Operational Protection from the Diesel Submarine Threat.
Abstract
Most experts agree that the United States' future conflicts will be of a regional vice global scale and will focus on a littoral region. This environment provides unique challenges, particularly as our military shrinks in size. Gone are the days of massive amounts of equipment to counter a threat. Countries throughout the world possess smaller military forces and choose carefully their strategies and equipment to challenge a potential opponent. A weapon of choice today is the diesel-electric submarine. In the littoral region its stealth, size and fire power, particularly against critical vulnerabilities such as sealift, can be devastating to any adversary. For many years the U.S. concentrated on defeating the open ocean Soviet nuclear powered submarine. Operational protection in the littoral environment against a diesel submarine is significantly different from open ocean protection and one we may not be prepared for today. While our new doctrine recognizes the diesel submarine threat of the littoral, our strategies to protect against it have not changed from the past. In future conflicts, to assure success ashore, we must protect forces afloat from the diesel submarine threat.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 07, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA325820
Entities
People
- Douglas W. Sellers
Organizations
- Naval War College