Why is it hard to find submarines?

Why is it hard to find submarines?

A submarine can “hide” under a layer of cold water where an active hull-mounted sonar (HMS) can’t reach since the sound wave will bounce off the layer up against the surface. For this reason, surface ships have variable depth sonars (VDS) that they can dip below the layers and search.

Are Subs detectable?

Submarines have a unique advantage over other types of military vessels because they are able to stay hidden below the sea surface. One way of detecting and locating submarines is by using passive acoustics or active acoustics.

Can radar find submarines?

Radar. Radar can detect a submarine snorkel or periscope, and the wake it creates. Historically, more useful for detecting subs on the surface, forcing them to spend more time underwater, where they were less effective (slower, limited endurance, limited sensor range).

Do you have to be quiet in a submarine?

Originally Answered: Did submarine crews really have to be quiet during silent running? Yes, during silent running the crew stays mostly quiet. They still talk since that is necessary for operating the sub. Unnecessary activity is prohibited since it might produce noise.

Why can’t submarines be detected by surface ships?

The short answer: Because the submarine can hear a surface ship long before the surface ship can detect the submarine, and therefore it can take evasive action before its detected. Many submarines emit less noise than the ambient water noise. The long answer: It’s complicated. Sensors.

Why do submarines sound better than surface ships?

The short answer: Because the submarine can hear a surface ship long before the surface ship can detect the submarine, and therefore it can take evasive action before its detected. Many submarines emit less noise than the ambient water noise. Because water is a great barrier.

Is modern stealth technology making it harder to find enemy submarines?

But modern stealth technology may be making the search even more difficult. Military submarines are designed to roam the oceans undetected by enemies or spies. They rarely surface, except to establish radio contact or perform data communication with their respective headquarters. Otherwise, their job is to be as silent as possible.

How do you hide a submarine from the surface?

One way to hide a submarine is to locate a thermocline and go down to it and hover in it. It’s almost impossible for a surface ship or a dipping-sonar helicopter to find it with active sonar. Also if you don’t move and go “good quiet” passive sonar will be pretty much useless.