Recently, when a Chinese submarine popped up undetected in the middle of a Pacific Ocean exercise, dangerously close to the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk, American military chiefs were left dumbfounded and red-faced, according to UK newspaper, Daily Mail.
When the Navy deploys a battle fleet on exercises, they take the security of the aircraft carriers very seriously. At least a dozen warships are used to provide a physical guard, and using advanced technology they are able to detect and deter any potential intruders.
By the time the Chinese sub surfaced, the 160ft Song Class diesel-electric attack submarine sailed within viable range for launching torpedoes or missles at the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk, a 1,000ft. supercarrier with 4,500 military personnel onboard.
According to senior Nato officials, the incident caused a sense of sudden fear in the U.S. Navy, as officials realized the seriousness of the encounter. The U.S. apparently had no idea just how sophisticated China’s fast-growing submarine fleet had become, or that they even posed such a threat.
Reportedly, one Nato figure said that the effect was “as big a shock as the Russians launching Sputnik”. The Sputnik, if you remember, was the Soviet Union’s first orbiting satellite launched in 1957 which marked the beginning of the space age and kicked off the space race.
The U.S. Navy’s brush with the Chinese Navy’s submarine occurred in the Pacific Ocean between southern Japan and Taiwan. The one sub was able to slip past at least a dozen other U.S. warships that were in place to ward off any hostile aircraft or submarines. Two submarines were also in place, along with other advanced technology, which also failed to detect the intruding watercraft.
The U.S. Navy and Nato are now forced to re-think their strategy, and reconsider the level of threat posed from potentially hostile Chinese submarines.
While China insists that the incident was a simple coincidence, others are not so sure about that. The run-in led to some intense diplomatic exchanges, with rattled American diplomats demanding to know why Chinese subs were shadowing the U.S. fleet.
Analysts believe that China was sending a message to the United States and the West by demonstrating their rapidly growing military capability to threaten foreign powers that might try to interfere in their own “backyard.”
As a citizen of the United States, it may leave you wondering if we are really as safe as we think we are.
Sorry but this story has been already shown to be an accidentally picked up rehash of an incident from Nov 2006.
It is old news and was picked up by them doing some research on the net and missing the date of the original source.
Well, the post begins with "recently", which could mean last week, last month or even last year. So, rehash or not, it's always good not to forget this type of "incident".
Interesting point. I remember the other story from last year as well:
https://www.americanintelligence.us/News/article/sid=4199.html
The give a way in the article is the position Adm Fallon was in at the time v his current position.
No matter when it took place, it was recent enough (in time) that USN planners need to stay off their comfort cushion and rethink their tactics and training. Especially during an exercise. Years ago Adm. Burke was asked something to the effect of; 'what is the difference between a good Admiral and an outstanding Admiral?' His reply was; 'About 5-seconds'.
All the Chinese sub would have had to do is plot the course of the fleet (from GPS readings, commo intercept, etc), drop to the bottom, go to life-support mode (stop all activity that produces signals) until the Fleet comes overhead and then "suddenly" appear in the middle of the group by simple ballast expel, firing up their engines only as the con tower is about to break the surface. The underway Fleet radar operators, with the entire battle group sounding, would most likely not pick up the signature of water pumps expelling ballast water from one vertical location; because they mostly listen/watch for screw signatures and sonar contacts, which transmit cones can be rather widely separated on the ocean. There was no coincidence in this event; it was planned and executed. The Chinese do nothing without planning.
Rule-1: Never underestimate your opponent.
Rule-2: There are no 'real' SO2 Ronald Jones' on duty, Captain! 😆
(Apologies for the second post on same subject)
Here is everything you wanted to know about the development of the Song Class Subs, but were afraid to ask. Not a bad little boat.
http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/sub/type039song.asp