I bet few people know how torpedoes are launched; it's quite complex, far from just pressing a button to shoot them out of the launch tube. Yes, torpedo launching is not as simple as pressing a button; it involves complex loading, stabilizing, and launching processes. Within the narrow confines of a submarine, loading torpedoes must be done skillfully and flexibly. With technological advancements, the traditional high-pressure gas propulsion method has been replaced by water ramjet engines, which use water's force to push the torpedo out of the launch tube, and then the torpedo's own propulsion system drives it forward. However, the scientific principles involved in this process, such as water pressure balance and hydrodynamics, are not widely known. In today's video, we'll test our audience's knowledge with a few questions: 1. How is the immense pressure of water overcome during torpedo launch from a submarine? 2. How does the water ramjet engine improve the depth and efficiency of torpedo launches compared to traditional high-pressure gas propulsion? 3. What is the principle behind the repetitive compression and tearing of target objects by the bubbles generated when a torpedo explodes underwater, and how is this effect related to torpedo design? Firstly, loading torpedoes into a submarine is not an easy task. On surface vessels, it's simple; you can use a crane to load them into the launcher on the deck. However, submarine torpedo tubes are inside, and not only torpedoes but also cruise missiles and mines usually go through tubes for launch, making them multi-functional. Due to the limited space in submarines, they typically adopt two methods: first, the torpedo is pushed into the submarine's torpedo tube like loading a gun barrel, then it's sent back to the torpedo stowage rack in reverse through the torpedo loading mechanism. Both Soviet and Chinese submarines have used this method. Second, the torpedo is inserted diagonally into the submarine and then maneuvered into the torpedo tube, which is how the United States loads torpedoes. After inserting diagonally, submariners rotate the crane to position the torpedo horizontally, then move it onto the rack, and finally slowly push it into the launch tube. The two protrusions on the torpedo are devices similar to fixed rings, called torpedo rings, and the torpedo's raised ears fit into these openings to prevent it from swinging around inside the launch tube. Submarines not only tilt left and right in the sea but also have two fixed devices inside the torpedo tube. When the torpedo is pushed in, the device near the exit of the torpedo tube is lowered and remains motionless, while the device at the back is lowered after the front one, ensuring the torpedo is securely held inside. Now, is it time to press the button to launch? Is it like launching a missile from a ship, using high-temperature and high-pressure gas flow to push the torpedo out? Impossible! This is underwater; traditional torpedo launching uses jet propulsion for power, using high-pressure compressed air to give the torpedo a forceful push. As for this high-pressure gas device, aside from anything else, just the sound of the release of high-pressure air can startle you, and the vibration is significant, not much different from firing a big cannon. This method is limited in its launch depth by water pressure and can only launch within 100 meters because the water pressure at sea is extremely high. You have to exceed this water pressure to launch the torpedo after diving deep underwater. Submarines don't have so much pressurized space; if you want to create such high pressure, the structure would be severely limited. The technology invented before World War II gradually retreated from naval warfare a century later after enduring.