US Officials: Russian attack submarine sailed in Gulf of Mexico undetected for weeks?

[donnay]

US Officials: Russian attack submarine sailed in Gulf of Mexico undetected for weeks?

Bill Gertz
The Washington Free Beacon (http://freebeacon.com/silent-running/)
Tue, 14 Aug 2012 13:20 CDT


http://s4.freebeacon.com/up/2012/08/AP070731043264-540x289.jpg

A Russian nuclear-powered attack submarine armed with long-range cruise missiles operated undetected in the Gulf of Mexico for several weeks and its travel in strategic U.S. waters was only confirmed after it left the region, the Washington Free Beacon has learned. It is only the second time since 2009 that a Russian attack submarine has patrolled so close to U.S. shores.

The stealth underwater incursion in the Gulf took place at the same time Russian strategic bombers made incursions into restricted U.S. airspace near Alaska and California in June and July, and highlights a growing military assertiveness by Moscow.

The submarine patrol also exposed what U.S. officials said were deficiencies in U.S. anti-submarine warfare capabilities - forces that are facing cuts under the Obama administration's plan to reduce defense spending by $487 billion over the next 10 years.

The Navy is in charge of detecting submarines, especially those that sail near U.S. nuclear missile submarines, and uses undersea sensors and satellites to locate and track them.

The fact that the Akula was not detected in the Gulf is cause for concern, U.S. officials said.

The officials who are familiar with reports of the submarine patrol in the Gulf of Mexico said the vessel was a nuclear-powered Akula-class attack submarine, one of Russia's quietest submarines.

A Navy spokeswoman declined to comment.

One official said the Akula operated without being detected for a month.

"The Akula was built for one reason and one reason only: To kill U.S. Navy ballistic missile submarines and their crews," said a second U.S. official.

"It's a very stealthy boat so it can sneak around and avoid detection and hope to get past any protective screen a boomer might have in place," the official said, referring to the Navy nickname for strategic missile submarines.

The U.S. Navy operates a strategic nuclear submarine base at Kings Bay, Georgia. The base is homeport to eight missile-firing submarines, six of them equipped with nuclear-tipped missiles, and two armed with conventional warhead missiles.

"Sending a nuclear-propelled submarine into the Gulf of Mexico-Caribbean region is another manifestation of President Putin demonstrating that Russia is still a player on the world's political-military stage," said naval analyst and submarine warfare specialist Norman Polmar.

"Like the recent deployment of a task force led by a nuclear cruiser into the Caribbean, the Russian Navy provides him with a means of 'showing the flag' that is not possible with Russian air and ground forces," Polmar said in an email.

The last time an Akula submarine was known to be close to U.S. shores was 2009, when two Akulas were spotted patrolling off the east coast of the United States.

Those submarine patrols raised concerns at the time about a new Russian military assertiveness toward the United States, according to the New York Times, which first reported the 2009 Akula submarine activity.

The latest submarine incursion in the Gulf further highlights the failure of the Obama administration's "reset" policy of conciliatory actions designed to develop closer ties with Moscow.

Instead of closer ties, Russia under President Vladimir Putin, an ex-KGB intelligence officer who has said he wants to restore elements of Russia's Soviet communist past, has adopted growing hardline policies against the United States.

Of the submarine activity, Sen. John Cornyn (R., Texas), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said, "It's a confounding situation arising from a lack of leadership in our dealings with Moscow. While the president is touting our supposed 'reset' in relations with Russia, Vladimir Putin is actively working against American interests, whether it's in Syria or here in our own backyard."

The Navy is facing sharp cuts in forces needed to detect and counter such submarine activity.

The Obama administration's defense budget proposal in February cut $1.3 billion from Navy shipbuilding projects, which will result in scrapping plans to build 16 new warships through 2017.

The budget also called for cutting plans to buy 10 advanced P-8 anti-submarine warfare jets needed for submarine detection.

In June, Russian strategic nuclear bombers and support aircraft conducted a large-scale nuclear bomber exercise in the arctic. The exercise included simulated strikes on "enemy" strategic sites that defense officials say likely included notional attacks on U.S. missile defenses in Alaska.

Under the terms of the 2010 New START arms accord, such exercises require 14-day advanced notice of strategic bomber drills, and notification after the drills end. No such notification was given.

A second, alarming air incursion took place July 4 on the West Coast when a Bear H strategic bomber flew into U.S. airspace near California and was met by U.S. interceptor jets.

That incursion was said to have been a bomber incursion that has not been seen since before the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

It could not be learned whether the submarine in the Gulf of Mexico was an Akula 1 type submarine or a more advanced Akula 2.

It is also not known why the submarine conducted the operation. Theories among U.S. analysts include the notion that submarine incursion was designed to further signal Russian displeasure at U.S. and NATO plans to deploy missile defenses in Europe.

Russia's chief of the general staff, Gen. Nikolai Makarov, said in May that Russian forces would consider preemptive attacks on U.S. and allied missile defenses in Europe, and claimed the defenses are destabilizing in a crisis.

Makarov met with Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in July. Dempsey questioned him about the Russian strategic bomber flights near U.S. territory.

The voyage of the submarine also could be part of Russian efforts to export the Akula.

Russia delivered one of its Akula-2 submarines to India in 2009. The submarine is distinctive for its large tail fin.

Brazil's O Estado de Sao Paoli reported Aug. 2 that Russia plans to sell Venezuela up to 11 new submarines, including one Akula.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow's military is working to set up naval replenishment facilities in Vietnam and Cuba, but denied there were plans to base naval forces in those states.

Asked if Russia planned a naval base in Cuba, Lavrov said July 28: "We are not speaking of any bases. The Russian navy ships serve exercise cruises and training in the same regions. To harbor, resupply, and enable the crew to rest are absolutely natural needs. We have spoken of such opportunities with our Cuban friends." The comment was posted in the Russian Foreign Ministry website.

Russian warships and support vessels were sent to Venezuela in 2008 to take part in naval exercises in a show of Russian support for the leftist regime of Hugo Chavez. The ships also stopped in Cuba.

Russian Deputy Premier Dmitri Rogozin announced in February that Russia was working on a plan to build 10 new attack submarines and 10 new missile submarines through 2030, along with new aircraft carriers.

Submarine warfare specialists say the Akula remains the core of the Russian attack submarine force.

The submarines can fire both cruise missiles and torpedoes, and are equipped with the SSN-21 and SSN-27 submarine-launched cruise missiles, as well as SSN-15 anti-submarine-warfare missiles. The submarines also can lay mines.

The SSN-21 has a range of up to 1,860 miles.

[TheTexan]

The submarine patrol also exposed what U.S. officials said were deficiencies in U.S. anti-submarine warfare capabilities

Likely deficient because of the strategic choice to pursue weapons for "modern warfare", where "modern warfare" means killing brown people with ak-47's. Predator drones are highly effective at that... actual warfare... not so much.


Just another way the war on brown people has made us weaker

[torchbearer]

the feds are too busy snooping on its own citizens to keep watch on anything else.

[phill4paul]

the feds are too busy snooping on its own citizens to keep watch on anything else.

Yup.

[alucard13mmfmj]

no big deal, USA probably have stealth subs in russian/chinese waters.

we focus so much on other country's borders that our own border is not secure.

i think having russian subs off our coast is more alarming than "terrorists" with ak-47s.

[Free in CT]

Likely deficient because of the strategic choice to pursue weapons for "modern warfare", where "modern warfare" means killing brown people with ak-47's. Predator drones are highly effective at that... actual warfare... not so much.


Just another way the war on brown people has made us weaker

I concur. The United States military has been tasked with projecting U.S. power,
not protecting the territory of the United States itself. Hopefully this strategic error
won't have serious consequences.

[XNavyNuke]

Condenser spaghetti written by someone who thinks he has the gouge.

[RonRules]

I could post on this subject, but I won't.

Suffice it to say: We suck.

[RonRules]

We're good at listening to the billions of conversations Americans have between each other.

Listening for enemy nuclear submarines, not so much.

[TheTexan]

We're good at listening to the billions of conversations Americans have between each other.

Listening for enemy nuclear submarines, not so much.

Or... we knew it was there the entire time, and are feigning naval incompetence to sell a false flag story down the line /shrug

[Drex]

First terrorism hysteria... now will everyone fear an attack from Russia? *facepalm* when does it end??

[TheTexan]

Iran Says Will Build a Nuclear Submarine—But Can It? July 13, 2012


Iran has announced plans to start building its first nuclear submarine—a piece of advanced military technology that only the most powerful nations on earth are even able to construct—and which runs on uranium enriched to such a level that it can double as the fuel source for a nuclear bomb.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/48176321/Iran_Says_Will_Build_a_Nuclear_Submarine_But_Can_I t

[Dr.3D]

Iran Says Will Build a Nuclear Submarine—But Can It? July 13, 2012



http://www.cnbc.com/id/48176321/Iran_Says_Will_Build_a_Nuclear_Submarine_But_Can_I t
With the help of the U.S.S.R.... oops... I mean Russia, they could.

[RonRules]

First terrorism hysteria... now will everyone fear an attack from Russia? *facepalm* when does it end??


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb8ZRl0zLJ0

[Danke]

The submarine patrol also exposed what U.S. officials said were deficiencies in U.S. anti-submarine warfare capabilities - forces that are facing cuts under the Obama administration's plan to reduce defense spending by $487 billion over the next 10 years.

Reason for article.

[John F Kennedy III]

I have a hard time believing this.

[QuickZ06]

I have a hard time believing this.

I agree.

Sounds like a way to get us riled up against a certain Iranian ally whether this happened for real or not, but if this really did happen we are some big arrogant fools.

[tangent4ronpaul]

Remember Obama's open mike gaft where he said "tell Putin I will have much more leaway in my second term"?

TRAITOR!

-t

[QuickZ06]

Remember Obama's open mike gaft where he said "tell Putin I will have much more leaway in my second term"?

TRAITOR!

-t

And the pubs made that happen. Romney/Ryan, solid choice :toady:

[donnay]

Or... we knew it was there the entire time, and are feigning naval incompetence to sell a false flag story down the line /shrug


That's where I would place my bet on. Government is not as inept as they would like us to believe they are.

[donnay]

With the help of the U.S.S.R.... oops... I mean Russia, they could.


And I am sure with the help of USSA.

[specsaregood]

"The Akula was built for one reason and one reason only: To kill U.S. Navy ballistic missile submarines and their crews," said a second U.S. official.


So basically it is no threat to me. Good to know, don't see why i should have to fund defending against it.

[mczerone]

Or... we knew it was there the entire time, and are feigning naval incompetence to sell a false flag story down the line /shrug

Or at least to sell a few more billion/trillion dollars to the MIC.

[Dr.3D]

So basically it is no threat to me. Good to know, don't see why i should have to fund defending against it.
Those U.S. submarines would be what keeps them from sending their nuclear missiles into the United States.

[specsaregood]

Those U.S. submarines would be what keeps them from sending their nuclear missiles into the United States.

Why would they want to do that?

[pcosmar]

Or at least to sell a few more billion/trillion dollars to the MIC.

speaking of wasted millions,,what happened with the Hypersonic cruse missile test today..

lots of hype leading up,,

[Dr.3D]

speaking of wasted millions,,what happened with the Hypersonic cruse missile test today..

lots of hype leading up,,
Ehhh... didn't the rocket fail to separate and the missile fall into the ocean?

[TheTexan]

Ehhh... didn't the rocket fail to separate and the missile fall into the ocean?

Hopefully!

[pcosmar]

Ehhh... didn't the rocket fail to separate and the missile fall into the ocean?

Have not heard,,was looking for news a bit ago..
Lots of hype about the (yet) upcoming test.(and bullshit about commercial applications)
nothing about result.
Was supposed to be the new First Strike super weapon. (if it works)

[shane77m]

Terrorist jet skiers walking through airports, Soviet subs in the Gulf, what next? Protestors walking into a nuclear weapon fuel plant? Errrr, wait. I think that happened also.

The government keeps saying "security" but I don't think that word means what they think it means.

[Dr.3D]

Hopefully!
Opps... my bad... that was last year.

Last year in its most recent test, the X-51 fell for about four seconds before its booster rocket ignited, but the aircraft failed to separate from the rocket and plunged into the ocean.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/08/14/air-force-tests-hypersonic-aircraft-with-speeds-3600-mph/#ixzz23a2UnwgX

[pcosmar]

Terrorist jet skiers walking through airports, Soviet subs in the Gulf, what next? Protestors walking into a nuclear weapon fuel plant? Errrr, wait. I think that happened also.

The government keeps saying "security" but I don't think that word means what they think it means.

They still get to pet the children,, to keep us safe.

[devil21]

Sounds like the author of the article watched "Hunt For Red October" before deciding what to write. Some of the lines in that article are straight out of that movie.

Cue Fred Thompson: "All we'll all be lucky to survive it!"

[shane77m]

They still get to pet the children,, to keep us safe.

What is really sad is that people have been brainwashed into thinking it is okay. The videos on Youtube of them feeling up little kids makes me almost vomit in my mouth.

If the Soviets are going to launch a missile from the Gulf, hopefully they will wait until I get back from vacation there in September. The beaches at Gulf Shores are great.

[Dr.3D]

Why would they want to do that?
God only knows what goes on inside the minds of some crazy politicians.

Edit: The whole concept of Mutually Assured Destruction was developed by crazy people. When I was a kid, I would liken it to two people sitting in a helicopter, each holding a hand grenade. And both of them saying to each other, "If you drop yours in my lap, I'll drop mine in your lap."

[pcosmar]

speaking of wasted millions,,what happened with the Hypersonic cruse missile test today..

lots of hype leading up,,

Still a notable silence..
Perhaps some truth to the One and Only exception,,
http://www.businessinsider.com/wired-the-air-forces-x-51a-waverider-test-was-a-total-failure-2012-8


More millions down the tube.

A good Blog post about the whole thing,
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/planetalking/2012/08/15/waverider-is-about-mass-murder-not-ultra-fast-flight/

[Meatwasp]

Well if something starts with the Russians will Obama stay in office as people won't want to change a horse in a river?

[Muwahid]

Likely deficient because of the strategic choice to pursue weapons for "modern warfare", where "modern warfare" means killing brown people with ak-47's ^children. Predator drones are highly effective at that... actual warfare... not so much.


Just another way the war on brown people has made us weaker

Those drones aren't winning the war against the Taliban, that's for damned sure.

[HOLLYWOOD]

COINTEL Disinformation campaign for more funding trash garbage whatever you want to call it.


A word of advice, there's no way in hell the DOD/Washington DC would release such sensative information on such weakness to the press or world. If it were true, this should and probably would of been released as a press junket years/decades after the weakness/gap was corrected AND this would most likely be classified compartmented TOP SECRET forever.

Lot's of Misinformation and Propaganda to keep the War Machine funding, Fear Campaign, and THE FED printing presses running @ 100% capacity.

[tangent4ronpaul]

Well if something starts with the Russians will Obama stay in office as people won't want to change a horse in a river?

More likely we start something with Iran and Russia jumps in. Those countries have a relationship.

-t

[pcosmar]

More likely we start something with Iran and Russia jumps in. Those countries have a relationship.

-t

More like,,
Israel starts something with Iran..and Russia/China get involved..
Then we jump in on the side of Israel,,

WWIII ensues
No One wins.

[tangent4ronpaul]

More like,,
Israel starts something with Iran..and Russia/China get involved..
Then we jump in on the side of Israel,,

WWIII ensues
No One wins.

I'll concede - it probably would go down just like that.

You probably don't want to read the Israeli press right now if you don't have a good supply of diapers around.

-t

Ah - WTF... these are the headlines in the Jerusalem Post today:

Senior Iranian official threatens Israel with destruction

Panetta: No Israeli decision yet on attacking Iran

[KingNothing]

Likely deficient because of the strategic choice to pursue weapons for "modern warfare", where "modern warfare" means killing brown people with ak-47's. Predator drones are highly effective at that... actual warfare... not so much.


Just another way the war on brown people has made us weaker


Nah. From what I understand, this kind of thing happens all the time. These subs are amazing, and the countries that have them are always playing games of cat-and-mouse with each other like this.

[bolil]

They snuck in a boat? Time to jack up the budget.

[KingNothing]

We're good at listening to the billions of conversations Americans have between each other.

Listening for enemy nuclear submarines, not so much.


I think it's nearly impossible to do.

That said, I've heard stories about the CIA sending spooks onto these subs and having them hook-up equipment to intercept ALL electronic communications, and setting up shop off the coast of foreign, and domestic, cities.


My guess is that the Russians do basically the same thing.

[KingNothing]

I have a hard time believing this.

Why? Based on the stories I've heard from guys who actually live in nuclear subs, this is completely reasonable and so common that it isn't even newsworthy.

Danke was right --- this article was only written so that some people could politicize their pet-issue and push for funding.


They might be on to something, though. This probably is a sincere hole in our defenses that we might be able to fix by spending money on it, rather than stupid wars of choice.

[HOLLYWOOD]

More likely we start something with Iran and Russia jumps in. Those countries have a relationship.
-tWell there are approximately 24 million Muslims in Russia


More like,,
Israel starts something with Iran..and Russia/China get involved..
Then we jump in on the side of Israel,,

WWIII ensues
No One wins.all within the past few hours ago... but consider the sources of the media. Remember all that legislation the whores in Congress passed to give Israel your tax dollars and assets(weaponry, assistance, etc). Additionally, don't forget the trade agreement analysis between the US and Israel is classified.

Israel 'prepared for 30-day war with Iran'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19274866

Israel Plans Iran Strike; Citizens Say Government Serious
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-14/israel-plans-for-iran-strike-as-citizens-say-government-serious.html

Diplomats Ordering Gas Masks As Embassies In Israel Prepare For Iran Strike
http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/?p=8481

Ex-CIA Analyst Tells Us The Real Reason Israel Wants To Strike Iran Before The US Election

http://www.businessinsider.com/ex-cia-analyst-explains-the-real-reason-israel-wants-to-strike-iran-before-the-us-election-2012-8#ixzz23e343pMt

[pcosmar]

You probably don't want to read the Israeli press right now if you don't have a good supply of diapers around.



Too late,, have been..
And civil Defense ramping up in Israel.. folks stocking up on Gas masks and such.

Sabers rattling,,drums beating.

only a matter of time.

[Brian4Liberty]

the feds are too busy snooping on its own citizens to keep watch on anything else.

And sending DHS SWAT teams to Flea Markets to intercept "counterfeit" DVDs and shirts.

[tangent4ronpaul]

Still a notable silence..
Perhaps some truth to the One and Only exception,,
http://www.businessinsider.com/wired-the-air-forces-x-51a-waverider-test-was-a-total-failure-2012-8


More millions down the tube.


http://www.businessinsider.com/wired-the-air-forces-x-51a-waverider-test-was-a-total-failure-2012-8

The X-51A was slated to hit 4,000 mph and rip through the sky for a full 300 seconds Tuesday, and this is the second failure of the craft in two years.

WHOOO HOOO! - range 333 miles! :rolleyes:

Though this test will see the X-51 dropped from beneath the wing of a B-52 at 50,000 feet over the Pacific, experts hope the technology could*revolutionize air travel*on everything from to missiles, to manned aircraft.

Ummm....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concorde

With only 20 aircraft built, their development represented a substantial economic loss, in addition to which Air France and British Airways (BA) were subsidised by their governments to buy them. As a result of the type’s only crash on 25 July 2000 and other factors, its retirement flight was on 26 November 2003.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concorde#Retirement

On 10 April 2003, Air France and British Airways simultaneously announced that they would retire Concorde later that year.[141] They cited low passenger numbers following the 25*July 2000 crash, the slump in air travel following 11*September 2001, and rising maintenance costs. Although Concorde was technologically advanced when introduced in the 1970s, 30*years later its analogue cockpit was dated. There had been little commercial pressure to upgrade Concorde due to a lack of competing aircraft, unlike other airliners of the same era such as the Boeing*747.[142] By its retirement, it was the last aircraft in British Airways' fleet that had a flight engineer; other aircraft, such as the modernised 747-400, had eliminated the role.[143]

…

It has been suggested that Concorde was not withdrawn for the reasons usually given but that it became apparent during the grounding of Concorde that the airlines could make more revenue carrying first class passengers subsonically.[148] Rob Lewis suggested that the Air France retirement of its Concorde fleet was the result of a conspiracy between Air France Chairman Jean-Cyril Spinetta and Airbus CEO Noel Forgeard, and stemmed as much from a fear of being found criminally liable under French law for future Concorde accidents as from simple economics.[149] A lack of commitment to Concorde from Director of Engineering Alan MacDonald was cited as having undermined BA’s resolve to continue operating Concorde.[150]


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concorde#Comparable_aircraft

The only supersonic airliner in direct competition with Concorde was the Soviet Tupolev Tu-144, nicknamed "Concordski" by Western Europeans for its outward similarity to Concorde.[180] It had been alleged that Soviet espionage efforts had resulted in the theft of Concorde blueprints, ostensibly to assist in the design of the Tu-144.[181] As a result of a rushed development programme, the first Tu-144 prototype was substantially different from the preproduction machines, but both were cruder than Concorde. The Tu-144S had a significantly shorter range than Concorde, due to its low-bypass turbofan engines.[182] The aircraft had poor control at low speeds because of a simpler supersonic wing design; in addition the Tu-144 required parachutes to land while Concorde used anti-lock brakes.[183] The Tu-144 had two crashes, one at the 1973 Paris Air Show,[184][185] and another during a pre-delivery test flight in May 1978.[186][187]
Later production Tu-144 versions were more refined and competitive. They had retractable canards for better low-speed control, turbojet engines providing nearly the fuel efficiency and range of Concorde[188] and a top speed of Mach 2.35. Passenger service commenced in November 1977, but after the 1978 crash the aircraft was taken out of service. The aircraft had an inherently unsafe structural design as a consequence of an automated production method chosen in order to simplify and speed up manufacturing.[189]
The American designs, the Boeing 2707 and the Lockheed L-2000 were to have been larger, with seating for up to 300 people.[190][191] Running a few years behind Concorde, the Boeing 2707 was redesigned to a cropped delta layout; the extra cost of these changes helped to kill the project.[192] The operation of US military aircraft such as the XB-70 Valkyrie and B-58 Hustler had shown that sonic booms were quite capable of reaching the ground,[193] and the experience from the Oklahoma City sonic boom tests led to the same environmental concerns that hindered the commercial success of Concorde. The American government cancelled the project in 1971, after having spent more than $1*billion.[194]
The only other large supersonic aircraft comparable to Concorde are strategic bombers, principally the Russian Tupolev Tu-22, Tu-22M and Tu-160 and the American B-1 Lancer.[195]

-t

[RonRules]

More like,,
Israel starts something with Iran.

Nope, WE will start something with Iran. It's our duty!

Let Wolf and Michael Oren tell you:

Good stuff starts at 4:20 if you want to save time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE4SO8b9DM0&feature=player_embedded

[coastie]

So that's what spooled my 130lb class outfit a couple of months ago while we were fishing!



:p

[Dr.3D]

So that's what spooled my 130lb class outfit a couple of months ago while we were fishing!



:p
I understand, they fight like hell once you've got em hooked.

[RonRules]

So that's what spooled my 130lb class outfit a couple of months ago while we were fishing!:p

So that's what ripped out the blowout protection off the Deepwater Horizon drill pipe in the gulf of Mexico! :P

[XNavyNuke]

The submarine patrol also exposed what U.S. officials said were deficiencies in U.S. anti-submarine warfare capabilities - forces that are facing cuts under the Obama administration's plan to reduce defense spending by $487 billion over the next 10 years.


Reason for article.

Then thats one more count where the purported journalist failed miserably. The policy decision to decomm the last dedicated ASW DD's was made by the Clinton Administration. Bush 2 exacerbated it by pushing procurement of Burkes (primarily an AAW platform) instead and wasting resources on an LCS with a vaporware to-be-determined ASW module. The -19 towed array space on most Burkes have be lovingly turned into gym equipment areas. Hypothetically, this could be ripped out and at TA put back in if the ship isn't on the wrong side of the Pacific and manages to make it back to port. Then of course you have training that goes along with a TA. -sigh-

XNN

[devil21]

^^^^
In english please? Too many damn acronyms in Navy speak.

[Anti Federalist]

Funny how this doesn't make news at all in the US when our most favored "free trade" partner does the same thing, sneaking up close enough to blow the USS Kitty Hawk out of the water before anybody could have figured out what had happened, if they wanted to.



The uninvited guest: Chinese sub pops up in middle of U.S. Navy exercise, leaving military chiefs red-faced

Last updated at 00:13 10 November 2007

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-492804/The-uninvited-guest-Chinese-sub-pops-middle-U-S-Navy-exercise-leaving-military-chiefs-red-faced.html

When the U.S. Navy deploys a battle fleet on exercises, it takes the security of its aircraft carriers very seriously indeed.

At least a dozen warships provide a physical guard while the technical wizardry of the world's only military superpower offers an invisible shield to detect and deter any intruders.

That is the theory. Or, rather, was the theory.

[XNavyNuke]

^^^^
In english please? Too many damn acronyms in Navy speak.

Secret decoder ring:
ASW - Anti Submarine Warfare
DD - Destroyer, the one I'm referring to is specifically the Spruance-class
Bush 2 - that would be the Son of Bush administration.
Burke - The class of destroyer replacing all other previous classes which were more-or-less optimized for a specific task. Burkes do them all. Think Swiss Army Knife.
AAW - Anti Aircraft Warfare
-19 - refers to the AN/SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array sonar system. Think long tail of hydrophones pulled behind the vessel and used to listen for sounds emitted underwater.
TA - Towed Array (see above)
sigh - exhalation of a deep breath

[Dr.3D]

Secret decoder ring:
ASW - Anti Submarine Warfare
DD - Destroyer, the one I'm referring to is specifically the Spruance-class
Bush 2 - that would be the Son of Bush administration.
Burke - The class of destroyer replacing all other previous classes which were more-or-less optimized for a specific task. Burkes do them all. Think Swiss Army Knife.
AAW - Anti Aircraft Warfare
-19 - refers to the AN/SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array sonar system. Think long tail of hydrophones pulled behind the vessel and used to listen for sounds emitted underwater.
TA - Towed Array (see above)
sigh - exhalation of a deep breath
Yeah, we had a TA behind our ship for some time, and it has even more uses than just listening. LOL

[XNavyNuke]

Funny how this doesn't make news at all in the US when our most favored "free trade" partner does the same thing, sneaking up close enough to blow the USS Kitty Hawk out of the water before anybody could have figured out what had happened, if they wanted to.

The news gets out in other channels, where journalistic drivel is corrected.
USS Kitty Hawk And The Chinese Sub (http://bubbleheads.blogspot.com/2006/11/uss-kitty-hawk-and-chinese-sub.html)


Update 0513 13 Nov: Here's the article, from the Washington Times' Bill Gertz. It's even lamer than I thought; the Song-class diesel boat was spotted on the surface about five miles from the Kitty Hawk. So, either the Chinese were trying desperately to let us know that they could get that close to us, or this is another of a series of attempts by the Chinese to send their submarines farther afield where they just can't seem to stay undetected and/or submerged. Since they have nothing to gain by taunting us like that, I vote for the second option.

While popular media likes to believe that a carrier battlegroup cover hundred of square miles, thats really the air cover. Submarine screens are done closer in so that detections can overlap. The YU-4 torpedoes on the Song have a range of only a couple of kilometers. The YJ-82's missiles are not carrier killers and China has had a heck of a time getting them to launch consistently submerged.

[puppetmaster]

sounds like they need more money......