Embodiments of the present invention provide a gliding submersible transport
system. Exemplary submersible gliders have wings capable of providing sufficiently
high lift-to-drag ratios such that the submersible gliders of may be used for transporting
large volumes of military or commercial hardware, equipment, personnel, or the
like. According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a submersible
glider has a step-wise glider range. The glider includes a substantially cylindrical
hull having a bow and a stern. A generally planar lifting surface is disposed toward
the stern. The lifting surface has a pair of generally planar stabilizer surfaces
that extend generally perpendicular to a plane of the lifting surface from ends
of the lifting surface. A nose cone and at least one steering device are disposed
toward the bow.