why do you think ballast tanks aren't put in just one part of the submarine?

Answer 1

Its so that they can trim the boat. When diving the ballast is pumped forward when surfacing aft. When getting close to the desired depth the sub is leveled by a combination of transferring ballast and use of dive planes. Also if a sub sustains battle damage and is taking on water they can pump ballast around to eliminate a list etc. And also a sub is designed to operate at a certain ideal displacement. Not so much with a nuke boat, but a diesel boat would replace the weight lost by burning oil with ballast to maintain the designed displacement.

Answer 2

first off, i don't think; i know!

if one truly gleam an understanding of this subject, one should take the 6 week sub school course in New London, Ct. though their attrition rate is necessary very high. but i will do my best to proffer a short but accurate over-view.
one must first understand that in the typical US boat, there are two basic types of ballast tanks; external tanks that are always open on the bottom to sea and thus always exposed to ambient sea-pressure. and internal ballast tanks; some of which may be flooded from sea and some of which can not. of the external tanks; these are divided up into the forward and after groups. and in each of these groups, they are further divided up into individual tanks, #1 through whatever both port & starboard.
with the internal ballast tanks; we will address these generally as "trim tanks", however, each has it own name. the "negative tank", "port & starbord Aux tanks", the "fore & after trim tanks". these of course, are not the only tanks of great size on say a 594 or 637 class boat. in point of fact; we have the "WRT", "San tanks", "pot water tanks", and Diesel tank, which are all sizable, and at times must be taken into account by the "Dive" when maintaining or changing depth underway. but which are not used as part of the "Trim System" under any normal situation. and if one is including the intercontinental carrying ballistic missile boat's; there is another declassified tank i would be remiss should not list. the "HOV tank".

now the placement of each of these tanks is by necessity of fitting everything into the boat in a balanced and logical manner so as to facilitate the boats operation. in all truth, most of the boats i have seen would never sink even with every tank full of whatever it's designed for without the addition of very large amounts of lead ingots in the bottom of the boat. i have seen a boat out of overhaul trying to get-down after pulling the plug and not having enough lead on board. it's exceeding funny (as long as one is not laughing in the presents of said boat's skipper).
the only other important item that one can add about the trim system is a little known and seldom used biologic-based trim system that has been built into every US boat since time & mamoreal. it's called the "trim party". it's a very special system used only in the training of new "diving Officer's of the Watch", or what is comomly called simply the "Dive".

if you should want to know more than this, i would suggest you in lest in the US Navy, and then Volunteer for Submarine Duty. but be for-warned, it's a real *****......... those guys are the Best of The Best!
or you could become a Naval Deep Submergence Engineer. or you could just become a spook. take your choice.....

fiver

Answer 3

The Colonel's answer is just about right. Submarine ballast tanks are normally either completely empty or full. Smaller tanks called trim tanks are used to trim the ship level, nose up or nose down.

Ranb

Answer 4

Putting ballast tanks in only one part would make it difficult to "trim" the boat. When you descend or rise you want to try to stay as level as possible. Even distribution of ballast tanks makes that easier sweetie :)

Answer 5

Because then it would list badly toward that tank. And of course as people move around the ship, and fuels etc get burned, there would be no way to trim the ship.

Answer 6

As a former ASW-crewman... I can say the Colonel hit it right on the nose !!

They are spaced out to allow for trim.

Answer 7

Unequal weight distribution!!!