Subskimmer

High school (ages 12+)
Transportation

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/subskimmer

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who invented Subskimmer?Late 1970s, with first sales in 1983-1984
2. What is the vehicle classification?Hybrid diver propulsion vehicle (DPV) and rigid inflatable boat (RIB)
3. What is the surface performance?Up to 100 nautical miles range at 20 knots (37 km/h)
4. How does a Subskimmer change from a boat to a submarine?When it wants to go underwater, the Subskimmer seals its gasoline engine, lets its inflatable tubes deflate, and then uses electric thrusters to move silently.
5. What kind of engine does a Subskimmer use on the surface?On the surface it uses a gasoline outboard engine to push it quickly across the water.

Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV): A motorized device designed to assist divers in traversing underwater distances with reduced physical exertion and increased speed.
Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB): A high-performance craft characterized by a rigid hull combined with flexible, inflatable tubes along the gunwale, offering stability and buoyancy.
Stealth Technology: Design principles and technologies aimed at reducing the detectability of a vehicle or object by enemy sensors, such as radar or sonar.
Buoyancy: The upward force exerted by a fluid that opposes the weight of an immersed object, determining whether it floats or sinks.