The dynamic response and noise radiation of a ring stiffened finite cylindrical shell subject to an axial excitation is presented. The effect of the ring stiffeners, finite end conditions, bulkheads, fluid-loading conditions and axial excitation due to the propulsion are taken into account in the low frequency analysis. Results show that the total radiated acoustic signature is due to both the axial and radial vibration motion of the submerged cylinder. The model developed in this paper is used for active control of a fluid-loaded cylinder, which is presented in part 2 of this work
