They Can Dive Deep

It is more difficult than you may imagine determining the exact depth to which a submarine can sink. The crush depth of a sub is typically a well-kept secret among international military. Moreover, if you can guess why. Any country wants to keep their potential foes guessing about their travel routes and travel times. However, there are some general truths concerning how far a submarine can travel.

The crush depth of several US nuclear subs is thought to be between 2,400 and 3,000 feet. These devices are constructed from HY-80 tensile steel. The ability to dive deeper is provided by newer subs constructed of HY-100 and some Russian subs composed of titanium. What depth? The Russian-built Komsomolets, which could dive to a depth of 4,265 feet, is the deepest diving submarine we are aware of. Other research vessels exist that can travel deeper, but they lack nuclear power.