SUBMARINES AND UNDERSEA WARFARE

Outline

I. Mission of the Submarine ForceII. HistoryIII. Operations/MissionIV. PlatformsV. Combat Systems

Mission of the Submarine Force

As stated by the CNO's Submarine Warfare Division, the U.S. Submarine Force has several goals: 1. to maintain its role as the world's preeminent Submarine

Force2. to aggressively incorporate new and innovative

technologies to maintain dominance throughout the maritime battlespace

3. to promote the multiple capabilities of submarines and develop tactics to support national objectives through battlespace preparation, sea control, supporting the land battle and strategic deterrence

4. to fill the role of the Joint Commanders' stealthy, full spectrum expeditionary platform.

History

The first military submarine was the American-built Turtle (1775). Designed and built by the patriot David Bushnell, the hand-powered, egg-shaped device accommodated a single man. It is thought to be the first submarine capable of independent underwater operation, and the first to use a screw for propulsion

History

During the American Civil War, confederate forces revived the submarine concept. On February 18, 1864, the Confederate States Submersible, the CSS Hunley, performed the first successful military submarine mission when she sank the USS Housatonic, just off Charleston Harbor. Hunley performed her submerged attack against Housatonic using a spar torpedo

History

U-boats (German submarines) were central to the German naval strategy during the first World War. In fact, a torpedo fired from a German U-boat sank the ocean liner RMS Lusitania (May 7, 1915), which directly precipitated entry of the U.S. into WWI.

History

Following WWII, the Cold War redefined the mission of the submarine. Against the rising threat of nuclear war with the Soviet Union, several critical design improvements transformed the U.S. submarine fleet.

Most notably, these improvements included: 1. The tear-dropped hull shape.

First developed for conventional diesel-electric submarines, the tear-dropped hull allowed much greater submerged operating speeds and higher propulsion efficiency

2. Nuclear powered propulsion. Due in large part to the efforts of ADM Hyman Rickover (USNA ‘22), “Father of the Nuclear Navy,” the Naval Nuclear Power Program was born.

History

With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Cold War ended. However, despite the heavy demands of the Cold War, the U.S. has only lost two nuclear powered submarines. In contrast, the Soviets lost a total of nine submarines during the Cold War. The two lost nuclear powered U.S. submarines are:

1. USS Thresher (SSN-593). Thresher was lost on April 10th 1963, during a deep diving sea-trial off the coast of Massachusetts. Exact details of her loss remain unclear.

2. Scorpion (SSN-589). Scorpion was lost in May, 1968, returning to Norfolk from Rota, Spain. The conditions of her loss are much less clear than for Thresher. However, based on acoustic evidence, scientists working for the U.S. Navy have proposed she suffered either a collision or an inadvertent weapon detonation.

Operations/Mission

Peacetime Operations: Peacetime deployment of submarines helps demonstrate U.S. interest in particular regions and supports U.S. national defense by providing a flexible forward presence. The stealth advantage offered by submarines gives the President the ability to demonstrate interest in a specific region at a specific time.

Strategic and Conventional Deterrence: Both strategic ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) and fast attack submarines (SSN) participate in the mission of deterrence. The primary role, peacetime or otherwise, of the SSBN continues to be nuclear deterrence. Under the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), our constantly present nuclear strike capability dissuades other nuclear powers from launching nuclear attack against the United States. Additionally, as a conventional deterrent, the SSN provides an ever-present, though rarely seen, asset that can exert pressure on any would-be threat with minimal risk to U.S. forces.

Operations/Mission

Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR): Attack submarines perform a broad spectrum of surveillance and intelligence roles. Some examples of ISR missions include stealthy interception of enemy cell phone communications and gathering intelligence on foreign port operations. The submarine’s ISR capability stems from its stealth; a submarine can enter an area and watch and listen without being counter-detected.

Special Operations: SEALs and other small-unit special operations forces (including joint forces) operate in conjunction with the submarine force. The dive chambers on SSNs and SSGNs have the ability to “lock-out” special operators while submerged. SSNs and SSGNs can also externally carry special operations equipment, such as the Dry Deck Shelter/SEAL Delivery Vehicle, rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs), and other munitions and supplies. In short, submarines form the ideal platform for inserting, supporting, and extracting small special operations units when surprise or secrecy is essential.

Operations/Mission

Precision Strike: Submarines fire the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM), either from torpedo tubes or from vertical launch systems (VLS), to perform the critical job of precision strike. The TLAM provides high accuracy and a standoff attack range of more than 650 miles. The execution of this role by submarines has greatly expanded since the recent conversion of four SSBNs into SSGN submarines that act as formidable TLAM strike platforms. Each SSGN can carry up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles, the equivalent capacity of an entire Carrier Strike Group.

Sea Denial: Preventing enemy use of the seas – be it warship activity or merchant shipping – has always been and continues to be an important mission for submarines. Submarines can perform sea denial missions in a variety of scenarios, from general war against a major maritime power, to blockages of specific enemy ports. Attacks against enemy surface ships or submarines can be part of a war of attrition or such attacks can be directed against specific isolated targets.

Platforms

Fast Attack Submarines (SSN)

Fast Attack submarines are designed to: 1. Seek and destroy enemy submarines and

surface ships2. Conduct precision strike with Tomahawk

cruise missiles3. Project power ashore by delivering and

supporting Special Operation Forces4. Carry out Intelligence, Surveillance, and

Reconnaissance (ISR) missions5. Support Carrier Strike Groups 6. Engage in mine warfare.

Fast Attack Submarines (SSN)

There are three classes of SSNs now in service. They are:1. Los Angeles class (SSN 688 -- SSN 773). Los Angeles class

boats are the backbone of the submarine force with forty-five now in commission. Thirty-one of the Los Angeles class are equipped with 12 Vertical Launch System tubes for firing Tomahawk cruise missiles.

2. Seawolf class (SSN 21 -- SSN 23). Commissioned on July 19, 1997, USS Seawolf (SSN 21) represents the first in a class of boats that are exceptionally quiet, fast, well armed, and equipped with advanced sensors.

3. Virginia class (SSN 774 -- SSN 784). The Navy is now building the next-generation SSN, the Virginia (SSN 774) class. Five of the planned thirty are already in service. The Virginia class has several innovations that significantly enhance their capabilities with an emphasis on littoral operations.

SSN-688 and 688I Los Angeles Class

SSN-688 and 688I Los Angeles class Attack Submarines Visual Identification

Flight I and II have fairwater planes otherwise referred to as sail planes, and flight III have bow planes. Flight II and III have 12 Vertical Launch Tubes in the bow.

Mission ASW/ASUW/Sea Denial/ISR/Strike/Offensive Mining/Special Ops Weapons

MK 48 ADCAP Torpedoes – 4 Torpedo Tubes UGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles

Mission Specific Capabilities

Can fire Tomahawks from VLS tubes or torpedo tubes Outfitted with special mast to conduct ISR

Crew Size 14 Officers, 120 Enlisted

SSN-21 Seawolf Class

SSN-21 Seawolf Class Attack Submarine Visual Identification

Larger than the Los Angeles Class. Tapered front of sail. All have bow planes.

Mission ASW/ASUW/Sea Denial/ISR/Strike/Special Ops Weapons

MK 48 ADCAP Torpedoes – 8 Torpedo Tubes UGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles

Mission Specific Capabilities

Can fire Tomahawks only from torpedo tubes.

Crew Size 14 Officers; 126 Enlisted

SSN-774 Virginia Class

SSN-774 Virginia Class Attack Submarine Visual Identification

Larger than Los Angeles class, smaller than Seawolf class. Tapered front of sail. All have bow planes.

Mission ASW/ASUW/Sea Denial/ISR/Strike/Offensive Mining/Special Ops Weapons

MK 48 ADCAP Torpedoes -- 4 Torpedo Tubes UGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles

Mission Specific Capabilities

Can fire Tomahawks from VLS tubes or torpedo tubes. Contains modules that can be replaced based on the specific mission requirements.

Crew Size 14 Officers; 120 Enlisted

Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBN)

Since the 1960s, strategic deterrence has been the SSBN’s primary mission, providing the United States with its most survivable and enduring nuclear strike capability. There is only one type of SSBN in service, the Ohio class submarine.

“Boomers,” as SSBNs are often called, serve as a virtually undetectable launch platform for intercontinental ballistic missiles. They are designed specifically for stealth and the precision delivery of nuclear warheads. Ohio class SSBNs have the capability to carry up to 24 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), each having multiple independently-targeted warheads.

Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBN)

SSBN-726 Ohio Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Visual Identification

Fairwater planes otherwise known as sail planes Large “turtleback” hull design Hull stays dry while riding on the surface

Mission

Primary: Strategic Deterrence Secondary: ASW/ASUW/Sea Denial/ISR

Weapons 24 Trident II D5 SLBM Tubes MK 48 Torpedoes -- 4 Torpedo Tubes

Mission Specific Capabilities

Carries up to 24 SLBMs. Large platform and deck allows for potential special ops after completion of strategic mission.

Crew Size 15 Officers, 140 Enlisted

Guided Missile Submarines (SSGN)

The first four of the Ohio-class SSBNs were converted into guided missile submarines (SSGN). Ohio class SSGNs provide the Navy with an unprecedented combination of precision strike and special operation mission capability within a stealthy, clandestine platform.

The SSGN conversion includes the installation of vertical launching systems in a configuration dubbed “multiple all-up-round canister.” On each SSGN, 22 of the 24 missile tubes hold 7 Tomahawk cruise missiles, for a total capacity of 154 TLAMs. If the maximum number of TLAMs were loaded, one Ohio class SSGN would carry an entire Carrier Strike Group's equivalent of cruise missiles.

Guided Missile Submarines (SSGN)

SSGN-726 Ohio Class Guided Missile Submarine Visual Identification

Fairwater planes otherwise known as sail planes Large “turtleback” hull design Hull stays dry while riding on the surface

Mission ASW/ASUW/Sea Denial/ISR/Strike/Offensive Mining/Special Ops Weapons MK 48 Torpedoes -- 4 Torpedo Tubes

UGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles -- Maximum 154 Mission Specific Capabilities

Specialized to support SOF missions. Large Tomahawk Cruise Missile payload for precision strike.

Crew Size 15 Officers, 144 Enlisted, 66 SOF personnel

Combat Systems

WeaponsMk-48 and Mk-48/ADCAP(ADvanced CAPability)

Torpedoes: The Mk-48 is the principal heavyweight Anti-Submarine and Anti-SUrface ship torpedo in the U.S. inventory. It is an acoustic-homing torpedo, having its own onboard SONAR to seek and destroy enemy contacts.

UGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missile: The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) is an all-weather, long range, subsonic cruise missile used for land attack warfare. U.S. submarines can launch the Tomahawk cruise missile either from a standard 21" diameter torpedo tube, or from a Vertical Launch System (VLS, used by the improved Los Angeles class, Virginia class, and SSGN submarines).

Combat Systems

WeaponsTrident II (D5) Submarine-Launched Ballistic

Missile (SLBM): Trident II (D5) missiles are deployed in Ohio- class SSBN submarines, each carrying up to 24 missiles. The Trident II (D5) is a three-stage, solid-propellant ballistic missile with a range of more than 4,000 nautical miles. Trident II is launched by the pressure of expanding gas within the launch tube. Each missile carries multiple nuclear warheads, housed in multiple independent re-entry vehicles (MIRVs), which launch from the missile and are independently targeted.

Combat Systems

SensorsSONAR: Unless it is using its periscope, a submerged

submarine has no optical window to the outside world. To locate contacts, to locate the ocean floor, and for targeting purposes, a submarine uses SONAR (SOund NAvigation and Ranging). SONAR is similar to RADAR, but it relies on acoustic signals rather than electromagnetic signals. SONAR can function in two modes: In active SONAR, the submarine emits a pulse of sound. The pulse

travels through the water, reflects off the target and returns to the submarine. Onboard computers interpret the reflected pulse to determine the bearing and range to a contact. (used less frequently)

Passive SONAR involves passively listening to sounds -- like the noise generated by a merchant's engines, or the noise of another submarine's screw chopping through the water. (constantly employed)

Questions?