Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

Russian Navy Akula class nuclear attack submarines

newspaper freelance writer Malan

8 on 5, two Russian nuclear submarines Jingxian U.S. East Coast (see August 7, 06 newspaper edition report). Although the U.S. military said no “fuss” and pretending to be calm, but a submarine in the blink of an eye, “quietly disappeared”, or lead people to doubt the U.S. anti-submarine capabilities. In fact, this incident demonstrates that the U.S. Navy anti-submarine network is not an impregnable fortress, its potential ability to hunt as many people imagine it is not as “super.”

anti-submarine “tink” the gap

for Russian nuclear submarines coming out regarding the U.S. east coast, an anonymous Pentagon official said the U.S. military overall anti-submarine network is very effective, the Russian submarine can not be “out of surveillance.” The irony is that in which a U.S. Navy submarine was immediately under the eyes disappeared.

exploration potential U.S. anti-submarine network is divided into sub-networks and submarine sub-networks, which explore the potential means of sub-network consists of four kinds of components: anti-submarine helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, with the ability of anti-submarine ships, deployed in the sea fixed sonar arrays. Finding the target, the submarine began to play a role in sub-network, which is mainly carried by the anti-submarine anti-submarine weapons platform composed of species with anti-submarine missiles, depth charges and wire-guided and the acoustic torpedo.

the surface, the anti-submarine network does “seamless”, the reality is not so; a long time, mainly for the U.S. anti-submarine force the Soviet Union (Russian) nuclear submarines, such as more active in the deep target, so U.S. existing anti-submarine measures by environmental limitations.

Naval Operations Command Major General Sullivan, director of submarine warfare had pointed out that possession of nuclear submarine into the ocean than in coastal security, because passing ships, wave and tide is extremely complex and the formation of strong environmental noise and seawater salinity and temperature gave the submarine provides better camouflage conditions. Perhaps this is not real-time tracking Russian nuclear submarine the U.S. military, and let one of them “slip” reasons.

submarine hunting platform powerless

At the same time, constitute the main platform for the U.S. anti-submarine networks, in fact, warfare capabilities have also been shrinking. This is mainly reflected in the insufficient number of attack submarines. As we all know, all advanced countries including the U.S. Navy, are underwater submarine force as a major weapon against the enemy, but the U.S. Navy is currently fielding the number of attack submarines plummeted, affecting the underwater anti-submarine capabilities.

according to the U.S. Pacific Fleet Submarine Force Commander Keneiqini will, the Pacific Fleet attack submarines needed to meet the 35 requirements, there are only 26. U.S. Joint Chiefs of study also concluded that in 2015 the number of U.S. Navy attack submarines, if less than 55, the regional military commander will be unable to respond to emergencies. To alleviate the pressure of the submarine force, the United States has old-fashioned, “Los Angeles” class nuclear submarine re-add fuel to extend their service period.

other anti-submarine platform, the U.S. military is also facing similar problems. For example, in the air force, long-term play the main role of the P-3 antisubmarine aircraft because of heavy workload, leading to active duty more than 200 aircraft of metal fatigue and corrosion, nearly half of the year need of repair; the consequences that the implementation of routine anti-submarine aircraft significantly reduce training mission, the Navy anti-submarine tactical skills are being threatened.

or enemy use of tactical vulnerabilities

from a tactical point of view, the U.S. military’s anti-submarine layout nor perfect. Fleet perform anti-submarine missions, usually in the aircraft carrier anchored into the past (20 sea miles away from the carrier), (80 miles) and far (100 nautical miles) anti-submarine defense area. The entire battle group to sail a high speed in order to increase the difficulty of the enemy’s attack, but also brought a big noise and other issues. The voyage, if the enemy submarines lurking in advance on the route of inaction, battle group would be difficult to find the target.

In addition, surface ships, submarines or underwater exploration mainly towed array sonar use, this device has a passive search for the advantages of early warning distance, but in the routes on both sides, bow, tail direction there are blind spots. In addition, in far too defensive area, but also inevitably lead to detection of “gap.”

modern submarine concealment technology continues to progress, as the sharp increase in anti-submarine more difficult. Many countries have begun to equip the AIP (air independent propulsion) submarines can hide in deep water a long time. In the past, the submarine underwater electric motor driven by batteries, can only be submerged dozens of hours, often have to float to the surface to “breathe”, can easily be radar or acoustic equipment to detect. Now, with the AIP device, if fitted with a submarine on the use of divers’ underwater breathing apparatus “, continued ability to multiply submerged, its hidden anti-submarine forces opponents much headache.