Submarine Fleet Strength by Country, Compared

Summary

This video script explores the strategic significance of the world's 471 known military submarines, categorized by country. It highlights the importance of submarines in global power dynamics, showcasing their roles in defense and power projection. The script delves into the differences between small and large navies, the capabilities of diesel versus nuclear submarines, and the strategic implications of submarines equipped with nuclear warheads. Special attention is given to the submarine forces of key nations like the U.S., Russia, China, and India, emphasizing the technological advancements and the balance of power in the modern naval landscape.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The global power dynamics are shifting, and submarines represent significant ocean power with 471 known military submarines worldwide.
• 🚤 Most countries have small submarine fleets, with less than a dozen submarines, primarily for protection and power projection.
• 🔍 Smaller submarines are designed to be invisible, offering a strategic advantage by lurking and spying without being detected.
• ⛽ Diesel-powered submarines have limitations, needing to surface regularly for oxygen to recharge batteries, making them less effective than nuclear-powered ones.
• 🔋 Nuclear submarines can stay underwater indefinitely, except for the need to resupply food and supplies for the crew.
• 💣 Some submarines, like those of Israel, are believed to be capable of carrying nuclear warheads, adding a strategic layer to their defense capabilities.
• 🛠️ Germany is a notable submarine producer, building and exporting advanced submarines worldwide, including to Australia.
• 🔝 As we move to more powerful navies, submarines become larger, more advanced, and capable of long-range operations with nuclear energy.
• 🔥 India has submarines powered by nuclear energy capable of launching rockets with nuclear warheads, and is expanding its fleet with modern-attack submarines.
• 🏴󠁿 North Korea has an unknown but potentially large fleet of submarines, which could number up to 85, posing a strategic challenge.
• 🚀 The 'big three' navies—China, Russia, and the United States—use their submarines to project power globally, with significant advancements in stealth and nuclear capabilities.
• 🇺🇸 The United States has the most powerful submarine force globally, with all 68 submarines nuclear-powered, capable of carrying a vast array of weapons, including nuclear warheads.

Q & A

How many known military submarines are there globally?

There are 471 known military submarines globally.

What is the significance of submarines in terms of global power dynamics?

Submarines represent ocean power and are crucial for countries to protect their territories and project power, especially in the context of shifting global power dynamics.

Why do smaller countries want submarines?

Smaller countries want submarines to enhance their naval capabilities. Even having one submarine provides a significant advantage due to their stealth and ability to lurk and spy, making the enemy assume they could be anywhere.

What is the main limitation of diesel-powered submarines compared to nuclear-powered ones?

Diesel-powered submarines need to surface periodically to run their engines and charge the batteries, making them less effective than nuclear-powered submarines, which can stay underwater indefinitely except for the need to resupply food and supplies for the crew.

How does Israel's submarine fleet differ from other smaller navies?

Israel's submarine fleet is unique because it has modern submarines capable of staying underwater for up to a week without needing to take in oxygen, making them stealthier. Additionally, it is believed that some of Israel's submarines can launch missiles with nuclear warheads, although this is officially denied by Israel.

What is the strategic significance of Australia's deal with the UK and US for new submarines?

The deal signifies Australia's move towards having more advanced, nuclear-powered submarines, which is part of the US's effort to strengthen its alliances and project power in China's neighborhood.

What is the advantage of having a nuclear reactor on board a submarine?

A nuclear reactor allows the submarine to silently patrol the seas for extended periods, travel long distances, and project power in strategic regions without needing to surface for air, making it a game changer for submarine capabilities.

Why are Greece and Turkey's submarine fleets similar in number?

Both Greece and Turkey have similar numbers of submarines because securing their waters is of strategic importance to them, and they both have submarines that can stay underwater longer than typical diesel subs due to less oxygen requirement.

What is the current state of India's submarine fleet and its future plans?

India currently has at least two nuclear-powered submarines capable of launching rockets with nuclear warheads. They are working on increasing the range of these rockets and building a fleet of at least six modern-attack submarines for quicker support to their nuclear-armed submarines.

How does the United States maintain its position as the most powerful submarine force in the world?

The United States maintains its position through having all 68 of its submarines powered by nuclear energy, possessing a significant number of attack submarines, and having 14 submarines capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads with long-range capabilities. The US also has a strategic nuclear deterrent with submarines lurking around the world's oceans.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Global Military Submarines Overview

This paragraph introduces a visual representation of the world's known military submarines, categorized by country. It emphasizes the strategic importance of submarines in global power dynamics, highlighting their role in both defense and power projection. The narrator discusses the varying sizes of submarine fleets among 43 countries, with a focus on smaller nations using submarines for stealth and deterrence. The limitations of diesel-powered submarines are contrasted with the advantages of nuclear-powered ones, which can stay submerged indefinitely. A brief mention of a related video on submarine technology and history is made, followed by an acknowledgment of the video's sponsor, NordVPN, which is highlighted for its internet security features.

05:02

🛳️ Submarines of Smaller and Regional Navies

The second paragraph delves into the strategic uses of submarines by smaller and regional navies, such as Israel, Germany, and Australia. Israel's modern submarines, capable of extended underwater operations and rumored nuclear capabilities, serve as a deterrent against regional threats like Iran. Germany's submarines are noted for their export and technological prowess, while Australia's future acquisition of advanced nuclear submarines from the US is discussed in the context of strengthening alliances in the Asia-Pacific region. The paragraph also covers the transition from diesel to nuclear-powered submarines in terms of power projection and the unique capabilities of certain submarines to carry nuclear warheads.

10:02

💥 Nuclear Submarines and Global Power Projection

This paragraph discusses the significance of nuclear-powered submarines in global power projection, particularly focusing on the navies of France, Britain, Greece, Turkey, India, Iran, and North Korea. The capabilities of nuclear submarines to silently patrol seas and carry out long-range missions are underscored. India's development of nuclear-armed submarines and plans for a modern attack submarine fleet are highlighted. Iran's large number of diesel and mini submarines for coastal defense is mentioned, as is North Korea's unknown but sizable submarine fleet. The narrative then shifts to the 'big three' navies—China, Russia, and the United States—emphasizing their use of submarines for power projection and strategic deterrence.

🇺🇸 The Dominance of US Submarine Force

The final paragraph outlines the dominance of the US submarine force, which is both numerically and technologically superior. It details the capabilities of US nuclear-powered attack submarines and ballistic missile submarines, which form the backbone of the country's nuclear deterrent. The paragraph also discusses the US's strategic advantage in tracking and countering potential threats from Chinese submarines. The development of new submarines by China and Russia, and their efforts to close the technological gap, are mentioned. The paragraph concludes with the US's ongoing initiative to build new submarines to maintain its global naval supremacy.

Keywords

💡Military submarines

Military submarines are underwater vessels designed for warfare, capable of conducting various operations such as surveillance, attack, and defense. They are a critical component of a nation's naval power. In the video, the focus is on the 471 known military submarines worldwide, highlighting how they are used by different countries to protect their interests and project power.

💡Ocean power

Ocean power refers to a nation's ability to exert influence and control over the seas, which is often linked to its naval capabilities, including submarines. The video emphasizes the strategic importance of submarines in asserting a country's dominance over the oceans, as they can operate covertly and exert influence in international waters.

💡Diesel submarines

Diesel submarines are powered by diesel engines that require oxygen to run, necessitating periodic surfacing to recharge their batteries. These submarines are smaller and less capable of long-term underwater operations compared to nuclear submarines. The script mentions that most countries possess small fleets of diesel submarines, which are less effective but still significant for their naval capabilities.

💡Nuclear submarines

Nuclear submarines are powered by nuclear reactors, allowing them to stay submerged for extended periods without the need for oxygen. They are more powerful and capable of long-range operations compared to diesel submarines. The video discusses the strategic advantage of nuclear submarines, such as their ability to silently patrol the seas and project power globally.

💡Submarine fleet

A submarine fleet refers to the collection of submarines owned and operated by a country's navy. The size and composition of a submarine fleet can indicate a nation's naval strength and strategic intentions. The video script provides an overview of various countries' submarine fleets, ranging from small fleets of less than a dozen to large fleets with dozens of submarines.

💡Stealth

In the context of submarines, stealth refers to their ability to operate undetected and unseen by enemy forces. The video highlights the importance of stealth for submarines, as it allows them to lurk and spy without being located, which is a significant advantage in military strategy.

💡Nuclear deterrence

Nuclear deterrence is a strategy where a country uses the threat of nuclear retaliation to prevent adversaries from launching a nuclear attack. The video explains how nuclear submarines, particularly those capable of launching nuclear-armed missiles, serve as a key component of a nation's nuclear deterrent.

💡Strategic application

The strategic application of submarines involves their use in achieving broader military and political objectives. The video discusses how submarines are not only used for defense but also for projecting power and influencing global power dynamics.

💡NordVPN

NordVPN is a virtual private network (VPN) service mentioned in the video as a sponsor. While not directly related to the main theme of submarines, it is highlighted for its ability to provide internet security and privacy, which can be an analogy to how submarines offer strategic security and privacy in the context of naval operations.

💡Poseidon

Poseidon is a long-range, nuclear-powered torpedo developed by Russia, as mentioned in the video. It represents a significant advancement in submarine technology, capable of carrying a massive nuclear warhead and traveling at high speeds underwater, illustrating the evolving capabilities of modern submarines.

💡Global superpower

A global superpower is a nation with the ability to exert influence and project power worldwide. The video discusses how countries like the United States and China are using their submarine fleets to assert their status as global superpowers, with the ability to operate in every ocean and influence international affairs.

Highlights

The global submarine fleet consists of 471 known military submarines, representing ocean power and strategic importance.

Most countries possess small submarine fleets, with less than a dozen submarines, primarily for coastal defense and stealth operations.

Submarines are essential for a country's naval strategy, providing invisibility and the element of surprise in military engagements.

Diesel-powered submarines have limitations due to the need for oxygen to recharge their batteries, making them less effective than nuclear-powered ones.

Nuclear submarines can stay underwater indefinitely, except for the need to resurface for crew supplies, offering superior stealth and endurance.

Israel's submarines are modern and some are capable of staying underwater for up to a week, potentially equipped with nuclear warheads.

Germany is a significant submarine builder and exporter, with six powerful long-range submarines and a history of selling submarines globally.

Australia is set to acquire advanced nuclear-powered submarines from the US as part of strengthening alliances in the region.

Nuclear submarines enable long-range patrols and power projection without the need to surface, a significant advantage in naval warfare.

Greece and Turkey maintain similar numbers of submarines to secure their waters, with some capable of extended underwater operations.

India has submarines powered by nuclear energy and is developing a fleet of modern-attack submarines to support their nuclear-armed subs.

Iran has a significant number of diesel-powered submarines and mini submarines for patrolling oil-rich coastal waters.

North Korea's submarine fleet is large but its functionality is uncertain, with some submarines capable of launching nuclear-armed ballistic missiles.

China is rapidly expanding its submarine fleet, with plans to include new nuclear-powered submarines capable of launching ballistic and cruise missiles.

Russia has the second-largest submarine fleet, with half powered by nuclear energy and capable of launching nuclear weapons.

The United States has the most powerful submarine force globally, with all submarines nuclear-powered and capable of carrying a vast number of nuclear warheads.

The US is building 12 new massive submarines to replace aging nuclear-armed subs, ensuring its dominance in submarine technology and strategy.

Transcripts

- This is every military submarine on earth,

at least the ones we know about.

I've separated them out by each country.

"Whoever rules the waves rules the world,"

is a saying that rings especially true in recent years

as global power dynamics are shifting before our eyes.

Submarines represent ocean power.

So today, let's look at the 471 known military submarines

and which countries they belong to, both big and small.

I want to do this so that we can see

how countries use these vessels

not only to protect their country,

but also to project power.

(thumping music)

Of the 43 countries that have subs,

most just have small fleets, less than a dozen.

By the way, experts argue about these numbers.

If you wanna see our methodology here,

you can go to our sources link in the description

to explore country by country,

how we got these numbers and specs.

And yes, these submarines are to scale.

These smaller countries want submarines

for slightly different reasons than the big countries.

For these small navies,

having even one submarine is a major level up

because submarines are designed to be invisible,

to lurk and spy and be ready to attack at any moment.

Their great advantage is that your enemy has no idea

where they are.

So they have to assume that they could be anywhere.

These submarines are also much smaller

than the ones we'll see later on

when we get to the big navies,

and almost all of them have a massive limitation,

which is that they're powered by diesel engines

that need oxygen to run.

This means that the submarine has to go

to the surface every so often to run these loud engines

to charge the batteries on the sub

before diving back down again.

This makes these submarines less effective

than nuclear-powered submarines that we'll see later.

These submarines could stay underwater basically forever.

That is, if they didn't have humans aboard

that needed to come to the surface for food and supplies.

I made a whole video about the fascinating technology

and history of submarines if you want to learn more.

But let's keep going.

Hey, I know this visual is very satisfying,

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It helps support the channel.

Thank you, NordVPN, for sponsoring today's video.

I appreciate it.

And with that, let's look at some more submarines.

(thrilling music)

Strategically, the submarines in these smaller navies

are meant to patrol and protect a country's coastal waters,

the ocean close by,

making anyone think twice before attacking that country,

though we're arriving

at a bit of an exception to this, Israel.

Israel currently has five very modern submarines,

two of which can stay underwater for up to a week

without needing to take in oxygen,

making them stealthier than the older diesel models

and allowing them to travel up to 4,500 kilometers.

And while all of the subs we've seen so far carry

smaller weapons like torpedoes,

or anti-ship missiles, or mines,

Israel's submarines can shoot

missiles loaded with nuclear warheads.

At least that's what the US government believes

and has said, even though Israel denies all of this.

Israel uses these submarines as defense

against the many enemies they have

in their region, like Iran,

hoping that these nuclear-armed submarines would make

Iran think twice before ever striking Israel first.

By the way,

those Israeli submarines are being purchased from Germany,

a country that is coming up here soon.

(piano music)

Germany has six super-powerful,

long-range submarines of their own,

but they also build and export submarines

all over the world.

Here we have Australia,

which has a relatively small fleet of diesel submarines.

But this is gonna change soon,

thanks to a historic deal with the UK and US.

Australia will soon have

super-advanced, nuclear-powered submarines.

They're buying this from the United States.

This is all a part of the US's effort

of arming and strengthening its alliances

in China's neighborhood.

By the way,

this is where you'll start to see us

moving into more powerful navies.

These navies use their submarines

not just to protect their coastline and coastal waters,

but to project power in their region.

So you'll start to see bigger

and more advanced diesel submarines,

but we'll also start to see submarines

that run on nuclear energy,

like these French and British subs.

These submarines have a nuclear reactor on board

that breaks apart atoms

and creates an immense amount of energy

that heats up water and powers the submarine.

It could do this basically forever

without having to go to the surface for air.

This process also makes oxygen and drinkable water

for the sailors.

Having a nuclear reactor on board is a game changer for subs

because it allows them to silently patrol the seas,

traveling long distances and projecting power

to regions that are important to them.

Here come the fleets of Greece and Turkey.

They have a similar number of subs

because both countries see

securing their water as very important.

And while they don't have nuclear power plants on board,

both countries have subs that don't require as much oxygen

as typical diesel subs,

allowing them to stay under water for much longer.

This is also where you start to see submarines

that are equipped with the most powerful weapons of all.

(missile rumbles)

India currently has at least two submarines that,

as far as we know, are not only powered by nuclear energy,

but can also launch rockets with nuclear warheads on them.

They have a range of around 700 kilometers.

And they're working on two more,

which could potentially increase that range

to more like 3,500 kilometers.

They're also planning to build a fleet

of at least six modern-attack submarines that are quicker,

and that are meant to accompany

and support to these nuclear armed subs.

Though it's hard to know the full picture

because a lot of the details

from the Indian army are kept secret,

if you want,

you can look at my sources

for more details on this reporting.

Here comes Iran.

They don't have nuclear capabilities on their submarines,

but they do have a lot of subs,

these 4 big diesel-powered submarines,

and at least 15 of these mini subs.

They use these to patrol their coastal waters

through which a lot of valuable oil flows.

(bright music)

We've got six countries left.

And this is where things get really big, really fast.

Here are two countries that have a lot in common.

Both are high-tech economies,

both are close friends with the United States.

Both are deeply reliant on the ocean.

And crucially, both countries are surrounded

by rival countries with strong navies.

One of those neighbors is the hermit kingdom of North Korea.

We don't know how big North Korea's fleet is

for obvious reasons.

Experts think they could have as many as 85 submarines.

But here I'm gonna visualize a more conservative estimate

of 36 submarines.

A lot of this info is gleaned

by satellite imagery on naval bases like this one.

But regardless of the specific number,

we do know that it's a pretty big submarine fleet.

It rivals some of the great powers,

at least in terms of numbers.

But experts disagree about how functional

all of these subs really are.

Some of these boats are at least 50 years old.

It has around eight diesel subs

capable of long-range patrols.

And then they have these two. They're diesel powered.

And even though they can't stay underwater

for more than just a few days,

they do have the ability

to shoot four ballistic missiles

armed with nuclear warheads,

with a likely range that could easily reach Japan

or even Guam and Hawaii, a part of the United States.

Now, we're moving into the big three navies,

the countries that use their subs

to project power at each other and around the world.

China has 58 submarines.

Six of these subs are capable of firing rockets

with nuclear weapons.

And six more are attack submarines

powered by nuclear energy.

But the majority of China's submarines are still

the older diesel-powered kind, but not for long.

What China's rivals see when they look at this fleet is

more like this.

In the next six years,

China's fleet will include

at least five new nuclear-powered subs.

Two of them are gonna be able to launch ballistic missiles

with nuclear weapons on them.

And three of them will be able to launch cruise missiles.

They're even getting Russia's help

to build a new extra quiet,

extra stealthy ballistic missile sub

that the US is worried about,

because it'll be nearly impossible for them to track.

They're doing this in part as a response

to the US selling this submarine technology to Australia.

But it's also a part of China's bigger goal

of being a global superpower like the US

who can project power to every ocean in the world.

This will be difficult for them,

first and foremost because the US

and its allies have created

a chain of military installations here in the Pacific.

This allows them to track Chinese submarines

trying to leave the region.

But it will also be difficult

because China lags quite a bit behind the US

when it comes to creating stealthy submarines.

It's a gap that they are working hard to close.

Russia has the second largest fleet, 62 submarines in total.

We've just made a massive leap.

This fleet is a huge step up from China's.

Half of the fleet is powered by nuclear energy.

And 12 of these subs can launch nuclear weapons,

something that they remind the world of

by conducting these tests that show off their subs,

launching these rockets,

obviously without the nukes on board,

these other subs are attack submarines,

which are quick, hard to track.

They can launch missiles with a range of 600 kilometers

that are precise and able to hit a land-based target

on the east coast of the United States

if they were here in the Atlantic Ocean.

And this gets to a really important use of submarines

at this level,

their ability to lurk around the globe.

Russia quietly sends its nuclear-armed subs to key regions

that puts their enemies and rivals in range.

It's a part of their nuclear deterrent,

the threat that if they're attacked,

they have the capability to strike back with nukes.

And no one can know exactly from where.

In recent years,

Russia shocked the world

by unveiling this long-range,

nuclear-powered torpedo called Poseidon.

It can travel 185 kilometers an hour underwater.

And it can hit targets as far away as 1,000 kilometers.

Oh, and it apparently carries a 100-megaton nuclear warhead

that can create a radioactive tsunami.

We're not 100% sure how much of this is real

and how much is Russian propaganda.

But it just goes to show you

how crazy our advanced technology is becoming here.

Okay, we've made it to number one, the United States,

which unambiguously is the most powerful submarine force

in the world, not just by numbers, but by capability.

All 68 of these subs are powered by nuclear energy.

Most of these are attack submarines,

which are smaller and quicker.

They're meant for battle with their torpedoes and sea mines

and shorter range weapons,

like these four submarines can each be loaded up

with 154 cruise missiles,

missiles that have a range of 1,000 kilometers

and are very precise.

Then we get to these 14 subs, which are huge.

You can really see it when you look at them

out of the water.

These submarines can carry up to 24 missiles,

each of them capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads.

These things can travel up to 12,000 kilometers,

which is nearly a third the earth's circumference.

And at any given moment,

8 of these are lurking around the world's oceans,

carrying some 720 nuclear warheads between them,

and no one knows where.

And that's the whole point.

They're a foundational part of the US's nuclear deterrent.

A constant reminder

that attacking the US could easily provoke a response

from one of these hidden subs.

This is what controlling the ocean really looks like.

And it's one of the ways

that the US has maintained its place

as the most powerful country on earth.

To keep this position, in 2020,

the US started building 12 new massive submarines

to replace these 14 aging nuclear-armed subs.

They'll be completed in 2042.

So those are the world submarines

and a little bit about their strategic application.

There's so much more to cover

about submarines and naval strategy.

So please tell me what questions you have

or what else I should cover on this topic in the future.

Thanks for watching.

(thrilling music)

(thrilling music continues)