Submarines

A submarine (often shortened to sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. (It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability.) The term "submarine" is also sometimes used historically or informally to refer to remotely operated vehicles and robots, or to medium-sized or smaller vessels (such as the midget submarine and the wet sub).

The Kilo-class submarines are a group of diesel-electric attack submarines designed by the Rubin Design Bureau in the Soviet Union in the 1970s and built originally for the Soviet Navy.

The Virginia class, or the SSN-774 class, is a class of nuclear-powered attack submarines with vertical launching system-launched cruise missile capability in service with the United States Navy.

The Type VII was a class of medium U-boats built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine from 1935 to 1945. Derived from the World War I design of the Type UB III and the Vetehinen class built for Finland, the Type VII was designed for attacking the North Atlantic convoy lanes and formed the backbone of the German effort in the Battle of the Atlantic during World War II. The Type VII came in several subtypes: The first subtype VIIA had some shortcomings in handling, range and armament, and these shortcomings were addressed in the subsequent VIIB. When more space was needed for a sonar, a slightly enlargened version VIIC was put into production.

The Los Angeles class of submarines are nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines (SSN) in service with the United States Navy.

The Akula class, Soviet designation Project 971 Shchuka-B (Russian: Щука-Б, lit. 'Pike-B', NATO reporting name Akula) is a series of fourth generation nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) first deployed by the Soviet Navy in 1986. There are four sub-classes or flights of Shchuka-B, consisting of the original seven Project 971 boats (codenamed Akula I), commissioned between 1984 and 1990; six Project 971Is (Improved Akulas), commissioned between 1991 and 2009; one Project 971U (Akula II), commissioned in 1995; and one Project 971M (Akula III), commissioned in 2001. The Russians call all of the submarines Shchuka-B, regardless of modifications.

The Astute class is the latest class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines (SSNs) in service with the Royal Navy.