Submarine Technology for the 21st Century

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 230 pages
• Published by: Trafford Publishing
• Edition: 2nd Edition February 8, 2000
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 1552123308
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-1552123300
• Book Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Weighs: 12 ounces

Product Description
Today's combat submarine holds a crew of less than 200 men, equal to a company of infantry. Yet these few submariners can command a sea or destroy a civilization. Never has so much combat power been wielded by so few warriors. This concentration of power is made possible by innovative use of technologies, including rocketry, acoustics, hydrodynamics, nuclear power, advanced chemistry, unique materials and a host of others.

Unlike other 20th century military innovations - the tank, the airplane and nuclear explosives - the submarine remains shrouded in secrecy, a truly "silent service." This book surveys the state of submarine technology worldwide, and looks at research advances that will shape the second century of submarines.

About The Author
Stan Zimmerman served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1973, earning the basic parachute badge, German parachute wings and qualifying as a jumpmaster while serving in a special operations unit. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Northern Illinois University, and a Master of Arts in Journalism and Public Affairs from the American University in Washington, D.C. He has reported for radio and television stations, newspapers and newsletters. His essays have appeared in the Almanac of Seapower,and the Naval Institute Proceedings.He was editor of Navy News & Undersea Technologybetween 1988 and 1994. During that period, he was elected chairman of the Washington Maritime and Naval Correspondents Circle, and secretary of the Congressional Periodical Press Gallery. He has won awards for his writing and broadcasting from the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Press Club, and the U.S. Naval Institute. He is author of the first edition of this book, as well as Submarine Design for the 21st Century. He lives with his wife and son in Sarasota, Fla. An avid sailor, he also serves on the Southwest Florida Regional Harbor Board, and can be reached on Email at stan4sarasota@mindspring.com Book Reviews Reviewed by Captain John P. Prisley, U.S. Navy (retired) This small, but fact filled book should be required reading for everyone involved in submarine and antisubmarine warfare - both ashore and afloat, and makes an very good desk-top reference for day-to-day use. Stan Zimmerman was editor of Navy News & Undersea Technology from 1988 to 1994, covering current developments in the field, winning a number of awards as journalist, reporter, and correspondent, and has had a number of his articles published in Proceedings. This second edition (first edition 1990) stands by itself to bring submarine technology up to date. Zimmerman also has written a companion piece, Submarine Design for the 21st Century. It is clear from his coverage of all the subjects, and his obvious understanding and appreciation of them, that he is competent in this field. This is a remarkably complete and well-researched handbook that details all aspects of submarine technology, with easy-to-understand explanations of the broad, esoteric, and complex technologies involved, making it relatively easy for laymen to follow. Zimmerman stresses the significance of submarines not only in today\'s world, but also in the 21st century. He explains the basics of nuclear propulsion: diesels and air-independent propulsion (AIP); batteries and fuel cells. There is comprehensive coverage of submarine torpedoes, and missiles, hydrodynamics, acoustics, and enough attention to non-acoustic phenomena to understand their significance in submarine warfare. Each relevant subject is covered in detail as is the importance of modern combat systems for submarines today-and in the future. Extensive end notes for each chapter provide sources and references for all of Zimmerman\'s statements and discussion. He includes tables to show relevant statistics, and figures to clarify such complex systems as nuclear power, AIP systems, and submarine fire control techniques, while ample side bars emphasize and highlight various issues like non acoustic antisubmarine warfare. Technical information is up-to-date, with details about Russian weapons and submarines, as well as U.S. navy developments of interest. Much of this information will be new to many readers who do not follow professional journals or technical intelligence matters. When Zimmerman was editing the Navy News & Undersea Technology newsletter, he consistently provided unclassified scoops on new developments. This book follows that tradition. The recently advertised-for-sale 200-knot Russian submarine rocket torpedo (Shkval) is described, along with current work in progress elsewhere on submarine-launched hypervelocity underwater projectiles. These will provide an extremely dangerous ASW weapon when fired from a quiet bottomed diesel submarine at short ranges. Zimmerman gives a worldwide view of the status of torpedo developments and operational weapons, with their advantages and shortcomings. In addition, he covers submarine-launched cruise missiles and provides data on Russian missiles newly available on the open market. If submarine officers are to understand better not only where they fit into the large and growing world of submarines, but also what the rest of the world is doing, this is the book for them. I doubt that many people working in our submarine program have heard much of the data this book provides on other navies. They should be concerned about where we stack up in the big picture, since we are no longer preeminent in many technology areas. Other submarines dive deeper, go faster, are just as quiet, and have great weapons and the combat systems to use them. All of the submarine-design yards and their governments are moving ahead smartly with many forms of non-nuclear propulsion that will provide all of the advantages of nuclear power except for open-ocean fast transit, at about a third of the cost. Zimmerman points out that the strategic and tactical requirements of most of the rest of the world (Russia, U.K., France, and China excepted) do not require either very high speeds or very long endurance. They will be operating in or near their own waters, where they know the environment and can hide quietly in choke points and other areas which might be of interest to us. So in addition to great coverage of the subject, this book should serve as a wake-up call for submariners. -Reprinted from Proceedingswith permission; Copyright © (1998) U.S. Naval Institute.

Reader Reviews
You could, I suppose,go to Groton and do a stint in sub school, or, failing that, attend a high-price seminar on the state of undersea warfare. And subscriptions to Janes Fighting Ships and the Submarine Review wouldn't hurt. Or you could sit down with this very managable, up-to-date account written by a non-tech journalist for the lay reader that will set you dreaming, each nigh as you lay it by your bedside, of air-independent diesel engines, accoustic cladding, and some trending information that sometimes seems to cross the line into science fiction. I've read 'em all, and this one ranks alongside the Waller and Sontag & Drew sub books as best of the best. Comment | | (Report this)