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From: ron@hpfcso.fc.hp.com
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Stealth boats
Message-ID: <1991Mar30.020538.28432@amd.com>
Date: 28 Mar 91 19:38:27 GMT
References: <1991Mar18.002151.21071@cbnews.att.com>
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From: ron@hpfcso.fc.hp.com

> From: x35147d3@usma8.usma.edu (Bergman Charles CDT)
> The rest of the world is going to figure out that a few diesel-electric
> subs can easily mess up the operations of an entire U.S. surface fleet.
> And mess up supply from the States.

Not likely. Open ocean interdiction of warships is not simple. It also
requires mobility that a diesel doesn't really have. A diesel is a 
good chokepoint protector but that also tends to localize its operating
area leading the opposition to know where to look for it.
BTW, most of the world's chokepoints belong to friendly allies (UK gap for
example). 

A diesel boat makes a great "manned, mobile mine" but it has to charge its
batteries *sometime*......... and when it does:
  a. It has to suck air thru something
  b. It has to run engines louder than electric motors.
  c. It has to be near the surface
  d. It probably won't be moving very quickly
  e. It may not be able to hear very well (self-noise)

Diesel-busting is an art, but not an impossible one.

Ron Miller
ex-Lt USN  USS CINCINNATTI SSN-693