![]() ![]() Russia continues to operate stealthy Akula and Borei-class boats and is developing improved successors as well as Poseidon strategic nuclear torpedoes designed to destroy coastal cities. China’s submarine fleet will likely soon exceed America in numbers, though the majority of it consists of shorter-range diesel-electric submarines, and even its nuclear submarines are considered to be significantly noisier than their U.S. Later Virginias also sport vertical launch cells for rapid land-attack capabilities.ĭemand for the Seawolf’s high-end capabilities may rise, however, due to the return of an undersea arms race involving the United States, Russia and China. Meanwhile, more affordable ($1.8 billion each) Virginia-class submarines better suited for littoral engagements are entering service, retaining many of Seawolf class’s advanced features such as the stealthy pump jets, while ditching some of the bulk and gold-plating and making greater use of off-the-shelf technologies. ![]() You can see a picture of the engagement taken via the periscope here. None of the Seawolf subs are known to have engaged in combat, however-unless you count the attack of a polar bear on the Connecticut's rudder after it surfaced through the Arctic in 2003. What reports are available suggests the subs frequently traverse under the polar ice of the Arctic Ocean, at times testing specialized sonars and communications equipment. In fact, all of the Seawolf-class submarines remain shrouded in secrecy, with very few photos or articles released to the press. It’s known to have deployed an aerial drone to spy on North Korean coastal artillery, and it returned to port in 2017 flying a black pirate flag-traditionally flourished by a submarine returning from a patrol in which it has scored a victory. Naturally, the Carter’s clandestine activities remain a secret, though its reception of numerous unit citations for unspecified reasons suggest an eventful operational career. It is also understood to carry instruments allowing it to tap the undersea cables through which the internet and other long-distance communications travel. The 12,000-ton Carter also boasts thrusters allowing it to maneuver more precisely while in treacherous shallow waters and ocean floors. Its hull was lengthened by 30 meters to incorporate a special Multi-Mission Platform which can carry divers, or manned or unmanned underwater reconnaissance vehicles which can be deployed using special locks. The last boat, the Carter uniquely was modified at an extra cost of $887 million into the ultimate spy and special operations submarine. All three are based on the Pacific Ocean at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor in Washington State. Thus the Seawolf order was downsized to just three submarines which launched between 19: the Seawolf, the Connecticut, and the Jimmy Carter, numbered SSN-21 through 23. ![]() The HY100 steel also particularly suffered extensive weld-cracking problems, necessitating additional reconstruction.įollowing the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Seawolf’s premium capabilities and expense could hardly be justified as large numbers of Russian submarines rusted away at their docks. Adjusted for 2018 dollars, that comes out to nearly $5 billion per sub, three times the cost of the Los Angeles boats. ![]() These exquisite capabilities came at a steep price-namely $33 billion for twelve Seawolves, cut down from the initial plans for 29. Thus, the Sea Wolf was designed as the ultimate submarine-hunter: stealthier, more heavily armed, and able to match or exceed its adversaries in speed and maneuverability. It didn’t.) The Seawolf could also use the tubes to launch surface-attack Tomahawk missiles. (The tubes size was meant to future-proof in case the Navy adopted larger weapons. Whereas the Los Angeles carried 37 torpedoes in four tubes, the Sea Wolf could lug fifty heavy-weight 533-millimeter Mark 48 torpedoes or Harpoon anti-ship missiles, which it could launch through eight over-sized 660-millimeter torpedo tubes. The resulting Seawolf laid down by Electric Boat in October 1989 had a wider hull than the 7,000-ton Los Angeles, displacing over 9,000 tons submerged and measuring 108 meters in length. As the Pentagon was flush with money during the Reagan administration, in 1983 the Navy began designing the biggest, baddest-and fastest and quietest-attack submarine possible to restore its edge over the Soviet Navy. submarine force, the Los Angeles class, for acoustic stealth and roughly matched the Improved Los Angeles variant. Navy studies concluded the Akula exceeded the mainstay of the U.S. ![]()
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