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Submarines Facts & Worksheets

A submarine is any naval vessel that is capable of propelling itself beneath the water as well as on the water’s surface.

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A submarine is any naval vessel that is capable of propelling itself beneath the water as well as on the water’s surface. This is a unique capability among warships, and submarines are quite different in design and appearance from surface ships.

See the fact file below for more information on the submarines or alternatively, you can download our 26-page Submarines worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY OF SUBMARINES

  • Although not officially called submarines, ancient peoples have used primitive submersibles for underwater combat and reconnaissance.
  • A 16th-century Islamic painting depicted Alexander the Great being lowered in a glass submersible for espionage.
  • William Bourne designed one of the first prototype submarines in 1578. It was an enclosed wooden vessel sheathed in waterproofed leather and manually operated to control buoyancy.
  • In 1620, Cornelius Van Drebbel, a Dutchman, designed and built the first successful submarine.
  • In 1776, David Bushnell designed the first submarine capable of independent underwater operation and movement, and it was also the first to use screws for propulsion.
  • Russian General Karl Andreevich Shilder demonstrated the first rocket-equipped submarine in 1834.
  • German-American engineer Julius H. Kroehl built the Sub Marine Explorer in 1863, which was used for pearl diving off the coast of Panama.
  • It was capable of diving deeper than 31 meters (103 feet), deeper than any other submarine built before.

WWI SUBMARINES

  • During the First World War, the German government fully utilized their 20 submarines against warships and merchant shipping.
  • Their U-boats entered action during the First Battle of the Atlantic against the Allied Forces. It took place in the seas around the British Isles, the North Sea, and the coast of France.
  • They were also responsible for sinking the RMS Lusitania, which prompted the U.S. to enter the war.
  • In comparison, the British Royal Navy had a total of 74 submarines of different effectiveness and functions, while the U.S. Navy had 72 submarines in service.
  • Although Germany enjoyed the earlier victories in submarine warfare, the entry of United States in April 1917 resulted in their eventual defeat.
  • By the end of World War I, more than 5,000 Allied ships were sunk by U-boats, while British submarines sank 17 German U-boats.
  • Submarines during World War I were mostly propelled by diesel engines on the surface and by electric motors when submerged.

WWII SUBMARINES

  • At the end of WWI, Britain, France, the United States, and Japan built improved submarines without expecting another large-scale war.
  • During this period, the U.S. Navy built its first large long-range submarine, the Argonaut. It was 381 feet long, armed with two six-inch guns, four forward torpedo tubes, and it could carry 60 mines.
  • Meanwhile, the German U-boat – VII type consisted of one 90-millimeter deck gun, various anti-aircraft guns, and five torpedo tubes (four forward and one aft).
  • In the far Pacific, the Japanese I-201 class boasted a high-speed submarine that could reach 19 knots when surfaced. The boat had two 25-millimeter guns, four forward torpedo tubes, and ten torpedoes.
  • The U.S. submarine campaign in the Pacific War utilized the Gato and Balao class submarines and destroyed over 30% of the Japanese Navy, including 8 aircraft carriers, 1 battleship, and 11 cruisers.

POSTWAR SUBMARINES

  • After the wars, development of submarine-launched ballistic missile and submarine-launched cruise missiles increased underwater capabilities of the countries owning them.
  • Substantial, long-range ability to attack both land and sea targets with a variety of weapons ranging from cluster bombs to nuclear weapons became possible.
  • In September 1954, the USS Nautilus, which was the first nuclear-powered submarine, was commissioned.
  • These modern submarines could evade freely after attacking and keep up with fast surface ships.
  • By the 21st century, submarines developed stealth technology, advanced propeller designs, sound-reducing insulation, and special machinery, making them difficult to detect.
  • Active sonar is also used to reflect sound emitted from the search equipment to detect submarines.

Submarines Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the submarines across 26 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Submarines worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the submarine which is any naval vessel that is capable of propelling itself beneath the water as well as on the water’s surface. This is a unique capability among warships, and submarines are quite different in design and appearance from surface ships.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Submarines Facts
  • Ocean Warriors
  • In a Submarine
  • Submariners
  • Underwater Importance
  • US Submarines
  • Typhoon Class
  • Sinking of Lusitania
  • 22nd Century Submarine
  • Sub-tricks
  • Inside Submarine

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Link will appear as Submarines Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, September 29, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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