Submarines: Can You Name the Equipment From an Image?

By: Olivia Cantor
Estimated Completion Time
2 min
Submarines: Can You Name the Equipment From an Image?
Image: Absinthologue/Ralf Roletschek/Public Domain via Wiki Commons

About This Quiz

Submarines are an interesting kind of invention. Originally serving a military kind of purpose, now there also exist some submarines built for civilian use.

No matter the purpose, submarines are very interesting vessels. Imagine being able to submerge yourself underwater for a very long time. To be able to invent a vessel that can maintain itself stable under the unknown depths of oceans and seas is such a fantastic feat. To have this vessel contain many kinds of equipment, hold different kinds of people, and also store various kinds of weapons for fighting are good enough reasons to keep building them!

That's why it is always fascinating to watch movies that have scenes taking place inside a submarine. It's also a reimagining of what we humans could still invent and reinvent as the decades pass. Perhaps it's also part of humankind's insatiable desire to explore unknown regions of the earth, the galaxy, or the universe, that we will keep inventing mechanisms and vehicles for such purposes. At least that was how the submarine came to be -- aside from its very obvious use in warfare.

But can you name these familiar pieces of equipment found in a submarine, though? Take this quiz, and test your deep knowledge!

periscope Do you recognize this submarine equipment?
Guidance sonar
Periscope
Turret
Aft sonar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The periscope is probably the most recognizable submarine equipment ever. You use it to look at what’s happening outside.

Advertisement

Torpedo How about this equipment?
Tachometer
Cam trough
Torpedo
Attack periscope
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The torpedo is usually carried by a submarine. This is the usual weapon associated with this vessel.

Advertisement

Diving planes What about this equipment?
Diving planes
Trim tank
Line shaft
Economical Motor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

These are called diving planes. They’re useful to navigate the sub when it goes underwater.

Advertisement

Sail submarine And this submarine equipment?
Snorkel
Sump
Drain
Sail
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This part is called the sail. It houses other equipment as well.

Advertisement

Rudder Can you identify this equipment?
Rudder
Depth control
Capstan
Deck skid
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This is called a rudder. It’s very useful equipment for navigating the sub.

Advertisement

Propeller submarine Do you know this equipment?
Forward bearing
Propeller
Economical Motor
Thrust shaft
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The propeller has the same universal function anywhere on any vehicle. It’s supposed to push it forward when it moves.

Advertisement

Main Ballast tanks What is this submarine equipment?
Trim tank
Water plant
Main ballast tank
Pelorus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This is the submarine’s main ballast tank. There could be more than one in a sub.

Advertisement

Stern plane Can you name this equipment?
Turbines
Guidance sonar
Auxiliary Motor
Stern plane
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The stern plane is useful equipment for actually controlling where the sub will go. It’s in charge of the course, in a way.

Advertisement

deck gun Do you know the name of this submarine equipment?
Torpedo tank
Attack periscope
Deck gun
Weapons stowage
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A deck gun looks like a huge machine gun. It has great firepower.

Advertisement

Sonar gear What’s the name of this equipment?
Sonar gear
Mallet
Compass loop
Hatch
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sonar gear is very useful in a submarine. Sonar is actually an acronym which means Sound and Navigation Ranging.

Advertisement

Forward fin Can you recognize this equipment?
Depth control
Lower rudder
Hatch operating wheel
Forward fin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Submarines also have fins. The ones in the front are called forward fins.

Advertisement

aft fin Could you tell what this submarine equipment is?
Steering wheel
Aft fin
Reduction gear
Surface navigation mast
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The aft is technically the back part of the submarine. So, the fins there are called aft fins.

Advertisement

Battery bank Can you recognize this one?
Battery bank
Economical Motor
Auxiliary Motor
Condenser
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Submarines are powered by many batteries. They’re in the battery bank somewhere inside.

Advertisement

Air conditioning How about this one?
Pneumatic air coupling
Air conditioning plant
Air purification plant
Hydraulic plant
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The air conditioning plant is a necessary equipment system in a sub. Imagine if it’s hot in there!

Advertisement

Radar mast What about this one?
Radar mast
Thrust shaft
Dutch breech
Reduction gear
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This is called the radar mast. It co-exists with other mast equipment in its current spatial design.

Advertisement

Main access hatch door And this one?
Engine room
Operating wheel
Companionist
Main access hatch door
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The entrance to the submarine is covered by the main access hatch door. It’s that one you see on top.

Advertisement

Radio antenna Can you identify this one?
Tachometer
Pelorus
Radio antenna
Chock
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A sub is also equipped with a radio antenna. It’s a necessary communications device.

Advertisement

Torpedo tube Do you know this one?
Air compressor
Torpedo tube
Machine Gun
Casing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The torpedo normally has a storage place. So, of course, it will also get ejected through its own torpedo tube.

Advertisement

Bulkhead What’s this one?
Bulkhead
Bedplate
Refectory
Cabin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A bulkhead pertains to a partition in the hull. In the submarine’s case, it’s that wall and complicated door contraption you see there, designed to be very watertight.

Advertisement

Communications mast submarine Can you name this one?
Vertical plate
Communications mast
Air inlet
Attack periscope
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This is the communications mast. It’s built side by side with the other masts atop the sail.

Advertisement

Electric propulsion motor Can you tell the name of this one?
Economical Motor
Auxiliary Motor
Electric propulsion motor
Reduction gear box
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This is the main electric propulsion motor. It’s important equipment to make the submarine move.

Advertisement

Photonics mast What’s the name of this one?
Photonics mast
Periscope
Guidance sonar
Attack periscope
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The photonics mast is the more high-tech equivalent of the periscope. Military grade submarines have this instead.

Advertisement

Hydrophones Do you recognize this one?
Intercom
Engine Order Telegraph
Switchboards
Hydrophones
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A hydrophone is indeed the cousin of a microphone. Only this is the kind used under water.

Advertisement

headphones Could you tell what this one is?
Headphones
Control room
Conning tower
AMS
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

People inside a sub need headphones to listen closely to what they’re monitoring. So there are a lot of these there.

Advertisement

receiver amplifier Can you recognize this?
Compensating tank
Rotor
Boombox
Receiver-amplifiers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A lot of listening takes place inside a submarine. Naturally, it is equipped with receiver-amplifiers.

Advertisement

Supersonic gear How about this?
Derrick boom
Supersonic gears
Anchor
Telegraph
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Supersonic gears are set up to listen to any kind of sound that’s not easily audible to the human ear. There are all types of sounds underwater!

Advertisement

Snort induction mast (right) What about this?
Pneumatic air coupling
Surface navigation mast
Snort induction mast
Radar mast
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Subs have a snort induction mast on the sail. It’s not as nasty as it sounds, y’all!

Advertisement

Snort exhaust mast And this?
Air compressor
Snort exhaust mast
Air inlet
Air purification plant
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Subs also need a snort exhaust mast to let out smoke. It’s next to the snort induction mast.

Advertisement

Propeller shaft Can you guess what this is?
Forward bearing
Auxiliary Rotor Blade
Aft bearing
Propeller shaft
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A propeller always needs to be attached to a propeller shaft. Or else, it will not work!

Advertisement

Loudspeaker  submarine What is this submarine equipment called?
Loudspeaker
Receiver
Hydrophones
Tachometer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Inside the sub, there are also loudspeakers for people to hear things. A sub could really be huge, so this is no surprise.

Advertisement

Compensating tanks What’s this?
Trim tank
Torpedo tank
Compensating tank
Reduction gear box
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A submarine has different kinds of tanks, and the compensating tank is one of them. These tanks are used to balance the buoyancy of the sub, thereby affecting how it weighs during certain moments, like when it goes underneath the waters at a greater depth.

Advertisement

Escape hatch submarine Can you name this submarine equipment in the image?
Seawater inlets
Escape hatch
Bolt Guard plates
Thermometer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The escape hatch is different from the main access hatch. It’s good to differentiate them when you’re inside.

Advertisement

Negative tank What’s the name of this equipment in the image?
Oil tank
Trim tank
Torpedo tank
Negative tank
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Negative tanks offer additional help to a submarine’s system when it comes to buoyancy. They are also called quick diving tanks.

Advertisement

Anchor submarine Do you know this particular equipment?
Diving planes
Anchor
Rudder
Propeller
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Yup, a submarine also has an anchor. It has to dock sometime somewhere!

Advertisement

intercom What do you think this is?
Intercom
Ship sails
Pick axe
Switchboards
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A submarine has to have intercom equipment. They’re needed so that people inside can talk to each other when working in different parts of the sub.

Advertisement

Engine order telegraph Just a few more! What about this one?
Engine Order Telegraph
Magazine
Compass loop
Capstan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An Engine Order Telegraph has words that help to navigate the submarine. It’s actually a communication device.

Advertisement

nuclear reactor You got this! What’s this one?
Missile
Nuclear reactor
Mainframe tank
Igneous detector
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Would you believe that there’s a nuclear reactor inside a submarine? That’s because some subs are designed to be powered by nuclear energy.

Advertisement

Missile submarine And this submarine equipment is…
Biplane
High-voltage regulator
Missile
Nuclear reactor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A submarine can also carry missiles. And yes, they get fired underwater, too.

Advertisement

Navigational control system Finally, what’s this particular submarine equipment?
Buoyancy floater
Motherboard
Propulsion room
Navigational control system
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

All those buttons and dials! They’re part of the navigational control system, which is very important equipment inside a submarine.

Advertisement

You Got:
/39
Featured