Danger Lurking Underwater!

45-48 The submarine is a deadly danger lurking underwater for enemy ships. But it could be equally lethal for the crew manning it. The Defence Bioengineering & Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL) based in Bangalore has come up with an indigenous Submarine Escape Set that has come up to the expectations of the Indian Navy. A submariner once remarked – “What goes up, always comes down, but what goes down may not always come up.” Obviously he was referring to the submarine, which has its operational abode under water. His apprehensions are quite understandable considering the lethal and hazardous nature of underwater environment. Life protection and life support systems become the primary concerns for safety of personnel engaged in underwater operations. The submarine is a hydroplane with tremendous operational capabilities under water and is fundamentally designed to serve the needs of defence personnel although it is also used for civilian purposes like research, underwater exploration, oil and gas platform inspection and pipeline surveys and tourism.The concept of submarine development surfaced in the late nineteenth century and was probably influenced by the famous science fiction novel 20,000 leagues under the Sea published by Jules Verne in 1870. The novel tells about the adventures of Prof Pierre Aronnax and his friends aboard the Nautalis, an electrically powered submarine built by Captain Nemo. Interestingly, some of the author’s ideas in the book became a reality with the development of high speed nuclear and diesel submarines, which are currently being used for secret underwater operations. The author also seemed to have a faint idea of the military use of submarines and the danger they pose to warships, as was evident from the crippling damage inflicted on British ships by the German U-Boats in the two World Wars.