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From: ke4zv!gary@gatech.edu (Gary Coffman)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Stealth Boats
Message-ID: <1991Apr1.043223.18352@amd.com>
Date: 30 Mar 91 17:49:42 GMT
References: <1991Mar27.051519.23104@amd.com>
Sender: military@amd.com
Organization: Gannett Technologies Group
Lines: 40
Approved: military@amd.com



From: ke4zv!gary@gatech.edu (Gary Coffman)

	[8 lines of unnecessary quoted text deleted. --CDR]

Diesel-electric boats suffer one fatal problem, they can't run fast down
deep for long. A surface battle group, especially a carrier battle group,
is normally spread over a *lot* of ocean. The US Navy's anti-submarine
warfare systems are very very good. Without the capability to *quietly*
and *quickly* move long distances under water, a sub has little chance
against a US Navy battle group's defenses. Only if the sub is lying quietly
in wait at just the right place when the battle group zigs, is the sub
going to have a chance to get off a shot. In restricted waters, where
a diesel-electric boat has the best chance of getting within striking
range, the Navy can concentrate a *lot* of anti-submarine attention
making it very likely that the sub, even lying doggo, will be found and
destroyed.

Even in WWII, narrow places like the English Channel became very unhealthy
places for subs, even snorkel equipped subs. Also in WWII, *fast*
surface ships never bothered to run in convoy because a diesel-electric
boat simply wasn't fast enough to get a firing position. Today's
best diesel-electric boats have fast dash capability, but because
of limited battery capacity, still have to be very very lucky to
manage to get into a firing position on a 30 knot surface ship that
is taking standard evasive action.

Now nuclear attack boats are a different story. They can *sustain*
the underwater speeds necessary to close on a fast target. They can
stay deep enough while doing so to have a fair chance at remaining
undetected. They routinely take nice periscope pictures of aircraft
carriers in exercises. The advantages of nuclear power for an attack
submarine in open ocean are overwhelming. Even our boats, and they
are very very good, don't like working in narrow or shallow waters.
They can be caught fairly easily without the depth or room to hide
or run. A submarine is an awesome weapon, but so is a carrier battle
group.

Gary