Re: China enhances fleet of modern submarines;

On Tue, 8 Apr 2008 09:35:37 -0700 (PDT), Jeff Dougherty
<dougherty.jeffrey@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:


Hang on.

Let's assume that by asking the engineers where the water is leaking
into the people space, you can get an idea which 90 degree arc the
torpedo came from. (Is it just me, or does it seem like you're in
dire straits when the damage control party is the first sensor you
use?) With a 50 km range on the ADCAP, that means you have to search
a 90-degree arc with maximum radius 50 km, or 1/4 of a circle with
radius 50 km. That gives you an area of A= (1/4) (50km)^2*pi = 1964
km^2 to search- and you have to search all of it, because although the
submarine probably wasn't shooting from absolute maximum range you
can't rule out the possibility.

Of course, that's also assuming that the dastardly sub is still in
that 90 degree arc, and hasn't moved since shooting. But still- any
former/current Navy people here care to comment on the feasibility of
searching an area that big with sonobuoys, or helos for that matter?
Seems like a lot of ocean to me.

I won't comment on the feasibility of putting weapons, sensors, or
aircraft onto VLCCs since I'm not qualified to do so.



The equation here is the loss of a somewhat pricey ship*, cargo and
less pricey weapons-on-wheels (tops $10 Millions to $20 Millions),
and the likely survival of an already minimal crew - VERSUS - the loss
(or severe damage to) of an very, very pricey sub (or naval ship,
aircraft)($5 Billions to $10 Billions) and its highly technically
qualified and practically impossible to replace crew. This armchair
Chinese admiral will trade with you any day of the week.

A big ship is as big as four football fields. Maybe more but
certainly not much less a football field and a half. The big ship can
stay afloat for quite some time after being hit**. A containership
can probably stay afloat mucho mucho longer as containers act like
flotation cells. And also act like space armor to absorb hits. The
modest sized Atlantic Conveyor (14,950 tons) at Falklands took two
Exocet hits, burned but stayed afloat. Therefore my postulation is
that the big ship can stay afloat long enough and stay in fighting
trim long enough to kill the enemy. Go back to para 1.

Think you can put a decent weapons system in that football field sized
space? Certainly so. Exactly with what and how? The military people
can work out the details. I am no weapons expert either. What I have
provided is the idea that large merchant ships can be armed very
cheaply, effectively, quickly and temporarily to resist major enemy
naval units in the high seas. Far more important is I have provided a
solution where a littoral country of any size need not be goaded into
spending excessively on naval assets to maintain maritime security.

*(Some interesting facts I had read over the years. Its something
like it takes only one or two round trips to recover the cost of a
VLCC or a Containership. Any use thereafter is already paid for.
Liberty ships were costed for a single trip from the US to the war
zone and their war mission had already been fulfilled. Of course many
went on to serve for years in civilian trade. Same thing with the
China clippers "Cutty Sark" of yester-year. They were designed to be
paid for on only one round trip.)

**(WIKI: On May 25, (one of Argentina's national days, el Día de la
Revolución de Mayo esp; "May Revolution Day") 1982 the Atlantic
Conveyor was hit by two Exocet missiles fired by an Argentine Super
Étendard jet fighter. The ship caught fire, the fire then became
uncontrollable. When the fire had burnt out, the ship was boarded but
nothing was recoverable and so the decision was made to sink her. It
is unclear whether the missile's warhead detonated — some speculate
that the Exocet that struck HMS Sheffield did not explode — but the
ship was set alight by the impact of the missile and the unburnt
rocket fuel.


The most popular drinking toast in Mandarin, Yam sing ("Dry your
cup!")
.

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