used for motive force. There were a few liquid metal reactors as experimental prototypes, but only a few.
 
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  • #32
rolerbe said:
...
Abraham, most naval reactors are water cooled and moderated. It's a two loop system. Primary coolant (pressurized fresh water) runs through a heat exchanger (steam boiler) to make steam on the secondary side which is then used for motive force. There were a few liquid metal reactors as experimental prototypes, but only a few.

I'm 99% sure all US nuclear reactor at sea are of the pressurized water reactor (PWR) type. And you are right we had one reactor at sea for about a year that was cooled by liquid sodium. The S2G was on the USS Seawolf (SSN-575) put to sea April 2 1957. However it was replaced on December 12 1958 because the practical performance of the S2G liquid sodium liquid metal fast reactor (LMFR) never meet the theoretical performance specifications. And a PWR was able to put out similar performance specs without the complexity of the LMFR.
 

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