Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military
From: eos!eugene@eos.arc.nasa.gov (Eugene Miya)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: A NASTY attack sub idea
Message-ID: <7159@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 6 Jun 89 01:56:39 GMT
References: <7132@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Calif.
Lines: 43
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: eos!eugene@eos.arc.nasa.gov (Eugene Miya)

In article <7132@cbnews.ATT.COM> military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) writes:
>
>
>From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker)
>>Sub has to sacrifice its covertness in order to nail the aircraft.
>
>As I've mentioned before in other contexts, the peacetime emphasis on
>stealthiness in submarine training has to go out the window in a real
>war:  a submarine cannot accomplish much that's useful without revealing
>itself.  Boldness is required.
>
>Also, again as mentioned in other contexts, the biggest effects of subs
>with AA armament would be psychological rather than material.

While there is a shadow of truth in what Henry says, ASW helicopters
are generally expendable compared to subs.  Taking the argument to
the logical extreme all military aircraft should be armed.

The argument is very similar to one which took place some months back about
the fighting ability of certain special force units.  Good ones
know when NOT to fight.  So it goes with subs.  That's their special
place and benefit.

Nothing better than a near miss on the ASW, even a hit, then the rest of
the ASW forces could try and pound the hell out of the now exposed sub.
Care to think how helpless the sub crew would feel?  Better to not
give one's position away.  It amazes me that number of people who would
want to get into an engagement.  I would hope most of these types get
weeded out during the selection process.  But I would also hope that
small handheld Stringer type be available internally.

Another gross generalization from

--eugene miya, NASA Ames Research Center, eugene@aurora.arc.nasa.gov
  resident cynic at the Rock of Ages Home for Retired Hackers:
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