The Great Submarine Hoax

In two world wars of the last Century, the submarine has received the reputation of a fearsome weapon of war. During these global conflicts, the undersea boats almost changed the outcome until adequate countermeasures were developed to overcome the threat. The sub’s importance spilled over into the Cold War, with America and Russia developing advanced boats culminating in the nuclear powered attack submarine. Sixty years without a major war at sea has led to the rise of many theories and some outright myths on how these increasingly expensive naval platforms operate. Many of these myths appear regularly when defense budget cuts are planned, including:

"The best way to sink a submarine is with another submarine."

This is the most common fable, often appearing in popular fiction such as the works of Tom Clancy. However during the First World War, when the undersea threat first became real, it was the destroyer which finally contained the menace. Destroyers were first developed at the turn of the last century to protect battleships from fast torpedo boats, and proved ideal against submersible torpedo craft. During the Second World War, the combination of long-range aircraft and destroyers defeated the more advanced U-boats of Hitler’s Navy.

Though modern attack subs are armed with superior weapons and better tracking equipment, its principal foes remain aircraft and surface ships. The problem is submarines lack the long-range weapons with which it can sink another sub, depending instead on its torpedoes and the short-range anti-sub rocket. In contrast, surface vessels now regularly deploy aircraft of its own, in the form of helicopters which can range out 100 miles or more.

"A nuclear attack sub is far more capable than conventionally powered boats"

In terms of speed, diving depth, and range, this is a true statement. Other than diving however, these are all abilities desirable in surface ships and not necessarily in a submarine. Primary tactics for undersea warfare has changed little since the world wars: "hide and seek" followed by "hit and run". Constantly in naval maneuvers were hear in the media of slow and silent diesel powered vessels besting the large and noisy nuclear subs. This great asset of the modern attack sub, nuclear propulsion, may be its fatal flaw. The large size required to fit noisy turbines make it vulnerable to countermeasures. A conventional sub cruising on electric batteries is still the quietest warship at sea, making it also the deadliest.

So whatcan a submarine do? Naval leaders often fail to promote the attack boats’ greatest advantage, the sinking of surface ships. During the war with Japan in the Pacific, submarines sank more enemy vessels than all other US weapons combined, including destroyers and aircraft. In the one true naval conflict of the Cold War, off the Falklands Islands, the submarine again confirmed this ability. After the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano was sunk by the British nuclear sub HMS Conqueror, the entire enemy fleet including its lone aircraft carrier, fled to port never to venture forth again. Throughout the Cold War, submariners often boasted of sailing undetected under the mighty aircraft carrier task forces of the US Fleet.

Armed with long range supersonic cruise missiles, the submarine now poses a threat which lawmakers in Washington claim "there is no defense". With some 400 diesel subs estimated in the world, and modern nuclear craft approaching $3 billion each, it is doubtful the handful which can be afforded will be much of a deterrent against possible aggressors. Hopefully the Navy will admit the submarine’s proper role in naval warfare and build smaller, less expensive vessels which can be produced in the numbers needed.

New Wars
The transformation of armies, navies, and airpower in the Digital Age.