Two opposing points of view:

 

US Navy Needs Diesel Submarines

 

and

 

Old Tech Isn't the Answer

I vote by the second article

We cant even build a decent hybrid car, would hate to see the budget for a battery for a sub lol probably be more then a f35 engine

I vote for the second article with a budgetary nod towards the first. Maybe we could make some smaller, less capable, nuke SSNs. We have made and can make small nuclear powerplants, we haven't shown a willingness to make less costly submarines.

Given the size and nature of the US Navy, and its missions, I think I have to agree that building a fleet of diesel-electric submarines for front line service is probably not the best idea.

 

That said, I do see the value in investigating conventionally powered submarine technology, including AIP and other emerging tech, and I don't agree that non-nuclear submarines are necessarily "old tech".

 

Afaik, the US Navy gained valuable experience from its lease of Sweden's Gotland, and having a small 'research' fleet of conventionally powered subs could provide that kind of value on an ongoing basis. As well as getting a foot in the door on potentially providing such submarines to allied powers who cannot afford to operate nukes (e.g. Taiwan).

 

Of course, that implies a budget for such things, but that's nothing new.

 

Know your enemy.

Second article seems to nail it.

 

As for knowing your enemy, the second article did say that it didn't make sense to buy when you can borrow and I suspect that the lease of SSKs counts in that category.

 

And the Virginia SSN *is* the cheap one... *grin* The price is down to $2B for the current boats and the USN signed contracts for 8 subs for $14B. The price is expected to continue to fall due to the use of COTS and the ability to piggy back on the civvie industry.

More background discussion of the US Navy and SSK's ...

 

Holy Mackerel, Not Again! (from the June 2011 issue of Proceedings)

 

The Right Submarine for Lurking in the Littorals (from the June 2010 issue of Proceedings)

 

Buy Fords, not Ferraris (from the April 2009 issue of Proceedings)

Somebody within the DoD must be kicking themselves for letting the US ASW platforms slide under the radar. No SSN's or SSBN's, get the P8's up in the fleet sooner than later, put more diesels in the waterwith AIP technology, cut the carriers down from 11 to 10, cut the F35 program out unless they can get that thing operational and in the fleet in 18 months and dare I say share the cuts with the USAF? How about cutting the B52 fleet say by 100 aircraft? I know everyone is screaming at me now. Just my version of improving our ASW.

Interesting tie in ...

 

From Defense Aerospace

 

[excerpt]

 

Australia Seeks U.S. Help with New Submarines

(Source: Forecast International; issued July 26, 2011)

 

MELBOURNE --- Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith has stated that he will seek U.S. assistance with the design and construction of the proposed class of 12 diesel-electric submarines. However, he has rejected suggestions that his request implies Australia is considering the purchase of nuclear-powered submarines. "The answer for Australia was a conventional fleet to be built in South Australia," he said.

From Armed Forces Journal, September 2011 issue

 

[excerpt]

 

Projecting power

The case for maintaining an all-nuclear submarine fleet

BY REAR ADM. JOHN B. PADGETT III (RET.)

 

Defense analysts periodically propose a mix of nuclear and conventionally powered submarines to increase U.S. undersea force structure. They argue that conventional submarines (SSKs) are so affordable the U.S. could acquire multiple boats for the price of a single nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN). In an era of declining fleets and looming budget cuts, that sounds appealing. However, despite increasing capability, conventional submarines still lack the payload, endurance, mobility and affordability necessary to meet U.S. needs, even when forward-based and equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP).

Interesting article, with some good points. Thanks ...