Can You Survive the Pressure at the Bottom of the Mariana Trench in a Tank?

Introduction

The Mariana Trench, located in the Pacific Ocean, is the deepest known part of the world's oceans. Reaching depths of over 36,000 feet (11,000 meters), it presents an extreme environment for any living being. This article explores whether it's possible to survive the incredible pressure at such depths in a tank, whether it be a submarine or a standard military tank.

Historical Context and Achievements

The depths of the Mariana Trench have been explored time and time again, with various expeditions and vessels returning successfully from these extreme depths. For example, the Trieste submersible mission conducted in 1960 was a remarkable feat, proving that the pressures at these depths can be overcome with the right technology and design. Does a submersible craft count as a metal tank, or are we thinking of tanks like the M1A1 Abrams or the M4 Sherman?

Survival in a Standard Tank

Imagine diving into the ocean and using a standard aluminum 80-cubic-foot tank for a 40-foot dive. An average open-water certified diver can stay underwater for about 45 to 60 minutes before resurfacing, even with a reserve of air still in the tank. However, this scenario doesn't address the extreme conditions of the Mariana Trench. Here, a submarine tank might be the solution, not a regular tank for land vehicles.

The Failure of a Regular Tank: M1A1 vs. Submarine Tank

A personal experience with an M1A1 tank revealed that it leaks around the driver's hatch, making it unsuitable for deep-sea exploration. Any tank designed for land use, like the M1A1, would either leak and fail at enormous pressures or simply not make it to the bottom due to structural integrity issues. There are special designs that can handle such deep-sea conditions: submersibles like the bathysphere and bathyscaphe.

Specialized Design: Bathyspheres and Bathyscaphes

True survival in the deep requires specialized equipment. For example, Jacques Cousteau's experiments with living underwater in the 1960s utilized advanced technology to address the challenges of deep-sea exploration. A bathysphere, a round, pressurized sphere for deep-sea exploration, or a bathyscaphe, a self-propelled deep-sea submersible with a tank below a float for buoyancy, are designed to withstand the immense pressure and provide a safe environment for exploration.

Conclusion

Survival at the bottom of the Mariana Trench in a tank is possible, but it requires a specially designed submersible. Regular tanks like land vehicles or standard diving tanks are not equipped to handle such extreme pressures. The technology for deep-sea exploration has advanced significantly, and with the right design, it is possible to survive and explore the deepest parts of our oceans. So, while a regular tank wouldn't cut it, a specially designed bathyscaphe or other deep-sea submarines can indeed enable safe exploration of the Mariana Trench.