In the future, submarines won't have sails

[timmyg00]

Originally Posted by goldorak

You're assuming that the different masts actually have to retract inside the hull.
What about new types of masts that fold onto themselves without penetrating the submarines hull ?
An example is the us navy new asds (advanced seal delivery system) submarine whose periscope mast and eletronics mast do not retract into the hull.

On a major combatant submarine (not a special-ops sub like ASDS), non-penetrating masts still need to be "faired" (streamlined) to protect them from hydrodynamic forces and reduce flow-noise.

As far as a "bomb bay" goes, how then would you wire-guide a torpedo? Once you shut the "bomb bay" door to clear datum and evade counterfire, your wire would be cut...

TG