From "The Daily Mail"

 

 

The uninvited guest: Chinese sub pops up in middle of U.S. Navy exercise, leaving military chiefs red-faced

 

 

By MATTHEW HICKLEY - More by this author »

 

Last updated at 00:13am on 10th November 2007

 

 

When the U.S. Navy deploys a battle fleet on exercises, it takes the security of its aircraft carriers very seriously indeed.

 

At least a dozen warships provide a physical guard while the technical wizardry of the world's only military superpower offers an invisible shield to detect and deter any intruders.

 

That is the theory. Or, rather, was the theory.

American military chiefs have been left dumbstruck by an undetected Chinese submarine popping up at the heart of a recent Pacific exercise and close to the vast U.S.S. Kitty Hawk - a 1,000ft supercarrier with 4,500 personnel on board.

 

By the time it surfaced the 160ft Song Class diesel-electric attack submarine is understood to have sailed within viable range for launching torpedoes or missiles at the carrier.

 

According to senior Nato officials the incident caused consternation in the U.S. Navy.

 

The Americans had no idea China's fast-growing submarine fleet had reached such a level of sophistication, or that it posed such a threat.

 

One Nato figure said the effect was "as big a shock as the Russians launching Sputnik" - a reference to the Soviet Union's first orbiting satellite in 1957 which marked the start of the space age.

 

The incident, which took place in the ocean between southern Japan and Taiwan, is a major embarrassment for the Pentagon.

 

The lone Chinese vessel slipped past at least a dozen other American warships which were supposed to protect the carrier from hostile aircraft or submarines.

 

And the rest of the costly defensive screen, which usually includes at least two U.S. submarines, was also apparently unable to detect it.

 

According to the Nato source, the encounter has forced a serious re-think of American and Nato naval strategy as commanders reconsider the level of threat from potentially hostile Chinese submarines.

 

It also led to tense diplomatic exchanges, with shaken American diplomats demanding to know why the submarine was "shadowing" the U.S. fleet while Beijing pleaded ignorance and dismissed the affair as coincidence.

 

Analysts believe Beijing was sending a message to America and the West demonstrating its rapidly-growing military capability to threaten foreign powers which try to interfere in its "backyard".

 

The People's Liberation Army Navy's submarine fleet includes at least two nuclear-missile launching vessels.

 

Its 13 Song Class submarines are extremely quiet and difficult to detect when running on electric motors.

 

Commodore Stephen Saunders, editor of Jane's Fighting Ships, and a former Royal Navy anti-submarine specialist, said the U.S. had paid relatively little attention to this form of warfare since the end of the Cold War.

 

He said: "It was certainly a wake-up call for the Americans.

 

"It would tie in with what we see the Chinese trying to do, which appears to be to deter the Americans from interfering or operating in their backyard, particularly in relation to Taiwan."

 

In January China carried a successful missile test, shooting down a satellite in orbit for the first time.

 

Kinda scary . . . this would definitely be the main nightmare for US planners in the event of any US/Chinese confrontation over Taiwan I think.

 

Wonder what really happened, really good Chinese skipper? US pickets asleep at the wheel? Equipment breakdowns? Really lucky Chinese Skipper? Really good Chinese diesel sub tech? Probably combination off all these things.

Not to minimize the import of this situation but an old saying comes to mind:

 

"Even a blind pig finds a truffle every once in a while."

 

He may well of been in just the right place at just the right time.

I find it rather strange that this would happen, while it's not surprising that our 'allies' like Germany and Aussies have done this to us those Song SSKs are ancient in every sense of the word. Either someone screwed up (and probably going to get fired) or they (the USN that is) knew the sub was there and chose to ignore it.

 

Sincerely

Kelly

... those Song SSKs are ancient in every sense of the word.

 

Well, not really, Kelly. The first of class supposedly became operational in 1998. They have a teardrop hull, French designed sonar, German diesels, asymmetrical 7-blade skewed propeller, new anechoic tiles, etc. The technology is believed comparable to that of the early 1980s era.

 

P.S. I note the article quoted above is dated November 10, 2007, but the incident itself took place on October 26, 2006.

Okay maybe I have my class of subs messed up. I haven't really went looking into the latest country ship/sub assets lately well actually quite awhile.

 

Kelly

SSKs are the quietest platforms going nowadays. With no emphasis on ASW at all on the part of the USN, this is going to happen more or less on a regular basis. IIRC this is the second time this year that this has happened.

 

Later

D

With no emphasis on ASW at all on the part of the USN, this is going to happen more or less on a regular basis.

 

They must have overheard your comments. (Granted, ASW exercises with diesel subs would perhaps be more useful).

 

From Defence Talk

 

Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Performs Anti-Sub Warfare Exercise

US Navy | Nov 15, 2007

 

USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea: The USS Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (CSG 12) concluded a three-day, multi-unit exercise Nov. 13 aimed at sharpening its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) skills.

 

This exercise was geared toward maintaining security and stability in the region and is one of several exercises taking place in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility ensuring the United States Navy maintains the highest state of readiness and is capable of executing a broad range of operations, focusing on maintaining regional security and stability.

 

The ASW training ranged from practicing individual technician skills to coordinating multi-platform deterrent measures. Carrier strike groups hold these exercises routinely to maintain proficiency and demonstrate anti-submarine capabilities.

 

“This was a routine training exercise to help our forces maintain a full-range of readiness,” said Rear Adm. Dan Holloway, commander, CSG 12. “These exercises also help reassure regional countries of our ability to maintain security for lawful use of the sea.”

 

“The value of conducting an anti-submarine warfare exercise during deployment cannot be understated,” said Cmdr. Rich Bryant, USS Miami’s commanding officer. “We get the best training when we break out the play book and ensure we are ready for anything we’re tasked to do.”

 

“Our efforts are geared toward maintaining regional security, which helps build regional stability and global economic prosperity,” said Holloway.

 

The exercise included participation from CSG 12, USS Enterprise (CVN 65), Destroyer Squadron 2, Carrier Air Wing 1, USS Gettysburg (CG 64), USNS Supply ( T-AOE 6), USS Philadelphia (SSN 690) and USS Miami (SSN 755).

 

CSG 12 is operating in the North Arabian Sea in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO) and Operation Enduring Freedom.

 

MSO help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations. These operations seek to disrupt violent extremists’ use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

While ASW Training is nowhere near the levels it should be, what did the Swedish Sub and crew do for the year it hung out in San Diego....oh yeah...never mind. Coronado

We have been able to bounce SSN's for years now. The things are as noisey as hell. Ever time we did a CASEX with a SSN we found it.