Seaplanes & Submarines

[copeab]

I've recently been pondering a setting combining two ideas I've had for some time.

The older idea, inspired by the cargo submarine from the old Traveller adventure Research Station Gamma, was a setting that due to poor weather conditions, (large) surface ships were rare and shipping (and the military) primarily relied on submarines.

The second idea, from my love of flying boats and floatplanes (and recently resparked by watching the DVDs of Tales of the Gold Monkey), wa to have seaplanes dominate land-based aviation.

(and yes, this combination does mean aircraft-carrying subs)

I'm aiming for a pulp setting, circa 1930-1945 technology. Tje two things I think I'll have to have, at a minimum, are:

(1) No large continents but many, many small islands (this makes seaplanes sufficiently useful).

(2) Frequent and heavy storms that are a real threat to sink surface vessels. Airplanes can go around or over them, submarines under them.

Any other ideas?

[sambudak]

The world would be fun if it was split into warring factions, and toss in some indigenous sapient that doesn't want them around, or something.

I'm not sure how submarine warfare worked in the TL you're envisioning though.

[copeab]

Originally Posted by sambudak

I'm not sure how submarine warfare worked in the TL you're envisioning though.

Submarines did sink other submarines in WWII, although I'm not sure if both were submerged at the time.

[sambudak]

Originally Posted by copeab

Submarines did sink other submarines in WWII, although I'm not sure if both were submerged at the time.

Well I'd guessed as much, but there's always some handwavium lying around to be used.

[jason taylor]

Originally Posted by copeab

Submarines did sink other submarines in WWII, although I'm not sure if both were submerged at the time.

According to TV Tropes there was only one time when both were submerged.

The Bowfin, got three in succession I believe but they were caught on the surface.

[LostPassWord]

Originally Posted by jason taylor

According to TV Tropes there was only one time when both were submerged.

HMS Venturer sunk U-864 while both were submerged. However, it is to be noted that the U-864 apparently turned into the path of the 4th torpedo while trying to avoid the first three fired by HMS Venturer.

[ak_aramis]

Originally Posted by copeab

(and yes, this combination does mean aircraft-carrying subs)

The IJN had a few. I-400 class.

Originally Posted by copeab

I'm aiming for a pulp setting, circa 1930-1945 technology.

the third thing is a power source better than the diesel-electric subs had.

A nuclear plant is probably your best bet. They could have been done with WWI era tech, if the theory had been known; no new devices were needed to do it.

Sub-to-sub warfare was typically at surface, mostly using deck guns. (Which many subs of the era did have.) Torpedoes could also be used; many were unguided, and some were wire guided.

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by ak_aramis

The IJN had a few. I-400 class.


the third thing is a power source better than the diesel-electric subs had.

A nuclear plant is probably your best bet. They could have been done with WWI era tech, if the theory had been known; no new devices were needed to do it.

Well, other than all the ones connected with getting the nuclear reaction to run and pulling the heat out of the reactor vessel.... It is true once you get on the far side of the first heat exchanger you don't need anything you didn't for a TL5 steam plant. Note that even naval reactors are fairly large, heavy pieces of technology. Using them will result in quite large submarines by TL6 standards.

But actually the diesel part isn't all that bad as a primary source, surface ships use the same technology after all and it works fine. It's the electric part - for powering the sub underwater - that's severely lacking. A lot of otherwise quite plausible technologies from jet packs to portable televisions stumble over the problem of compact energy storage, so you need to be careful of side effects when introducing magic batteries, but they'll work too.

Another alternative might be fuel cells, which historically were demonstrated before internal combustion, and are concievable enough more efficient that you could store both the fuel and oxygen to burn it with in a similar amount of tankage you'd need for just the fuel of an air burning diesel.

[copeab]

Originally Posted by malloyd

Another alternative might be fuel cells, which historically were demonstrated before internal combustion, and are concievable enough more efficient that you could store both the fuel and oxygen to burn it with in a similar amount of tankage you'd need for just the fuel of an air burning diesel.

There was also Hellmuth Walter' hydrogen peroxide engines.

[copeab]

Originally Posted by ak_aramis

The IJN had a few. I-400 class.

Well familiar with it ;)

There are also the submarine cruisers, such as the Surcouf and (unbuilt) Type XI U-cruiser.

the third thing is a power source better than the diesel-electric subs had.

As malloyd said, the battery life is the real problem. However, with snorkels a sub can run just under the surface and still use the diesel engines. Only when it has to run deeper than periscope depth does it need the batteries.