Why is a submarine called a boat, not a ship?

[Sean C]

I read somewhere that another reason they're called boats is because early submarines were carried aboard ships until they were relatively close to their AOO, because the subs were very small and had limited range. And any vessel that is carried aboard a ship is called a boat.


IDK if that's true.

[KaleunMarco]

Originally Posted by Sean C

And any vessel that is carried aboard a ship is called a boat.


IDK if that's true.

this is true.

at the beginning of the expanding invention, during the 19th century, submersibles were quite small. Bushnell & Holland boats were quite small, maybe six or eight total crew. then there were the French and German counterparts, all were small enough to be called boats.

but as to the real tradition, i am not sure. all i know is, my Dad served in them and he called them boats. that was good enough for me.

[Raf1394]

I always learned that uboats were called underwasserboot (underwater boat)

When you look at it. A uboat is basically a surfaced torpedo boat that can dive under water.
A uboat can only remain underwater for a short period of time. A few days? maybe less.


A submarine can operate for weeks, even months below the surface.

[Aktungbby]

Bottom line: the CSS Hunley was a boat; the huge Kursk was a ship... yet oddly, both died with all hands from the same cause: their own errant warheads?!!