Underwater Warfare: The Weapons That Fail & FAQs

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When submerged, the physics of combat shifts dramatically. Many weapons designed for air become significantly less effective, or even entirely useless, due to water’s density and resistance. Generally speaking, weapons at a disadvantage underwater include most melee weapons requiring a forceful swing, ranged weapons relying on projectile speed and aerodynamics, and fire-based weaponry. The increased density of water inhibits projectile velocity, reduces range, and extinguishes flames. Let’s dive into the details.

Melee Weapons: Swing and a Miss

Most melee weapons face a serious disadvantage due to the significant resistance from water. A sweeping blow with a sword or axe, which would be devastating on land, becomes slow and cumbersome. The water drastically reduces the force of impact, making it difficult to inflict substantial damage.

Exceptions to the Rule: Thrusting is Key

The key exception to this rule lies in thrusting weapons. Daggers, shortswords, spears, and tridents can be used with relative effectiveness underwater because they rely on a forward thrust, which is less affected by the water’s resistance than a broad sweeping motion. Even with these weapons, expect reduced range and power. Creatures that lack a natural swimming speed and are submerged will experience disadvantage on attack rolls unless using one of the forementioned weapon types.

Ranged Weapons: Distance and Drag

Ranged weapons, particularly those designed for long-range engagements, suffer greatly underwater. Aerodynamic projectiles like arrows are quickly slowed down by the water’s density. The same goes for conventional bullets which only travel a few feet before being slowed to a halt.

Limitations and Exceptions

• Longbows and Similar Weapons: These become virtually useless beyond very short distances. The article mentions a longbow’s typical range (150/600) being drastically reduced.
• Firearms: Standard bullet ammunition is ineffective. Underwater firearms use specialized flechettes (small, fin-stabilized darts) that maintain a ballistic trajectory through hydrodynamic effects. However, even these have a limited effective range.
• Crossbows, Spears, Tridents, Javelins, Darts and Nets: These weapons are often exceptions to the disadvantage on ranged weapon attacks underwater.

Magical Attacks: Fire is Extinguished

Spells and cantrips are also subject to the underwater environment’s limitations. While magic systems vary, fire spells are often significantly weakened, as any creature fully immersed in water will resist fire damage. Spells that rely on precise targeting or projectile paths may also be affected by the water’s resistance.

FAQs About Underwater Combat

Here are some frequently asked questions about weapons and combat underwater:

1. Do natural weapons, like claws and bites, have a disadvantage underwater? It depends on the specific rules of the game or setting. Generally, if the creature has a natural swimming speed, the natural weapons would not have a disadvantage underwater. But if the creature does not have a natural swimming speed, its natural weapons will have a disadvantage.

2. Can you use firearms underwater, and if so, how? Yes, but not conventional firearms with standard ammunition. Underwater firearms use specialized ammunition, such as flechettes, and have non-rifled barrels to accommodate hydrodynamic effects.

3. What makes underwater firearms different from regular firearms? They are designed to fire projectiles that maintain their ballistic trajectory underwater. This typically involves using flechettes and having non-rifled barrels. Standard bullets are too unstable in water.

4. Why are standard bullets ineffective underwater? Water is approximately 800 times denser than air. This extreme density causes standard bullets to lose velocity rapidly and become unstable.

5. How far can a standard bullet travel underwater? Typically, only a few feet before being stopped.

6. Are there any specialized bullets designed for underwater use? Yes, the CAV-X bullet is designed for underwater use and can reportedly travel 60 meters underwater and penetrate 2 centimeters of steel from 17 meters away.

7. Can a tank be destroyed with underwater weapons? While specialized weapons like rockets and shaped charges (HEAT rounds) are effective against tanks on land, the effectiveness underwater is severely limited by range and the ability to accurately deliver the weapon. It’s highly unlikely a standard underwater firearm could damage a tank.

8. Does an AK-47 work underwater? While an AK-47 can fire underwater, the bullets’ speed and range are significantly reduced. The mechanisms might operate more efficiently due to the water’s incompressibility, but the overall effectiveness is limited.

9. Do Glocks function underwater? Yes, a Glock can fire underwater because the bullet casing is waterproof. However, the bullet’s range and effectiveness are severely limited due to water resistance.

10. Does water stop bullets effectively? Yes. Water’s density quickly decelerates bullets.

11. What about shotguns underwater? Similar to pistols, shotguns can fire underwater, but the shot spreads and loses velocity rapidly, making them ineffective beyond very short distances.

12. Why are spears and tridents effective underwater weapons? Because they are thrusting weapons. Thrusting a streamlined object requires less force than swinging a broad one. The spear is basically a long streamlined (maybe 3′ long) cross bow bolt.

13. Are there real-world examples of underwater weapons? Yes, diver’s knives, spear guns, and specialized underwater pistols and rifles like the SPP-1, P-11, APS-5, and QBS-06 are all real-world examples.

14. How does fire damage work underwater? Creatures fully immersed in water typically resist fire damage, making fire-based weapons and spells less effective.

15. **How does *Games Learning Society* incorporate the physics of underwater combat into game design?** Games Learning Society studies the application of game based learning. Physics is integral to game-based learning, with some games using realistic models of underwater physics to create challenging and immersive environments. By understanding how water resistance, buoyancy, and projectile motion affect gameplay, designers can create more realistic and engaging underwater combat experiences. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about how games impact learning!

Underwater combat fundamentally changes the dynamics of weapon effectiveness. While many conventional weapons become liabilities, specialized tools and techniques are necessary to prevail in this challenging environment.