Russian Bulava SLBM: Epic Fail

The Russians just can't seem to get their latest SLBM, the Bulava missile, right.  Another failed launch today, as seen from Norway, it spirals out of control before being destroyed in the atmosphere.

Global Warming: More Subs! Another Reason to Praise It!!!

According to New London's Day, the melting of the arctic ice pack (in summer) means more subs in the Navy's developing strategy.  The Navy "will rely on its submarine force to play a 'very significant role' in future operations in the harsh Arctic environment, where there is limited support infrastructure for ships and communication and navigation can be problematic."

But Rear Adm. David W. Titley, the Navy's senior oceanographer, said he did not have a high degree of confidence in this estimate because of the dynamic Arctic climate.

Crap!  You mean the AGW alarmists might be wrong, and we won't get a bunch more subs and new and exciting missions?

That would suck!

Buy more SUV's!


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Lasers and Submarines

So, no less an authority than MSNBC tells us "lasers to seek, but not destroy subs" in this article.

Sounds like this is a one-way technology, mainly being developed for communications purposes, since the lasers can be shot from the air and still travel underwater.

Ted Jones is leading this research effort, and he's a pretty smart guy, cause he wrote this abstract:

"An intense remote underwater laser acoustic source is under development at the Naval Research Laboratory. In a novel configuration, a tailored intense laser pulse can be designed to propagate many meters underwater and compress at a predetermined remote location. Controlled compression of these optical pulses is governed by a combination of optical group velocity dispersion and nonlinear Kerr self‐focusing. Optical compression can result in laser‐induced breakdown, localized heating, and acoustic shock generation (emphasis added). Recent experiments include near‐field acoustic source characterization using lens‐focused 400 and 800 nm pulses of a Ti:sapphire laser, as well as 532 and 1064 nm pulses of a YAG laser. Sound pressure levels over 210 dB were achieved using a compact laser. Acoustic source characterization includes measurements of photoacoustic energy conversion efficiency, acoustic power spectrum, and directivity. Nonlinear optical studies included the precise measurement of the Kerr index of water at 400 and 800 nm, as well as conditions for optical filament generation, and their effects on acoustic signals. Planned experiments include tests in a bubbly salt water tank. Experimental results will be presented, and laser sources and techniques for underwater acoustic generation will be compared."

Seems pretty cool, eh?

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Flying car, submerging submarine. Audi has James Bond's next car.

Check out this cool rendition of the future of automobiles...

It's a flying car/submarine, and while it is just a concept, I like it.


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Brazil Will Build Nuclear Submarine

The Brazilians are going to build a nuclear submarine, with help from the French. They hope to have it done by 2020, at a cost of $3.5B. Why don't we just build them a decontented Virginia and sell it to them, with a training package, for $3B and take the profits with us?

Boomers eligible for VFW

Today I learned that all those deterrent patrols were good for something, membership in the VFW. If you likewise qualify and want to join, go to the VFW's web site.

South African Submarine Force Sets New Record...

Seems the South African navy is having to dodge some reports that their submarines, purchased from the Germans, are POS's, while their president is accused of accepting bribes from his German supplier. At the same time, have they set some kind of deep submergence record?

I report, you decide.

Could we salvage another sub for a museum?

Remember my post about museum ships? Looks like the Irish want one of their own,

" For 63 years the Nazi U-boat U778 has lain intact in Irish waters, but if a Northern Ireland politician gets his way it will soon be raised and turned into a tourist attraction as part of efforts to commemorate the city of Londonderry's crucial role in the Battle of the Atlantic."

More here...

Kilo replacement continues to struggle

The Russian's follow-up to the Kilo class, the Lada, has been undergoing sea trials for over two years now, with no firm delivery dates yet.

Ladas are:

• Intended for ASUW and ASW (we'll see about that) as well as naval reconnaissance.
• Significantly quieter than Kilos using anechoic tiles and a skewed propeller. Interior machinery is sound silenced.
  
• Equipped with a towed array.
  
• Armed, like the Kilos, with six 533mm torpedo tubes, with 18 torpedoes and/or missiles carried.
• They displace 1,750 tons surfaced and are 220 feet long with a crew of 38.
• Capable of submerged cruise at a top speed of about 24 knots with a max operating depth around 800 feet.
• Capable of a max range of 6,000 miles (snorkeling) or about 300 miles submerged on batteries.
• Going to have an electronic periscope with night vision capability and a laser range finder.
  
• Designed to accept an AIP (air independent propulsion) system, but are not fitted with one as of yet.
• Married with a less complex version, the Amur, being offered for export.

Read a little more here

Another remote controlled submarine by kids...

What is the deal with all the remote control submarines today? Now, a high school in Palos Verdes has won a competition designing a remote controlled submarine. As a parent of teenager, I like this quote from one of the kids, " “It’s something to do after school. It keeps you away from the parents." I wish my kids would spend their time away from us designing remote controlled submarines.

No More...

Couple of submarine books, one new, one old

The Boston Herald reviews “Escape from the Deep: The Epic Story of a Legendary Submarine and Her Courageous Crew” (Da Capo Press, $26), best-selling author Alex Kershaw takes the reader aboard the ill-fated USS Tang (SS-306), one of the most highly decorated submarines during the war.

Speaking of books (and I'm still looking for Submarines for Dummies), if you don't have a copy of the Navy's official contemporaneous account of submarine operations in WW2, "United States Submarine Operations in World War II," you should get it.

Virginia production likely to get go-ahead to increase

Virginia class production is definitely going to go to 2/year, according to this Aviation Week article, highlighted below:

"Negotiations between the U.S. Navy and industry over a multiyear contract for eight Virginia-class submarines will begin 'soon,' and the Navy expects to sign a deal late this year, according to Allison Stiller, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Ship Programs, and Vice Adm. Barry McCullough, Deputy CNO, Resources and Requirements.

" They also told House Armed Services Committee (HASC) seapower panel members this month that the program continues to progress toward the goal of building two subs annually for $4 billion in 2005 dollars. "

The article also informs:
"Other efforts, all of which are geared to closing an attack sub shortfall, include extending the service life of a few Los Angeles-class subs, and, if necessary, deploying a small number of submarines for seven months."


And here is the rest of it.

2008 Submarine History Seminar

If you are going to be in the Washington DC area around April 10, check out the 2008 Submarine History Seminar: 50 Years Under The Ice at the US Navy Memorial. Check out the Navy Memorial's web site for other stuff you may find interesting N/T.

Czech's to get Submarine. Why?

Why would a land-locked country like Czechoslovakia (I spelled that without cheating!) need a submarine????? Hmmmmmmmm, well, this article explains all.

N/T

RADM Fluckey Laid to Rest

In the kind of burial at sea I want (scattered from a submarine, the USS Pasadena), RADM Eugene Fluckey was laid to rest on January 24th on the site of one of his many WW2 triumphs. RADM Fluckey was one of those legendary submariners of the war as CO of the USS Barb. Read more about it. No more.

Lots of New Stuff for Aussies!

The RAN is undertaking a massive modernization of their submarine force, and it is nice to see our second closest ally taking steps to become a siginificant submarine power, who will provide a counter to China, Indonesia, and India.

This article from the Australian provides details, and a video. Don't expect these to be nuclear submarines, for lots of good reasons, as detailed here.

N/T

Submarines featured in this month's "The Navy Reservist"

It's not available yet on the Navy Reserve web site, but this month's issue of The Navy Reservist is dedicated to the submarine force, and includes articles on history, reserve component submarine operations, what some submarine individual augmentees are up to in the GWOT, and deep submergence and rescue. Previous issues are here. take a look at it, I'm proud to say I still recognize some of the author's names.

Local News Visits USS Albany

See the video, here.

How DO they do it?

Brazil Eyes Nuclear Sub to Defend Oil

From the , AP November 16, 2007 comes this story (also on Drudge today). I say to the Brazilians, welcome aboard! But, instead of building it themselves, why don't we just refit one of our LA class boats for them, and subcontract the nuclear plant operations to American subcontractors....

"SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) — This month's discovery of a monster offshore oil reserve justifies Brazil's plan to build a nuclear submarine because it would be used to protect the find, the defense minister said.

"When you have a large natural source of wealth discovered in the Atlantic, it's obvious you need the means to protect it," Nelson Jobim said Thursday at a defense conference in Rio de Janeiro.

Jobim said Brazil must safeguard the Tupi field and its 5 billion to 8 billion barrels of oil reserves from other nations and from "actions that could come from the area of terror," the government's Agencia Brasil news service reported.

Brazil has been talking about building a nuclear submarine for decades, but the project got a boost in July when President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced $540 million in funding for uranium enrichment and the sub program.

Jobim said earlier this month that he wants to come up with an outline within three months to build a submarine for about $1.2 billion, the Agencia Estado news service reported.

Brazil has no South American enemies and has not experienced terrorist attacks, although U.S. government reports have sporadically raised suspicions that the nation's Triple Border region near Argentina and Paraguay is a fundraising source for radical Islamic groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas.

The Brazilian navy's nuclear program, begun in 1979, has already mastered part of the uranium enrichment process. But it lags in developing and constructing a submarine reactor entirely from Brazilian technology.

Silva has frequently touted nuclear power as a way to diversify energy sources and meet growing demand in South America's largest nation and economy.

His government moved in June to restart work on a long-planned third nuclear power plant that has been stalled since the 1980s by lack of funds.

Jobim on Thursday ridiculed the idea that Brazil's uranium enrichment program would ever be used to make a nuclear bomb.

"That's total nonsense," he said."

USS Hawaii completes first evaluation phase

By Gregg K. Kakesako Star-Bulletin (Hawaii) November 18, 2007

The Virginia-class nuclear submarine USS Hawaii (SSN 776) successfully completed its first phase of evaluation off the Florida coast this month.

"Over the next 12 months, each of the Virginia class' mission areas will be thoroughly exercised to validate the submarine's design and performance," said Capt. Michael Jabaley, the Virginia program's assistant program manager for test and evaluation. "In this case, the ship, crew, Sea Air Land (SEAL) special operations team and support personnel performed extremely well in what turned out to be a challenging environment created by Tropical Storm Noel."

The fast-attack submarine is the Navy's first major warship designed for the post-Cold War era involving special operations. The Hawaii has a torpedo room that can be transformed to carry Navy SEALs, and its deck can be equipped with a dry-deck shelter used by SEAL teams.

The Hawaii is commanded by Cmdr. Ed Herrington. Three Virginia-class submarines will be stationed at Pearl Harbor. The 377-foot Hawaii was commissioned in May, and the USS Texas was commissioned last year. They will arrive in the islands in 2009, followed by the USS North Carolina, which is undergoing sea trials.

Kind of fun to see some of the guys I went to SUBSCHOOL with getting high visibility commands! Congrats Ed!