How do submarines use sonars?
Sonar is the sonic equivalent of radar. It was invented by the Germans in the interwar period and one unit, called an Echolot was adapted for service as a(Sonic altimeter) on U.S. Navy Blimps! The device bounces sound echoes- if active ( these can be traced, so there are some tactical drawbacks- destroyers have sonar also- used to hunt subs. there is passive sonar , which merely listens and doies not transmit echoes- this is more useful for silent running, clandestine operations, but is not as accurate. Sonar is an acronym for Sound Navigation and Ranging. The Germans refer to Sonar equipment as Echolot ( Echo-location, or Echo-Pilot) and do not use the phrase Sonar. the British used the aconym ASDIC- anti-submarine, detection improvement committee- the organization that developed the device- for surface ships only.
