"I must confess that my imagination refuses to see any sort of submarine doing anything but suffocating its crew and floundering at sea."
-- H. G. Wells
By Alex P. Vidal
GROTON, Connecticut -- United States Navy submarines have developed by leaps and bounds.
US Navy now have three major types of submarines: ballistic missile submarines, attack submarines and cruise missile submarines.
From the conventional diesel-fueled submersible, all combatant submarines are nuclear-powered, according to retired Fil-Am Navyman Reynaldo Amuan, who accompanied this writer in a tour of the USS Nautilus (SSN-571), the world's first operational nuclear-powered submarine, here December 5.
The current force is composed of 1. Ohio class (18 in commission) – 14 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), 4 guided missile submarines (SSGNs); 2. Virginia class (11 in commission, 5 under construction, 2 on order) – fast attack submarines; 3. Seawolf class (3 in commission) – attack submarines; and Los Angeles class (43 in commission, 2 in reserve) – attack submarines
Ballistic subs have a single, strategic mission: carrying nuclear submarine-launched ballistic missiles. Attack submarines have several tactical missions, including sinking ships and subs, launching cruise missiles, and gathering intelligence.
AGGRESSIVE
As part of an "aggressive move" to counter and address Russian and Chinese submarine expansion, the US Navy wants to build more attack submarines "at a faster pace than currently planned."
The Navy and its industrial partners have the ability to build 2 Virginia-class submarines per year once production of the Ohio Replacement Program nuclear-armed submarines begins in the 2020s, says The National Interest quoting a former Navy Director of Undersea Warfare.
The current status-quo effort to build two Virginia-Class boat per year, however, will reportedly drop to one as construction of the Ohio Replacement Program, or ORP, begins in the early 2020s.
The Navy has reportedly completed a special analysis of strategic imperatives and industrial base capacity on the issue which has been submitted to Congress for review.
SHORTFALL
Navy leaders have consistently talked about an expected submarine shortfall in the mid 2020s and that more attack submarines were needed to strengthen the fleet and keep stay in front of near-peer rivals such as Russia and China, disclosed The National Interest.
Addressing the US Navy submarine shortage is now reportedly of critical or growing importance given China's growing ability to hit the United States with a nuclear-armed missile.
"The Navy, naturally, seeks to maintain its considerable technological advantage in the undersea domain, something which could increasingly be challenged in coming years," it added.
"The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than the question of whether a submarine can swim."
-- Edsger Dijkstra
By Alex P. Vidal
GROTON, Connecticut -- It's normal for the United States (U.S.) Navy not to talk about some of the nuclear-powered attack submarines especially if the story involves the national security, but some basic information that are not classified can be accessed even in the internet, a retired US navyman recently disclosed.
Reynaldo A. Amuan, who retired in 1976, said the U.S. Navy submarines are called as "silent service" because they can save the world from rogue states that occasionally threaten to trigger a nuclear world war.
Amuan, 82, a Filipino-American, said "the U.S. Navy submarines are the most powerful and sophisticated in the world today. Everything is powered by nuclear."
"Our submarines are now cleaner, more sophisticated and don't need diesel fuel unlike what we have some 50 years ago," said Amuan, who was "CPO/E7 Reynaldo A. Amuan" during his active years in service from 1956 to 1976.
Amuan added: "The U.S. Navy submarines were the lifeblood of the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) during the World War II."
VOLUNTEER
Amuan, active member of Connecticut-based New England Filipino-American, Inc. (NEFAI), said anyone who wants to be enlisted in the U.S. Navy must be willing to act as volunteer first and should have a good moral character.
"The most important is he must be mentally stable as he will undergo a one-year observation or study duty to be able to familiarize the vessel and learn its basic operations," Amuan quipped.
When he was enlisted in the U.S. Naval Base in Sangley Point, Cavite, Philippines in 1956, the requirements and qualifications were not as rigid compared today.
"It's because times have changed. There is no more recruitment in the Philippines as the U.S. Navy doesn't have a military base there anymore," explained Amuan, who finished radio operator from a technical school in Iloilo City, Philippines prior to applying in the U.S. Navy.
SUPERPOWER
America, considered as military superpower in the world, reportedly has 43 Los Angeles-class submarines on active duty and 19 retired, making it the most numerous nuclear-powered submarine class in the world.
It was learned that the class was preceded by the Sturgeon class and followed by the Seawolf and Virginia classes. Except for USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-709), submarines of this class are named after U.S. cities, breaking a Navy tradition of naming attack submarines after sea creatures.
The final 23 boats in the series, referred to as "688i" boats, are reportedly quieter than their predecessors and incorporate a more advanced combat system. These 688i boats are also designed for under-ice operations: their diving planes are on the bow rather than on the sail, and they have reinforced sails.
The National Interest reported that the Navy doesn’t like to talk about its submarines.
"After all, a sub’s biggest advantage is its stealth. And of the sailing branch’s roughly 70 undersea boats, Seawolf and her two sister vessels Connecticut and Jimmy Carter are among the most secretive," it stressed.
GOOGLE
If readers will Google the names of any of the Navy’s Los Angeles-class submarines, "the most numerous in the fleet, and you’ll get hits: Navy statements and photo releases, the occasional news article. But try to look up Seawolf-class vessels and you’ll get next to nothing," it explained.
The National Interest disclosed that it's official website is blocked. The last time Seawolf’s exterior appeared in a Navy photo was 2009, it said.
"That’s because Seawolf and her sisters are special. Newer, bigger, faster and more heavily armed than standard attack submarines, the nearly $3-billion-per-copy Seawolfs have been fitted with hundreds of millions of dollars in unique equipment and are assigned to their own special squadron in Washington State," the report added.
Amuan named Chris Tibus, a Fil-Am Navy liaison, who was considered as "the godfather of the Filipinos" for his role in helping Filipino guerrilla fighters in the Philippines during the World War II.
