BBC made a fascinating documentary called Perisher on the qualifying process for sub captains in the Royal Navy - it's available on YouTube (in the US at least)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1LF2I3fTbY
FirmwareBurner · 3h ago
Why are there firearms on the submarine? Do they open the hatch and shoot at the opponent's submarine in case the torpedos don't work?
potato3732842 · 3h ago
The idea that a navy vessel wouldn't be equipped to provide its own security in port or dispatch an armed team on a launch is a non-starter.
John23832 · 3h ago
Because submarines are still ships that can be boarded. This is more for defense of the crew vs offense.
FirmwareBurner · 3h ago
Firing rounds inside a nuclear submarine? Isn't it like firing a gun inside a plane?
rtkwe · 2h ago
It's definitely a thing you don't do without good reason (enemy boarding action/mutiny) but remember subs are designed to survive nearby explosions underwater; there's redundancy and there's massive amounts of time spent training damage control where your repair or work around damaged systems.
John23832 · 3h ago
Yes. What's wrong with that?
A 9mm, buck shot, or even a 556 (which they are not using on a sub) is not piercing the pressure hull of a submarine. That's before considering all the other mass of metal and matter within the sub.
esseph · 2h ago
5.56 is fine in a sub.
Technically firing a .50 / 12.7mm should be fine for the hull even with API.
Bulkheads are thick.
(Note: SynTech / frangible ammo preferred)
happytoexplain · 3h ago
I mean, I guess there's more risk of ricochets and equipment damage on a sub than a ship? Regardless, a lot of "don't do that" things become "you might have to do that" things in a combat scenario.
exar0815 · 3h ago
There are a lot of things that don't react well to bullets in a submarine. One Jack Ryan comes to mind...
praptak · 3h ago
Possibility of mutiny, sabotage or just someone becoming dangerous because of personal conflicts or mental illness.
dbalatero · 3h ago
Defense while docked at port.
fred_is_fred · 2h ago
Primarily in case a KGB agent (incognito as a cook's mate) wants to stop a mutiny lead by a group of officers and aided by the CIA.
A 9mm, buck shot, or even a 556 (which they are not using on a sub) is not piercing the pressure hull of a submarine. That's before considering all the other mass of metal and matter within the sub.
Technically firing a .50 / 12.7mm should be fine for the hull even with API.
Bulkheads are thick.
(Note: SynTech / frangible ammo preferred)