What the Falklands War Reveals About Submarine Warfare
- This article argues that the future of submarine warfare will likely shift from the open ocean "hunting campaigns" of WWII to confined, shallow littoral seas like the Baltic,...
- * Shallow Water Favors Smaller Submarines: The physics of shallow water (depth, noise, seabed clutter) penalizes large submarines.
- In essence,the article advocates for a move towards smaller,quieter,and more agile submarines equipped with advanced sensors and integrated with UUVs,optimized for operating in the challenging conditions of littoral...
Summary of the Article: The Future of Submarine Warfare
This article argues that the future of submarine warfare will likely shift from the open ocean “hunting campaigns” of WWII to confined, shallow littoral seas like the Baltic, Black Sea, and Arabian Gulf, as well as coastal choke points in the Western Pacific. This shift necessitates a rethinking of submarine force design.
Key takeaways:
* Shallow Water Favors Smaller Submarines: The physics of shallow water (depth, noise, seabed clutter) penalizes large submarines. Smaller submarines (a few hundred tons) can maneuver, conceal themselves, and evade more effectively.
* The Falklands War as a Model: the Falklands War provides a valuable real-world example of successful submarine operations in shallow water, a lesson recognized by Chinese military analysts.
* Balance is Key: While midget submarines are useful for specialized tasks, the ideal littoral combat submarine needs to balance size – small enough to hide, but large enough to carry modern sensors, communications, and a sufficient crew.
* Quality over Quantity of Weapons: Carrying a large number of torpedoes isn’t as vital as having a modest, modern arsenal, quiet launch systems, and the ability to quickly conceal itself after firing. A smaller, quieter boat with “enough” weapons is more likely to be effective.
* Integration of Unmanned Underwater vehicles (UUVs): UUVs can augment manned submarines by providing additional sensing, acting as decoys, and carrying limited weaponry, enhancing overall capabilities. Several nations are already investing heavily in UUV development (e.g., US Orca, DARPA Ray, Israeli BlueWhale).
In essence,the article advocates for a move towards smaller,quieter,and more agile submarines equipped with advanced sensors and integrated with UUVs,optimized for operating in the challenging conditions of littoral environments.