Why Can Russian Submarines Dive Deeper Than U.S Ones? 🤔

[rustyshaklferd]

Helps that most of the titanium ore is in Russia.

[BensonCaisip]

Fun fact: all submarines can dive all the way to the Mariana Trench. Only problem is they can only do it once.

[skylordsix]

Diving deeper is one thing. Making it back to the surface is another

[legiran]

You do realize that Titanium subs were abandoned by the Soviets because it was economically unviable. You have to literally PURGE an entire dock from oxygen just to weld titanium. Don't even start with the cost of maintenance. So yeah steel alloy may be inferior but 3 steel subs >>> 1 titanium super sub.

[Dxyzxyz]

The 7 Alfa class submarines are all retired. The last retired in 1996. Papa class retired in 1988. Two Sierra II class boats are active. Most current Russian submarines use steel alloys.

[richardhartman]

The titanium becomes more brittle with each deep dives, reducing their maximum depth as the sub ages.

[RedRider]

The fact that steel is used isn't the reason why US subs can't dive as deep. If the US wanted deeper diving subs, we would just make the hull thicker. Steel is stronger than titanium, but titanium is stronger by weight. Titanium is less dense.

Steel being heavier than titanium isn't a problem, since a sub needs the weight in order to submerge. Notice there is very little room in a submarine. Open spaces are very small. The reason is, in order to submerge, the sub has to become equally dense, or denser than sea water when it floods it's ballast tanks. If the sub is too light, less dense than sea water, then it won't submerge.

We don't really know how deep US subs can go. That's a military secret.

[mgs_k]

Yes.
I've always wondered this.
Everyday all the time.
It has been the most important question in my life

[TonySprite]

Nope literally never wondered that in my life

[DAVID_DENNISON]

I suspected it was due to the DOUBLE hull the tend to incorporate into thier sub designs. I thought they used the pressures to help reinforce the outer hull.

[pp_is_smol]

Titanium is not stronger than steel it has a better strength to weight ratio

[tristainlongshot]

Titanum is good if you fixed the problem with it forming micro cracks in the hull. You want your boat to breath as you dive you want it to compress and expand and flex slightly. Titanum is too rigid for that.

[Gerhold]

No, I've never wondered why. Thankfully you've saved me from all that wondering by answering that question before I was able to ask it. Thanks...I think 🤔

[robertdrake]

The problem is steel is more resilient than the titanium the titanium is useful for limited dives

[SchwarzerWolf]

Stalin: *Inhales deeply* "Where is my Stalinium, Putin?!"

[GilbertFortes]

It doesn't matter how deep it can go sussian sub are noisy than US

[POTATOSOOPS]

When he said "American class submarines" I immediately knew he didn't know what he was talking about

[taggartlawfirm]

No one knows how deep US subs can go… and don’t ask, cuz they ain’t telling.

[psychoticcapybara]

Your explanation makes sense. But those numbers are classified no one really knows how deep those subs can go.

[brianbunnich]

It was very nice of russia to bring their yazen-class sub to cuba, now the Americans know its sonar signature. I heard they even gave tours of the submarine, the pictures taken by the American National look very nice 👍