USA to use new nuclear submarines to battle terrorism

[lovuian]

http://english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/368/14500_virginia.html

USA to use new nuclear submarines to battle terrorism
10/27/2004 11:04
The new submarines was named in honor of the State of Virginia

The US Navy put into service a new submarine, which had been designed especially for the anti-terrorist struggle. It is noteworthy that the Soviet Union used to have a similar submarine: the 667A submarine was redesigned as a carrier sub, which was outfitted with two mini submarines in addition to torpedoes. The American submarine bears a certain resemblance to the Soviet sub as far as its objectives are concerned.

The official website of the Russian Ministry for Atomic Power said that the US submarine Virginia was evaluated at $2.2 billion. The sub differs from its analogues for its capability to navigate at a relatively small depth, which is an important aspect for anti-terrorist operations. The crew of the nuclear-powered 113-meter-long submarine counts 130 members.


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[Maple]

1. Excuses, excuses

Now they need nuke subs to defend against some guy in a cave with box cutters?

Can we say whopping big excuse to spend the bucks on old Cold War gear?

[rawstory]

2. This is a PARODY site, yo.

not lbn.

[DrWeird]

3. Will we use these to "attack their ports?"

(I guess that one's a little obscure nowdays)

[HawkerHurricane]

4. Typical Press Release Nonsense.

Never mind what it was designed for 10+ years ago for, it is the perfect weapon system for what we are facing NOW, so buy us a couple (hundred).

Remember the B-2? Perfect for a first strike on Russia, they spent 10+ years claiming that's not what it was built for... and now they claim it can be used to sneak up on terror bases (not that terrorist camps were famous for thier air defenses, eh?).

[gbwarming]

5. May be a good example of the Clinton administration thinking ahead

What's your take on this HH? This FAS.org page was apparently last updated sometime in 2000.

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/nssn.htm

The Secretary of Defense in his October 1993 bottom-up review determined that production of the Seawolf class submarine would cease with the third submarine, and that the Navy should develop and build a new attack submarine as a more cost-effective follow-on to the Seawolf class, with construction beginning in fiscal year 1998 or 1999 at Electric Boat. The New Attack Submarine is the first U.S. submarine to be designed for battlespace dominance across a broad spectrum of regional and littoral missions as well as open-ocean, "blue water" missions. The program design goal is to produce a submarine flexible enough to carry out seven very different missions:

* Covert Strike by launching land-attack missiles from vertical launchers and torpedo tubes;
* Anti-Submarine Warfare with an advanced combat system and a flexible payload of torpedoes;
* Anti-Ship Warfare, again, using the advanced combat system and torpedoes;
* Battle Group Support with advanced electronic sensors and communications equipment;
* Covert Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, using sensors to collect critical intelligence and locate radar sites, missile batteries and command sites as well as to monitor communications and track ship movements;
* Covert Minelaying against enemy shipping; and
* Special Operations, including search and rescue, reconnaissance, sabotage, diversionary attacks, and direction of fire support and strikes.

[HawkerHurricane]

10. "Centurian"

There was talk during the early '90s that the 'Seawolf' class was too expensive and unneeded for the post cold war; the Navy's review 'From the Sea' called for a cheaper shallow water capable submarine to do 'non-standard warfare' along with normal operations. It was called "Centurian" in the early paperwork; playing on both the new century and the Roman Soldier motif. The original concept called for sacrificing speed for stealth and size/ammo supply for economy.

This sounds like that concept, 8 years later.

[Florida_Geek]

6. While one or two of these is OK IMHO

the Navy wants 20 of these....

[w4rma]

7. How could a nuclear sub but used to figh against terrorism? (nt)

[neverforget]

8. covert insertion of special forces via the sea. During the Cold War

the US used some subs to cut into Soviet naval communications lines. They don't call it the Silent Service for nothing.

[NinetySix]

11. Ask the Danes.

They contributed a submarine to the "Coalition of the Willing" to help with the invasion of Iraq. We'll just be following their example.

[DemoTex]

9. What's the Russian word for "Onion"?

Tongue, meet cheek.

[Lorien]

12. Ah yes, those special

"sand diving" subs! :eyes:

[Moderator]

13. Sorry--parody is not LBN