The Bizarre Tale of the Spontaneously Exploding Submarines

Dive deep into naval history with the volatile story of peroxide submarines! From the perilous days of WWII to their daring trials, discover the turbulent tale of underwater innovation.

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[philchristmas]

75% safe is ok when it doesn't involve me flying or being hundreds of feet under the water.

[jamesricker]

Ask the Russians how peroxide fueled torpedos worked out.

[KaptainGonzo]

For the record, Peroxide Blonds were pretty explosive too.

[bessie]

In the 90s I worked with a man in Scotland that served on a UK experimental submarine by peroxide, he told that the scientists on board used movie cameras to record the engine performance dials as the moved all over the place and were hard to to monitor.

[jimcat]

But "HMS Exploder" is one of the most awesome vessel names, so it was all worth it.

[collincutler]

Damn. 9 years on subs myself, I have never heard of these. Wild

[skyler]

Were they using a Logitech controller as well?

[Shinzon]

Because being a submariner wasn't already scary enough...They had to make it so it could randomly explode

[deusexvesania]

Why only fuel a tiny flying metal box with extremely corrosive liquid if you can fuel a giant diving metal box with it as well?

[paulbarthol]

The U-boat's main weakness was Doenitz's insistance of constant radio communication combined with a trust in their codes.

[RedBear]

I love it when the algorithm gets it right. Of course I want to hear about exploding submarines.

[skyking]

Peroxide is no joke. Incredibly corrosive and reactive. The crew of the Krusk found that out. RIP fellas

[Handyman]

East Germany actually once had an HTP powered car, a Turbine driven Wartburg 353. Its in a museum today, only one was ever built

[NoahSpurrier]

I got a drop of 30% hydrogen peroxide on my fingernail once. I thought it was water. I didn’t think much about it. About 20 minutes later my finger hurt. My fingernail had turned white and fell off.

[JulyDedicatedtoTheProposi]

Finally, for 50 years I have wondered about the details of the hydrogen peroxide submarine and why it went nowhere. Thank you Simon and the excellent team that supports you.

[moritzczauderna]

Fun Fact: Post WW2 3 unfinished Type 21 pressure hulls were converted into beverage tanks for a german beverage company (Rossmann, Frankfurt am Main) and remain in use today.

[dirkbonesteel]

So many "electric boots" I now have Benny and the Jets from Elton John stuck in my head.
Keep trying to replace it with memories of Das Boot, but no that not great song is still in my damn head

[brianmachado]

Sometime in the mid 1950s, there was a Hydrogen Peroxide explosion in Newport, R.I. at the navy’s NUOS (Naval Underwater Ordinance Station) that killed two of my father’s coworkers who were working on a torpedo. I was around 5 to 8 years old but remember it well. The Hydrogen Peroxide powered torpedo was eventually scrapped.

[mickeydodds]

'boot' ? - as in shoe?

I think you'll find that the German 'boot' for 'boat' is actually pronounced closer to 'boat' than the way and Englishman would pronounce 'boot' meaning a a shoe with a partial shin covering.

[WildBillCox]

Well written and informative. Thanks for posting. Liked and shared.