Wet sub

A "Sleeping Beauty" wet sub used by the Royal Navy during World War II

A wet sub is a type of underwater vehicle, either a submarine or a submersible, that does not provide a dry environment for its occupants. It is also described as an underwater vehicle where occupants are exposed to ambient environment during operations.[1] The watercraft is classified as medium-sized or small vessel.[2] This type of submarine differs from other underwater personal transport devices by the fact that it has a hull around it and it is not a "bare bones" design.

Usually, scuba divers ride outside the device as one would ride a motorcycle or in a semi-enclosed opening like a kayak or bobsled, although it can be designed to fully enclose its occupant(s) to reduce drag. An enclosed vehicle may also provide a dry viewing chamber for the occupant(s). The sub is generally propelled by an electric motor and is battery powered. The depth and endurance is typically limited by the requirements of the divers, particularly water temperature and breathable air.[3]

  1. ^ Needham, Robert (2012). Team Secrets of the Navy SEALs: The Elite Military Force's Leadership Principles for Business. Skyhorse. ISBN 978-1-62087-326-7.
  2. ^ Chandar (Retd.), Col Y. Udaya (2017-04-24). The Modern Weaponry of the World's Armed Forces. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-946983-79-4. Archived from the original on 2022-04-07. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  3. ^ Sutton, H. I. (2016-05-05). Covert Shores: The Story of Naval Special Forces Missions and Minisubs (2nd ed.). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 9781533114877.