Silent running (or ultra-quiet) is a stealth mode of operation for submarines
Silent running (or ultra-quiet) is a stealth mode of operation for submarines.
During silent running, the propellers have a characteristic RPM band in which no cavitation noise arises. Since this rotation speed is usually relatively low, the first electric submarines had special “silent running” engines designed for optimum performance at reduced speed.
Nuclear submarines can run even more quietly, at very low speeds only, by turning off active reactor cooling during silent running. The reactor is then only cooled by natural convection of the water.
The aim of silent running (a protocol that has been in use since the latter part of World War I, when hydrophones were invented to detect U-boats) is to evade discovery by passive sonar by eliminating superfluous noise: nonessential systems are shut down, as explained above speed is greatly reduced to minimize propeller noise and the crew is urged to rest and refrain from making any unnecessary sound.
As already explained (CLICK HERE to read the article) ‘Being “quiet” is more than not talking.
This article was edited because it contained sensitive information.
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Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan W. Hutto, Sr. / U.S. Navy