[RN7]

Thinking logically about this (and I was the one who brought it up) all that I can say about the alleged deficiencies in US Navy anti-submarine capabilities is that I think there may be more to it than meets the eye.

What we know

In exercises since 1980 US Navy anti-submarine defences have been repeatedly been breached by diesel-electric submarines from Australia, Britain, Canada, Chile, France, Japan, the Netherlands and Sweden.

A Chinese Song Class diesel electric submarine surfaced within firing range of a US Navy aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk in the East China Sea in 2006 and every sonar on the ships in the US carrier battle group missed it, as did the US nuclear submarines prowling around beneath the sea.

US nuclear submarines are the quietest nuclear submarines in the world, even the British ones which are very good are noisier.

The Virginia Class nuclear attack submarine has 9 different types of mast and 7 different types of sonar.

All of this information is freely available on the internet on various websites and articles, and there has been no attempt by the US Navy to suppress the results of these exercises or incidents which would seriously undermine its mission and funding in the public and political domain. Who does that benefit?

What this implies

Despite having a budget larger than the entire defence budget of Russia the US Navy has failed to grasp the importance one of the fundamentals of modern naval warfare; the threat from submarines.

US Navy anti-submarine technology must be deficient in comparison to other countries navies despite having a bigger R&D budget than any other navy.

US Navy anti-submarine equipment must be deficient in comparison to other countries navies despite using the same equipment, or similar or even better equipment.

In 35 years of exercises with NATO and allied navies the US Navy captains and officers have failed to understand or learn anything about the tactics of allied submarines despite all of these exercises.

In 35 years of exercises with NATO and allied navies the US Navy captains and officers have failed to understand or learn anything about the technical capabilities of allied submarines despite all of these exercises.

US Navy crews are staffed by many people who missed out on their career vocation at McDonalds.

The US Navy has got it all wrong with nuclear submarines. You can buy a whole squadron or more of diesel electric submarine for the price of a Virginia Class nuclear attack boat, or even three of the very best German Type 212 AIP subs for the price of a Virginia. The British and French have got it wrong too as they now only have nuclear submarines.

What we don't know

The true sensor capabilities of modern US sonar and sensors as the US Government doesn't release that information.

The motivation of US Navy intelligence.

What the US Navy has in mind when undertaking these exercises with allied navies. Is there a few billion in funding for new equipment they would lose out on if the results showed that they didn't keep losing?

What do I know

Nothing much, just throwing a few ideas in.