Killing Carriers

[Silent Hunter UK]

Originally Posted by Targan

Another one I was reading just today:

http://rt.com/usa/238257-french-submarine-us-carrier/

It is generally the quieter diesel subs that are better at this sort of thing. Nukes, especially the earlier Soviet ones, could be very noisy due to the reactor; when an 'Alfa' powered up for the first time off Kola, SOSUS picked it up in Bermuda.

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by Silent Hunter UK

It is generally the quieter diesel subs that are better at this sort of thing. Nukes, especially the earlier Soviet ones, could be very noisy due to the reactor; when an 'Alfa' powered up for the first time off Kola, SOSUS picked it up in Bermuda.

Remember also that it is believed by some scientists that noise from nuclear subs are responsible for some whale and dolphin groundings -- they're being deafened.

[jester]

Paul, some of it also is being blamed on the active sonar "pinging" which to those animals I would imagine is like being inside a ringing bell which would scramble anyones brains.

HOWEVER, the archealogical record shows that beachings of such animals goes back thousands of years at some of the same locations they occur today.

Now, that brings the following question to mind. If an active sonar blast can confuse marine animals. What would a concentrated blast do to divers?

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by jester

Now, that brings the following question to mind. If an active sonar blast can confuse marine animals. What would a concentrated blast do to divers?

I'd have tio research it more, but my first impulse is...not as much. Sonar pings not only in the audible range, but mostly in ranges that a human cannot hear.

Additional question: Does sonar have sort of a concussive effect, especially at short ranges?

[Webstral]

RE: French sub attacks on US carrier group in war games.

This sort of thing separates the professional forces from the rest. An embarrassment at the hands of an allied "enemy" is a golden opportunity for learning. Units that get beaten at NTC and JRTC enter combat with a more realistic sense of their vulnerabilities. Overconfidence is very, very dangerous. We can't replace carriers in a reasonable timeframe, and we can't treat them like battleships (i.e., keep them out of harm's way). The only other alternative is sober, professional leadership that appreciates that the enemy may find ways to do the unlikely.

[Matt Wiser]

Concur, Web; and though there were some embarrassed admirals, this is a valuable lesson learned, from which the mistakes made can be dissected, analyzed, and not repeated. Though I'm sure the Navy is wishing they hadn't retired the S-3 Vikings from the ASW role.....

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by Matt Wiser

Concur, Web; and though there were some embarrassed admirals, this is a valuable lesson learned, from which the mistakes made can be dissected, analyzed, and not repeated. Though I'm sure the Navy is wishing they hadn't retired the S-3 Vikings from the ASW role.....

History shows that one type of plane can't do it all, though the US Navy seems to think their Super Hornets can do just that...