Difference between Submarine and Ship

Key Difference: A ship is a large vessel which floats on water. It has a huge capacity to carry cargo or passengers than ordinary boats. Submarine is a specialized watercraft which propels beneath the water as well as on the water. Submarines are usually built for warfare.

Ships and boats are one of the oldest means of transportation as the first ships were made and used thousands of years ago. Ships are used for various purposes like transportation of passengers, cargo, for leisure, sports, etc.

Ships are large and complex vehicles. One important thing with this vehicle is that it is designed in a way that it is able to sustain in its environment for a long time with great level of reliability. It is made up of two important parts – the hull and the machinery. ‘Hull’ forms the shell of a ship which includes its superstructure. ‘Machinery’ includes main engines as well as auxiliary machinery which include boiler, generators, etc.

Submarines are completely different from boats as they have the capability of operating completely underwater. Deep water submarines can be divided into two types – military and scientific. Scientific submarines are engaged in carrying out specific missions like examining sea life, etc. On the other hand, military submarines are used as weapons especially during time of war. Scientific submarines are smaller than military submarines. Submarines possess ballast tanks and auxiliary tanks to control buoyancy. These tanks are filled with air when submarine is on water and these are filled with water when it has to dive.

The most apparent difference between a ship and a submarine is that a sip floats on the surface of water, whereas submarines are capable of operating underwater. Submarines are quieter than ships in terms of liveliness. The ride of submarine is also smoother than ships as it is not affected by the surface waves.

The design and appearance greatly differs of a ship and a submarine. A submarine or ship floats due to the buoyant force which acts just opposite gravity. However, a submarine is also able to control its buoyancy, and therefore it is able to sink or float on surface on its own will. A ship is not able to control its buoyancy like a submarine, therefore it cannot move underwater.

Comparison between Submarine and Ship:

	Submarine	Ship
Definition	Submarine is a specialized watercraft which propels beneath the water as well as on the water. Submarines are usually built for warfare.	A ship is a large vessel which floats on water. It has a huge capacity to carry cargo or passengers than ordinary boats.
Common Types	Pleasure submarines, scientific submarines, and military submarines	Commercial ships, military ships, fishing ships and specialized ships
Origin	The first successful submarine was built in 1620 by Cornelius Jacobszoon Drebbel,	Actual evidence of the boats are derived from drawings, starting after the last ice age, around 10,000 BCE
Appearance (General)	Varies from one ship to the another. For example caravel’s hull : high sides and large decks, whereas Galleaons’ Hull : large skeleton constructed hulls made similar to caravels, with at least four mast.	The basic hull shape resembles a torpedo, with a rounded nose and control planes at the stern set at right angles to each other. Other surfaces show streamlined fairing.