Underwater Speed Record?

Question

I was researching the Underwater World Speed Record and it seems there is only information on a few military submarines which only go about 40mph.

is it true there is no official world record for travelling underwater? seems very unusual!

Answer 1

The world record is held by the Sailfish, it been clocked at speeds up to about 55 MPH. It is believed and said to go faster as the Copy and Paste below explains.

Most sources believe that the fastest species of fish is the Indo-Pacific Sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus. It has been clocked in excess of 110 km/h (68 mph) over short periods.

http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/faq/fa...

An interesting thing. They actually drop the dorsal fin down to a more streamline to accelerate.

The fastest Submarine is the Soviet-built Project 661 (NATO code-name Papa).

Twin reactors and twin shafts drove the Papa at 44.7 knots (51.44980 miles-per-hour) on trials--the fastest ever traveled by a manned underwater vehicle.

Such a 100-knot (115 miles-per-hour) undersea craft would be more than twice as the world's fastest submarine, (NATO code-name Papa). That submarine, completed in 1969, was armed with ten Amethyst anti-ship missiles (NATO designation SS-N-7) plus torpedoes. Twin reactors and twin shafts drove the Papa at 44.7 knots (51.44980 miles-per-hour) on trials--the fastest ever traveled by a manned underwater vehicle.  She subsequently went slightly faster in service.

http://www.military.com/features/0,15240...

As we can see, if, you read the entire article at the link. The USA Navy is not to be beat and is working to not only out-do the Russians, but, also, beat the Sailfish. A two-for-one Slam-dunk.

Answer 2

the way it was always explained to me during my officers training school was 'top-secret - need to know basis' (apparently i did not need to know)!  i know i have radar plotted a naval warship @ 40 kts once in the Caribbean sea, but this was a surface ship.

Answer 3

Thge first answer is right, but I truly believe that the fastest will probably never be known, the military will release records form a few years back but really does not want other navies knowing their true capabilities for obvious reasons.

Answer 4

I could not find an underwater speed record either (official). The USSR's Alfa class submarine, could reportedly attain short speed bursts of 44.7 knots (51 mph) while submerged. However, due to the rather secretive nature of these vessels, confirmations of these numbers is highly suspect and unlikely. Read more on said vessel below.