Project History

        The Virginia Tech Human Powered Submarine Team has come along way in recent time. From a noble beginning the team has managed to shake off a near demise and rebuild itself into a key competitor. In 1993 Virginia Tech entered the original Phantom submarine in the open water races held that year. During those races, the boat unfortunately suffered a fatal problem with its variable ballast system, and did not fare well. Following that race, the Human Powered Submarine Project at Virginia Tech was shelved, and nothing was done to repair the boat. In 1995 a small but determined effort was started to revive the Phantom team and return to the races in a new boat. A new hull was begun and the Phantom II was born. Work on the submarine was never completed, and the Phantom project was again abandoned after a few months. Then, in the fall of 1996, a new crew of students came across the remains of the project and once again brought it back to life. That fall, about 12 dedicated students began design and construction of all of the sub-systems and completed the hull. Care was taken to improve the design so that the new submarine would not suffer the same fate as Phantom I. Enthusiasm grew and the team expanded to about 20 solid members. The launch and recovery system then became a freshman design project, and 65 teams completed bids, which exposed over 300 young students to the team. The project was again gaining momentum. The sub was completed in time for the 1997 summer race, if only by the narrowest margins. The race was a learning experience for the team, and the attendees gained more knowledge about human powered submarines that week than over the entire year of research. Watching other teams and inspecting their design first hand was invaluable.

Phantom '97 - ‘98 ballooned to over 50 students members and promised to be a very successful year for the team. The growth was attributed to student enthusiasm and the large number of students exposed to the project in their freshman design groups in engineering fundamentals. The 1998 as well as the new 1999 team boasts crew members from almost every engineering discipline including: AOE, ESM, ME, EE, MSE, CHE. Even beyond the College of Engineering, the team has pulled members from diverse major such as Business and Management Science as the project continues to grow in interest and scope. It is our belief that the Phantom Team finally has a strong foothold in the University and in a few years will be producing world class boats.

The goals for 1998 were met on schedule which included a refit and overhaul of the 1997 Phantom II boat as well as the completed design of the new Phantom III, one man submersible. Phantom II was tested extensively in the pool at War Memorial throughout the spring semester and headed to San Diego, Ca., in July to compete in the World Submarine Invitational. The Human Powered Submarine Team of Va Tech and Phantom II represented the school very well, placing Third in the two-man submarine category.

The 1998-1999 school year saw the near-completion of the Phantom III plug, as well as the preparation of Phantom II to take to the water once again.  In testing at Carderock, MD in May 1999, Phantom II clocked a speed of just over 3 knots.  As construction of the new Phantom III hull continues, the 1999-2000 year promises to be a flurry of activity to prepare for the summer races of 2000.

The Virginia Tech Phantom team is committed to improvement and it has its eyes set on the speed records. The Phantom III will be our bid to achieve a record breaker.