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I start with the letter "S".
I have something to do with missiles and water.
I am commonly used on submarines and production/power plants.
I am some sort of storage.
I have 4 letters.

What am I?

This is a riddle a friend of mine sent, and I just can't seem to find the solution.

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    $\begingroup$ SSSSSssssssssssmokin' :P $\endgroup$
    – ABcDexter
    Jul 12, 2018 at 7:02
  • $\begingroup$ At first, I thought it was Rot13$[$fnyg$]$ (as it is also some kind of storage when putting it on food) but the "missiles" part did not entirely fit. $\endgroup$
    – Mr Pie
    Jul 12, 2018 at 9:27
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Reminded me of this: youtube.com/watch?v=dPUHY9b5TxY $\endgroup$
    – m4n0
    Jul 12, 2018 at 9:55
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @ManojKumar well someone has a good taste in movies ;) $\endgroup$
    – Mr Pie
    Jul 13, 2018 at 0:27
  • $\begingroup$ Suranium?wait something wrong $\endgroup$ Jul 13, 2018 at 1:31

10 Answers 10

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(Updated!) You might be

a Silo

I start with the letter "S".

Yup.

I have something to do with missiles and water.

Missile silos.
Also water silos - "A water silo is a giant barrel that can contain a huge quantity of water. The water stored in a water silo can be used for various purposes."

I am commonly used on submarines and production/power plants.

Missile subs have silos. Subs also carry water in holding tanks, both for drinking and for ballast.
Production/power plants keep water in silos for various purposes.

I am some sort of storage

Yup

I have 4 letters.

Yup

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    $\begingroup$ I thought about that too, but it isn't "steam". $\endgroup$
    – Mr314
    Jul 12, 2018 at 2:34
  • $\begingroup$ @MrPi Make sure to go to this website, Rot13 and write down what you would say in the comments, in the upper box. The site would then convert your message to a secret code; for example, Hello! becomes Uryyb!. Once you have written what you have to say, copy-and-paste the secret code and put it in Rot13[here]. This will let users know where to find your comment, but it also allows for users to decide whether they want to read it or not (because it might contain spoilers). I suggest you should start using Rot13 comments for your future puzzles :) $\endgroup$
    – Mr Pie
    Jul 13, 2018 at 0:32
  • $\begingroup$ @user477343 Not every comment needs rot13. For example, MrPi could have simply said "I thought about that too, but this isn't the answer." - no spoiler needed. Rot13 is a (poor) compromise that allows people to conceal information that would otherwise give away the answer. But there are certainly other ways: Ideally, be a bit cryptic/indirect in your comments, such that anyone (eg. the OP) who already knows the answer would understand your comment, but casual scanners should not. (See also the userscript mentioned in that answer.) $\endgroup$
    – Rubio
    Jul 13, 2018 at 20:04
  • $\begingroup$ @Rubio $\diamondsuit$ ok. Thank you for that. I did not know. I will check out the link :) $\endgroup$
    – Mr Pie
    Jul 14, 2018 at 0:56
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I agree with Rubio's answer.

But you could also be

a sink.

I have something to do with missiles and water.

Just like loose lips, missiles can sink ships (in water).

I am commonly used on submarines and production/power plants.

Apart from the literal explanation which applies to most places intended for human presence, submarines can dive (sink), and power plants need a heat sink to maintain their operating temperature.

I am some sort of storage.

I have to confess there are some unwashed dishes in my kitchen sink..

I start with the letter "S".
I have 4 letters.

Yes.

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    $\begingroup$ +1 for "I have to confess there are some unwashed dishes in my kitchen ..." $\endgroup$
    – xhienne
    Jul 12, 2018 at 7:33
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I start with the letter

"S". = SALT

I have something to do with missiles and water.

(SALT MISSLE TREATY) (SALT WATER).

I am commonly used on submarines and production/power plants

(SODIUM SALT FOR HEAT TRANSPORT).

I am some sort of storage

(STORE HEAT IN SALT).

I have 4 letters.

SALT

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  • $\begingroup$ Welcome to Puzzling.SE! This seems like a pretty good answer. I added spoilers to your answer so that others won't accidentally see it. Why not take the tour and earn an easy badge? $\endgroup$
    – Chowzen
    Jul 12, 2018 at 22:46
  • $\begingroup$ I was thinking of this answer, but I could not find a match with the "missiles and water" part. However, look at one of the other answers and you will spot the similarity. $(+1)$ nonetheless :) $\endgroup$
    – Mr Pie
    Jul 13, 2018 at 0:39
  • $\begingroup$ Why is this one upvoted with the same answers as mine when I answered this first? $\endgroup$ Jul 16, 2018 at 11:02
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Well, it could be

SUMP

As,

it is for storage of oil / water etc. and also used in warfare equipment. It is of 4 letters and starts with a S.

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    $\begingroup$ Mea Culpa yayyy :D $\endgroup$
    – ABcDexter
    Jul 12, 2018 at 7:02
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the answer to this question is

'sump' (I am a former NAVY submarine contract worker).

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    $\begingroup$ How does it fit with missiles? $\endgroup$ Jul 12, 2018 at 16:18
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    $\begingroup$ Welcome to Puzzling.SE! I agree, you need to explain in a little more detail how this fits each line of the riddle. You might be a former Navy submarine contract worker, but most of us here aren't, so the connection isn't as obvious. $\endgroup$
    – F1Krazy
    Jul 12, 2018 at 16:54
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    $\begingroup$ I feel like the downvotes on this answer are inappropriate - he is a new user and has not had appropriate time to come back and correct his answer. $\endgroup$
    – user50705
    Jul 12, 2018 at 19:24
  • $\begingroup$ i thought so too. There is a " missile-sump effect " @ChrisCudmore $\endgroup$ Jul 13, 2018 at 1:34
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Do you need a

Solution?
Missiles are fired from a submarine when a shooting "solution" is found.
Power production uses all types of solutions, here's an instance.

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    $\begingroup$ No that's not it. $\endgroup$
    – Mr314
    Jul 12, 2018 at 2:33
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Taking user477343's comment and making it an answer (because I thought this word too):

You could be:

SALT

I start with the letter "S".

Salt does

I have something to do with missiles

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) were about limiting the number of nuclear missiles through a treaty.

and water.

Most water in the world is saltwater.

I am commonly used on submarines

Not sure... In the dining area?

and production/power plants.

There are power plants based on saltwater heating. There is something called a molten salt power plant.

I am some sort of storage.

Salt packing of meat (and other products) is a storage method.

I have 4 letters.

Salt has 4 letters

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0
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Could you also be

Sand?

I start with the letter "S".

Indeed.

I have something to do with missiles and water.

There is a place known as the The White Sands Missile Range and at the beach, you will find sand and water. (Also, water has waves, and so does sand; i.e., sand dunes.)

I am commonly used on submarines and production/power plants.

Not too sure about this one. Perhaps something in relation to submarine sand waves?

I am some sort of storage.

Not too sure about this one, either, but sand is stored in an hourglass.

I have four letters.

$$\verb|S|\;\verb|A|\;\verb|N|\;\verb|D|$$

What am I?

Sand, perhaps?

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0
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How about

silo.

I don't know if submarines call them that for

SLBMs

but worth a shot.

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    $\begingroup$ Welcome to Puzzling.SE! First of all, please make sure that your answer hasn't already been posted before posting. Secondly, it's customary to use spoiler tags to avoid potentially spoling the solution for anyone who wants to have a go at the puzzle themselves; I've added those in for you. Thirdly, this could use a bit more explanation as to how it matches each line of the riddle. $\endgroup$
    – F1Krazy
    Jul 12, 2018 at 17:46
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SEALs: "Submarine Armament - SEALs (SSGN - Dry Deck Shelters). SSGNs can carry two Dry Deck Shelters (DDS), 9-foot diameter chambers attached to the top of the Missile Deck. Each DDS has the ability to carry one SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) or several RIBs (inflatable speedboats - more on that tomorrow). But normally, DDS's carry SDVs. An SDV is a 4-man mini-sub capable of being launched from the DDS while the SSGN loiters off the coast submerged. The team of SEALs traverses toward shore submerged in their SDV, returning when their mission is accomplished." - via http://www.rickcampbellauthor.com/styled/index.html

Starts with S
Has to do with missiles and water
Found with submarines, dunno about power plants though
I mean, it can store something
is four letters

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