Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!ames!xanth!ukma!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!osu-cis!att!cbnews!ugthomps@cs.buffalo.edu
From: ugthomps@cs.buffalo.edu
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Are Aircraft Carriers Obsolete?
Message-ID: <3425@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 24 Jan 89 03:00:19 GMT
References: <3200@cbnews.ATT.COM> <3289@cbnews.ATT.COM> <3354@cbnews.ATT.COM>
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In article <3354@cbnews.ATT.COM> ricko@rosevax.Rosemount.COM (Rick O'Brien) writes:
>I have to disagree with you on this one point ( Although I agree on all of
>the others)  It's my understanding that most American attack boats have
>a photo collection of every American carrier, taken throuch the crosshairs
>of a periscope.  I don't want to get into an argument about how there's 
>only two types of ships, targets and submarines (because I think all such
>statements are too simplistic.)  The carriers can be damaged, and can
>absorb a great deal of damage, but they can also be sunk.  Even slowing
>on down can be extremely important in a combat situation.
>
>Rick O'Brien

Rick,      

Since I've never talked to a bubble head, or had much knowledge (post WWII)
on submarine operations I really can't comment from that side of the coin.
However, being on an ASW platform in the past, I can comment from that side.
The ship I was on was surprised by a russian sub only once, and we surprised
many a russian sub.  The one time we were surprised we were attempting to find
an american sub, and the russian sub appeared "out of nowhere".  However,
this happened during a time period when our propellers were damaged due to
a stupid egyptian harbor pilot.  Thus we were noisy as hell.  I'm not 
saying it's impossible for carriers to be attacked by a sub, i'm merely
stating that there are stories from the other side as well on how effective
surface ships are against subs.  [even still, I would MUCH rather be
on a sub than a carrier] 

                            - G