Civil submarines

According to some researchers, mankind knows the near space much better than the ocean depths. Therefore, they are of constant interest, both among scientists and ordinary citizens. And if everyone has heard about military submarines: not a single program dedicated to the power of the Armed Forces can do without their demonstration, few know about civilian versions of submarines. There are very few manufacturers of such vehicles, but this does not mean that they do not have customers. Both currently operating submarines and those being designed are of interest.

Triton

American companies are leading the market for civilian submersibles. Those who are eager to look into the depths of the ocean at their own expense are offered 11 models of boats capable of leaving up to 11 km of water above them. The boat is designed for two or three people, the latest development with the index 1000/2 MKII has a mass of 3 tons and a height of only 1,7 m. That is, such equipment can easily fit in a garage for a small yacht. The maximum diving depth of the submarine is 305 m.



Any person who has previously completed simple and short courses (they are included in the price of the boat upon purchase) can cope with piloting the boat. The design feature is a glass capsule that provides a 360° view. When the boat is moving at a speed of 4 knots per hour, the autonomy of the course is maintained for 10 hours. The cost of the Triton 3300/3 model is $ 3 million. The popular Discovery channel used these devices to create a film about giant squids. And Prince Alber II of Monaco, on one of the versions of the Triton, plunged into the deepest place in the Mediterranean - the Calypso depression.

Seamagine Aurora-3C

These submarines are also produced by an American company located in California. The first Seamagine boats appeared 25 years ago, and since then over 12 thousand dives have been made on the planet on Aurora-type devices. The most common model Aurora-3C is designed for a depth of no more than 457 m with a crew of three. The duration of autonomous navigation is 10 hours. The entrance to the boat is right through the transparent cockpit.



The company's arsenal also has more powerful specimens. For example, Aurora-6S is designed for six people and can "dive" to a depth of 1 km. All models can be equipped with manipulators, a bunch of outdoor cameras and other useful “things” as options.

HiPer Sub 2

This is the brainchild of a European manufacturer - U-Boat Worx from Holland. The company worthily continues the traditions of its ancestors-shipbuilders and produces six series of submarines, among which there is also the fastest (up to 10 km/h or 6 knots) model on the market. A characteristic feature is that all devices are of a sports type and are able to easily perform “aerobatics”, including the “Nesterov loop”.



HiPer Sub 2 goes under water for 100 m (autonomy lasts for 6 hours), has relatively modest dimensions: it has a mass of 2500 kg at a height of 1,46 m. ​​The boat can be transported in a trailer. The Dutch also offer a more “advanced” model: Super Yacht Sub 3 dives to 300 m. There is a refrigerator and multimedia inside. The C-Explorer submarine will appeal to research scientists: the device can swim for 16 hours without rising to the surface.

Marion Hyper Sub

This vehicle from the same company is worth considering separately. The fact is that we are not talking about a submarine in the full sense of the word. It's more like a hybrid of a submarine and a speedboat. Marion Hyper-Sub Specifications:

• ✅ engine - 440 hp diesel. With.
  
• ✅ surface speed - up to 40 knots
  
• ✅ cruising range - at least 500 miles
  
• ✅ diving depth - up to 90 m
  
• ✅ capacity - 5 people
  

According to the creator of the device, Reynolds Marion, this is “just a prototype”: the inventor plans to make a universal submarine that can be used for scientific research, sea trips and even for military purposes. The device is estimated at $3,5 million.

Super Falcon 3S

This is a "product" of the Californian company DeepFlight. The difference between this submarine and the most popular ones is in its configuration, reminiscent of a compact rocket or aircraft. This is facilitated by an elongated, "lean" body-fuselage, small wings and semicircular cockpit lights.



The first Falcon was made in the mid-2000s. Today the company offers three types of submarines. The latest model - "Super Falcon 3C" has the following parameters:

• ✅ length, width - 8 and 3,3 m
  
• ✅ capacity - pilot plus a couple of passengers
  
• ✅ motors - electric (full charge lasts 4 hours)
  
• ✅ diving depth - up to 100 m
  
• ✅ speed - no more than 4 knots
  
• ✅ autonomy - 8 hours
  

A submarine of this type was purchased by the owners of the Maldivian resort Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru. Now its visitors will be able to enjoy views of the ocean depths in the biosphere reserve, which is under the curation of UNESCO. And what about the projects of the future among submarines?

Migaloo M7

Two in one - a luxury yacht and the same submarine. This vehicle, developed by the design bureau Motion Code from Austria, is considered one of the most expensive vehicles in the world. Outwardly, this miracle of technology resembles a floating huge house or a small town.



The length of the hybrid (the largest model) reaches 283 m: at the stern there is a platform for a Bell 407 helicopter and a swimming pool. When immersed in water, these elements of the superstructure are closed with airtight covers using special mechanisms (but you can also swim after “diving” under the water). The submarine is designed for 35 travelers who can travel up to 15 km on a yacht. Of the other benefits of civilization on a five-deck ship, it should be noted:

• ✅ regular, duplex and VIP cabins
  
• ✅ fitness room
  
• ✅ library
  
• ✅ separate entertainment rooms
  
• ✅ game libraries and cinema
  
• ✅ laundries and steam rooms
  
• ✅ SPA with jacuzzi
  
• ✅ elevators
  

For those who like to swim alone, bathyscaphes 16 m long are provided. However, the yacht can not only quickly move across the seas and oceans: if necessary, it will “dive” to a depth of up to 450 m. At the same time, the speed under water reaches 20 knots. The superboat got its name in honor of the albino whale with a hump from Australia Migaloo. The yacht will not be produced in a single copy: a whole series of submarines with a length of 72 m or more is envisaged. The largest version is estimated at $2,3 billion, the base model costs $1 billion. The amounts are outrageous even for Arab sheikhs. However, if you look through Forbes, you can be sure that there are still candidates for the purchase.

Russian plans for civilian submarines

With the exception of homemade products, no one produces affordable submarines in the Russian Federation on an industrial basis. But there is a project for a nuclear submarine, developed by the physico-technical group, which is part of the Advanced Research Foundation. The boat being created will be engaged in the study of the Arctic Ocean and the search for minerals on its shelf. Some information about the submarine:

• ✅ length, width - 135 and 14,4 m
  
• ✅ maximum speed - 12,6 knots
  
• ✅ depth - up to 400 m
  
• ✅ number of crew members - 40 people
  
• ✅ autonomous navigation period - 3 months
  

There is no such technology in the world yet. Instead of missile silos, robotic systems will be installed here to carry out seismic exploration and perform other necessary actions. The head of the Fund, established in 2012, Viktor Litvinenko, said that the preliminary design had actually been completed.