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My brother Bob served his time in submarines aboard X1 |
Most nations that have built submarines, have also constructed midget types for specialized missions. The X1 shown below was the United States' answer to the small submarine. It was designed to lay underwater mines in an enemy's harbor.
X1 was equipped with hydrogen peroxide engines that allowed it to run submerged without using up the electrical battery. The Russians also made this engine, but we both stopped developing that type of engine with the success of the nuclear plant in NAUTILUS
My brother Bob served his time in
submarines aboard X1
During WWII the Japanese designed and used midget
submarines for suicide missions ... another version of the Kamakazi!
One of these Japanese suicide submarines is on exhibit at the
Submarine Museum outside the submarine base in Groton,
Connecticut.
The germans had their version of small submarine, but as you would guess it was not a suicide vessel. It carried two torpedoes outside the pressure hull. One of these boats was captured during the war. You can see it beside the Japanese suicide boat at the submarine museum.
