From: dpe@inel.gov (Don Palmrose)
Subject: Re: subs
Organization: INEL EG&G Idaho
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 16:33:33 GMT


From dpe@inel.gov (Don Palmrose)


From dpe@inel.gov (Don Palmrose)

In article <BvxDun.MCu@law7.DaytonOH.NCR.COM>, elada@eos.ncsu.edu (ERIC  LADA) writes:
> 
> 
> From elada@eos.ncsu.edu (ERIC  LADA)
> 
> 
> `
> 
> 	Hi agian.  I was just wondering what kind of self-defense/offense 
> mechanisms the boomers have.  Do they have any torpedos, or anything non-nuke
> that can go out and kill any ship or attack sub that following them, or is there
> only defense standing still and staying quite. 

They carry torps for self-defense and have decoys (standard for ALL subs).

> Also do todays subs really have any advantage over ships.  

Yes, dear Virginia, subs really DO have an advantage over ships. :'-(

As a confirmed "surface line is mighty fine" ex-surface nuc, I'm was very
glad the US has such a fine Silent Service (silent except when they brag on
how easy targets surface ships are...;-) ).  I slept soundly knowing they 
were out there protecting my underside while I protected their topside.  BTW
I'll accept flames from a "tuber" any time.  As long as he does his job, I'll 
give them their ego (same for aviators, oops, I meant airdales).

Seriously, the job of ASW for a ship is extremely difficult due to the 
turbulent, non-static nature of the ocean.  With variable-depth towed arrays
(SQS-19 I believe), the job is easier, but the advantage still goes to the
sub.

>Can military satalites track the subs under-water?   

If they can, no one will say.  By what I have read in places like Popular
Science and the equivalent, there is work being done but it is not an easy
thing.  What I mean by that is you may have a system that can see the sub,
but how long after the satellite pass can the computer or human spot the 
signs?  By the time the data is processed, the sub could be several hundred of 
miles away.  This is not just a problem in having the proper sensor, but
much is in volved in processing large amount of data since you do not know
where to look while you do for land surveilence.

> What about that new SEAL underwater delivery vehicle(or something like)  Can 
> that be detected at all?   

I don't known.

> And finnally do subs still pop up under the polar-ice caps?
> What kind of subs did/do this (boomers or attack)
>

Whether we still operate under the ice caps, I do not know.  I would suspect
that our boomers (the US) do not because it is not to our advantage with the
distances the Trident missiles can cover.  Now the attack subs may still do 
under-ice ops since the Russians have not scrapped all of their subs yet.


Don Palmrose
"I'd rather not serve on a ship designed to sink...."






 


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