Supercavitating propeller

The supercavitating propeller operates submerged with the entire diameter of the blade below the water line.

Its blades are wedge-shaped to force cavitation at the leading edge and to avoid water skin friction along the whole forward face.

These propellers are designed to intentionally leave the water and entrain atmospheric air to fill the void, which means that the resulting gas layer on the forward face of the propeller blade consists of air instead of water vapour.

Less energy is thus used, and the surface-piercing propeller generally enjoys lower drag than the supercavitating principle.

Supercavitating propellers were developed to usefulness for very fast military vessels by Vosper & Company.