Sail (submarine)
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In naval parlance, the sail (American usage) or fin (European/Commonwealth usage) of a submarine is the tower-like structure found on the dorsal (topside) surface of submarines. Submarine sails usually house the conning tower (command and communications data center), the periscope(s), radar and communications masts (antenna).
When surfaced, the sail serves as an observation platform. Historically, much of the submarine control was performed from the conning tower located inside the sail superstructure,[1] but some newer submarines can be controlled entirely from the bridge. The sail also provides an entrance and exit point on the submarine that has enough freeboard to prevent the submarine being swamped.
In some submarines, the sail also supports diving planes which are control surfaces which are used for underwater stability and steering.[1]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Office of Naval Research. Submarines - How They Work. Retrieved December 24, 2008.
