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Message no. 1
From: Graht Graht@**********.worldnet.att.net
Subject: Submarines (was RE: Shipping (was Re: the value of
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 21:09:36 -0500
Geoff Skellams wrote:
/On shadowrn@*********.org, Sommers[SMTP:sommers@*****.umich.edu] wrote:
/> I would think that subs on the surface would be able to go faster than
/subs
/> completely submerged, since it would have less drag.
/
/Actually, IIRC, I believe that submarines are far more efficient
/underwater than on the surface. If you look at a surface ship, you have
/a sharp bow that cuts through the surface. On the other hands, if you
/look at a modern submarine, you find an extremely blunt bow.

Not quite. Small craft (up to and including yachts) have a sharp prow.
However, most big ships have a blunted "probe-like" extension below the
surface, shaped almost exactly like the front end of a sub. Since it's
under water it looks like the large boat has a sharp prow, but in fact it
doesn't. I don't know about the physics of it, but large ships don't have
a sharp prow in general.

-Graht
--
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Message no. 2
From: Graht Graht@**********.worldnet.att.net
Subject: Submarines (was RE: Shipping (was Re: the value of
Date: Sat, 17 Jul 1999 19:40:45 -0500
Paul J. Adam wrote:
/In article <4.1.19990715210602.00939890@**********.worldnet.att.net>,
/Graht <Graht@**********.worldnet.att.net> writes
/>Not quite. Small craft (up to and including yachts) have a sharp prow.
/
/So do most warships.
/
/>However, most big ships have a blunted "probe-like" extension below the
/>surface, shaped almost exactly like the front end of a sub. Since it's
/>under water it looks like the large boat has a sharp prow, but in fact it
/>doesn't. I don't know about the physics of it, but large ships don't have
/>a sharp prow in general.
/
/Merchant ships are designed to run at one speed and do so for most of
/their lives. The bulbous forefoot you describe is used to create a second
/bow wave, out of phase with that made by the hull, and so reduce the
/wavemaking resistance of the ship. The effect is highly speed-specific.
/
/Warships have to operate over a much greater range of speeds and so do
/not use bulbous bows.

Nifty. I love it when I learn something new on this list :)

-Graht
--
ShadowRN GridSec
The ShadowRN FAQ: http://shadowrun.html.com/hlair/faqindex.php3
Geek Code: GCS d-( ) s++:->+ a@ C++>$ US P L >++ E? W++>+++ !N o-- K-
w+ o? M- VMS? PS+(++) PE+(++) Y+ !PGP t+(++) 5+(++) X++(+++) R+>$ tv+b++ DI++++
D+(++) G e+>+++ h--->---- r+++ y+++
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