Sinking Assets: Submarine Strategy and Force Planning for the 21st Century

Abstract

The tactical submarine force has undergone one of the largest percentage force-size reductions of any major segment of the nation's armed services during the last decade. This paper examines the causes of these reductions and whether they are the natural and appropriate result of the end of the Cold War or the product of flawed force planning. The history of the first century of submarine force planning is reviewed as the foundation of the current force and the source of many of the assumptions that drive planning. Following the model of Bartlett, Holman and Somes, eight different force-planning approaches - including top-down, bottom-up, scenario, threat, mission, technology, fiscal and hedging - are examined for their implications on future submarine force levels. The key issues facing submarine force planners of the next century are identified and recommendations are made for the future direction of submarine strategy and force planning.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 17, 2000
Accession Number
ADA382450

Entities

People

  • John J. Litherland

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Attack Submarines
  • Boats
  • Cold War
  • Force Structure
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Strategy
  • National Security
  • Naval Warfare
  • Navy
  • Nuclear Powered Submarines
  • Nuclear Propulsion
  • Procurement
  • Sea Control
  • Submarine Warfare
  • Submarines
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Strategic Security Studies
  • Systems Analysis and Design