Current Nuclear Weapons Development

[Sferrin]

Does it have little holes spurting steam? Serious question - what are they?

Probably reduces drag through the water.

 

[Gessler]

Does it have little holes spurting steam? Serious question - what are they?

I think it's a combination of water & steam/gas.

Not entirely sure but I think it's got something to do with the gas bubble created by the ejection mechanism that kicks the missile out above the surface before the boost stage ignites.

The way I'm thinking...the gas bubble created in the launch tube stays with the missile for a while, trapping some water in all the gaps/crevices in the missile and once the bubble dissipates, all that water flows out.

Note that I haven't read any literature on this, just running the physics in my mind. Could be something else entirely!