Submarine news, analysis and projects

[EmoBirb]

There’s also nothing to say that a submarine has to actually be underway during a deterrent patrol. A while back, photos of the marine growth on the hull of a certain non-Russian, Non-America, Non-Chinese, Non-French, Non-Indian, third party SSBN proved that it had been sitting stationary, underwater, for months on end during a deterrent patrol. It goes to show that established nuclear powers can use SSBNs as stationary missile launching barges. The high specific heat of water means that a stationary SSBN on the bottom in a protected “bastion” safe from enemy SSNs is a lot less vulnerable than any concrete ICBM silo.

So the RN had their SSBN essentially lay in "ambush" for the majority of it's deterrence patrol? Interesting but certainly also sensible. Now though, how would the submarine receive it's launch order when it's at the bottom of the seafloor?

 

[Scott Kenny]

There’s also nothing to say that a submarine has to actually be underway during a deterrent patrol. A while back, photos of the marine growth on the hull of a certain non-Russian, Non-America, Non-Chinese, Non-French, Non-Indian, third party SSBN proved that it had been sitting stationary, underwater, for months on end during a deterrent patrol. It goes to show that established nuclear powers can use SSBNs as stationary missile launching barges. The high specific heat of water means that a stationary SSBN on the bottom in a protected “bastion” safe from enemy SSNs is a lot less vulnerable than any concrete ICBM silo.

Combined response

So the RN had their SSBN essentially lay in "ambush" for the majority of it's deterrence patrol? Interesting but certainly also sensible. Now though, how would the submarine receive it's launch order when it's at the bottom of the seafloor?

There are radio waves that penetrate the water pretty well. But the fact that it was covered in green means that the sub wasn't on the bottom, but was within the sunlit band. Less than 100m down.

I suspect that the sub was just poking along at about 4-5 knots indicated, bow on into the current and going roughly nowhere. "Four knots to nowhere" is the name for that style of operating.

Or maybe the Indian concept of a ballistic missile adapted to drop a lightweight torpedo is actually a good idea?

High power ASROC. And yes, it is a good idea. Not sure the 650km range is necessary, but something with a couple hundred km of range would be really good.

 

[zen]

RN Deterrent awaits a signal or a lack of signal.

Signal is normally "all is well" or "change target list to x"
If no signal then open Letter of Last Resort.

 

[Josh_TN]

There are a number of potential mechanisms of communication. VLF, communication buoy, acoustic signals. If you one held still in a specific spot, it is probably a lot easier to make submerged communications work.