Where Are My Submarines?
Abstract
The unique operational capabilities and employment advantages inherent to the U.S. attack submarine force provide a cost effective and highly powerful platform to the Unified Commanders for shaping their respective theaters across the entire range of military operations. Attack submarines (SSNs) offer considerable operational flexibility and firepower while fulfilling many roles including forward presence, indication and warning, anti-submarine, anti-surface, strike, mine laying, mine countermeasure and special forces insertion. Preemptive conventional strike capability is considerably more credible in an environment where the threat of nuclear weapon employment has diminished. Therefore, the SSN's formidable conventional strike capability presents a powerful force to be reckoned with by any potential adversary. Moreover, the SSN's stealth, mobility, endurance and readiness enhance its offensive potential, making the SSN uniquely the platform of choice in most forward deployed scenarios. During the Cold War our senior military leaders, when confronted with a regional crisis, would ask where their carriers were... I would argue that in today's post Cold War era, they should be asking where their submarines are. (AN)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 13, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA293261
Entities
People
- Steven L. Mcshane
Organizations
- Naval War College