View Full Version : Russian Subs Patrolling Off East Coast of U.S.
CastleBravo
08-04-09, 07:22 PM
WASHINGTON — A pair of nuclear-powered Russian attack submarines has been patrolling off the eastern seaboard of the United States over recent days, a rare mission that has raised concerns inside the Pentagon and intelligence agencies about a more assertive stance by the Russian military.
“I don’t think they’ve put two first-line nuclear subs off the U.S. coast in about 15 years,” said Norman Polmar, a naval historian and expert on submarine warfare.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/05/world/05patrol.html?_r=1
It's good that your navy knows that they are there. Not so good that they are there in the first place, but then they have to be somewhere.
claybirdd
08-05-09, 01:42 AM
How much you wanna bet we have had a pair of 688i's trailing them since they crossed SOSUS?:rock:
Sea Demon
08-05-09, 01:51 AM
How much you wanna bet we have had a pair of 688i's trailing them since they crossed SOSUS?:rock:
In a perfect world, we were aware of their departure and tracked them from the Gap all the way to the US East Coast via many methods.
Of course this is not a perfect world, and the Akula is one mean machine. At any rate, I'll bet it's giving many of our naval personnel some great training opportunities.
I'm willing to bet you're right about those 688I's.
Aramike
08-05-09, 04:32 AM
In a perfect world, we were aware of their departure and tracked them from the Gap all the way to the US East Coast via many methods.
Of course this is not a perfect world, and the Akula is one mean machine. At any rate, I'll bet it's giving many of our naval personnel some great training opportunities.
I'm willing to bet you're right about those 688I's.The Akula's the best they got, but it's supposedly no better than a flight 1 688 boat.
Takeda Shingen
08-05-09, 07:52 AM
The flight II Akulas are widely considered comparable to the Improved 688's, not the flight I's. The Russians have, for the most part, closed the decade-wide noise gap that was so prevalant in the Cold War.
AVGWarhawk
08-05-09, 07:55 AM
They are sitting off our shores listening to our rock and roll music. Sure, there are two subs out there. I wonder how many US subs are off Russia coast? :hmmm:
Franklin Van Valkenburg
08-05-09, 08:13 AM
I dunno about those 688is trailing them... under this administration, the Russian captains were probably invited over for a drink!
"Bring Vodka!"
On a serious note... I hope we're trailing them... and I'm sure that we knew where they were every step of the way. Its the fact that we tracked them here and realized they intended to prowl off the Eastern seaboard for a couple of days.
I wonder what they're going to do with the Yuri Dolgoruky when she's commissioned. One also has to wonder how accident-prone she is too. I heard she was rushed through construction.
Jimbuna
08-05-09, 08:42 AM
How very reassuring for the two Russian commanders to at least know that the US will be quick to respond should they face difficulties. http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif
Tchocky
08-05-09, 08:44 AM
Good to know that everyone's getting practice tailing each other.
SteamWake
08-05-09, 08:58 AM
No one has asked the obvious question..... Why?
Takeda Shingen
08-05-09, 09:11 AM
No one has asked the obvious question..... Why?
I think that no one has asked the question because the answer is obvious: The Russian leadership wants to send the message that Russia is, once again, big and strong and 'back on the scene'. They knew the subs would be detected, but the real point was to demonstrate to the West that the Russian navy, after being virtually laid up for the last fifteen years, was back in business. They've got a new submarine and are using their old ones.
Kapitan
08-05-09, 09:34 AM
Its probably nothing new to be honest russians have probably been patrolling the waters all along, even after the break up theres still some tension between the two.
Max2147
08-05-09, 10:11 AM
No one has asked the obvious question..... Why?
For the same reason that we've probably had subs patrolling off of Murmansk for years.
antikristuseke
08-05-09, 11:33 AM
No one has asked the obvious question..... Why?
For ****s and giggles.
Task Force
08-05-09, 12:12 PM
No one has asked the obvious question..... Why?
publicity stunt...:hmmm:
maby a friendly reminder...
“I don’t think they’ve put two first-line nuclear subs off the U.S. coast in about 15 years,” said Norman Polmar, a naval historian and expert on submarine warfare.Hm. It looks like I am not understand well, what he was exactly meaning. There were Russian submarie patrols in various areas for all over the last 15 years, even in the poorest 1990s. Now, when we have money for keeping ships and subs in active service the fleet returns to the ocean.
http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/nukes/images/ruspat.jpg
BTW , last year we had the largest naval exercises since 1990.
http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/3100/soustov.37/0_2370f_e5abac34_XL.jpg
In a perfect world, we were aware of their departure and tracked them from the Gap all the way to the US East Coast via many methods.Actually, its not only Russia were military degradated compairing to the CW level.
I think that no one has asked the question because the answer is obvious: The Russian leadership wants to send the message that Russia is, once again, big and strong and 'back on the scene'.For the same reason that we've probably had subs patrolling off of Murmansk for years. This is the only practical reasen what nuclear submarines are for.
On a serious note... I hope we're trailing them... and I'm sure that we knew where they were every step of the way. Its the fact that we tracked them hereAcytually, According to Defense Department officials, one of the Russian submarines remained in international waters on Tuesday about 200 miles off the coast of the United States. The location of the second remained unclear. One senior official said the second submarine traveled south in recent days toward Cuba, while another senior official with access to reports on the surveillance mission said it had sailed away in a northerly direction.In this case I would ask why it cause such interest then? They were in 1993, 1995, 1998, etc there.
under this administration, the Russian captains were probably invited over for a drink!Would be a good reason for international co-operation. Visits are better than patrol missions.:up:
FIREWALL
08-05-09, 01:03 PM
It's a miracle they didn't clang into each other in passing.:haha:
A new meaning to the word "FenderBender" :rotfl:
Task Force
08-05-09, 01:08 PM
It's a miracle they didn't clang into each other in passing.:haha:
A new meaning to the word "FenderBender" :rotfl:
Just imagine the insurance on dep puppys afterwords.:rotfl:
FIREWALL
08-05-09, 01:13 PM
I can just hear the Blame Game.
1 Capt : I was cut off by a drunk driver.
Other Capt : Damn woman drivers.They'll be the death of us all.
:rotfl:
Task Force
08-05-09, 01:14 PM
easy way to settle it... whoevers torp hits first wins...:yep:
FIREWALL
08-05-09, 01:18 PM
easy way to settle it... whoevers torp hits first wins...:yep:
Let's see :hmmm: Start WWIII or blame it on a lousy Chinese sub driver.
Jimbuna
08-05-09, 01:23 PM
Let's see :hmmm: Start WWIII or blame it on a lousy Chinese sub driver.
Simply send a couple of destroyers into the area to conduct ASW tactics using active sonar and scare the sh!t out of them. :DL
Task Force
08-05-09, 01:25 PM
so where about are these subs patroling?:hmmm:
A new meaning to the word "FenderBender" Actually, this is the meaning:D
USS Hartford vs. USS New Orleans. Oops... (http://u-96.livejournal.com/1690491.html)
http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/3213/soustov.3c/0_26729_aaa149ce_XL.jpg
http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/3214/soustov.3c/0_26726_c1f9a441_XL.jpg
http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/3308/soustov.3b/0_263f0_41276fbf_L.jpg
or those two
http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/3108/soustov.3a/0_24904_a7f1a5b9_L.jpg
Jimbuna
08-05-09, 01:56 PM
That sail looks as if it's about to sheer off :o
XabbaRus
08-05-09, 04:46 PM
Hang on didn't the USN state that back in teh 90's they had trouble trying to hold track of Akula IIs off the east coast and they got into quite a panic.
I don't think it is a big deal. Kind of interesting though.
Task Force
08-05-09, 05:45 PM
you dont live on the us east coast... lol
SteamWake
08-05-09, 06:01 PM
you dont live on the us east coast... lol
Does it really matter which coast?
Kapitan
08-05-09, 06:10 PM
Yes back when akula II's come out they did have problems trailing them thier signature is a tad better than that of a 688i and this also goes for akula i improved also but the akula II is a bit quieter, the yasen is quieter still but i would speculate still not as quiet as a virginia astute or even a seawolf.
Given the fact the akulas have been around now for what 25 years so they are getting old and sonar tech has some what advanced since the 90's, besides how do we know its an akula?
The russians do have other types of submarine they can use they still have victor III's a sierra II hell even an Oscar II without knowing the platform i guess we can only speculate.
There was an instance in the 1980's i did read this from a few american captains sort of biographys from i think it was norman polmar who wrote the book, but there was one particular captain he commanded a victor III submarine and every time a western submarine found him he would quickly disapear and be lost for good, but the thing is i would like to meet that captain to see how he did it because yes the russian boats are technologically inferior to the west but thier weapons are not i mean SS-N-19 has no comparison in the western world exocet doesnt even come close and harpoon pfft forget it.
There was another incident regarding the kursk in 1999 when she deployed to the med the amerians pulled thier ships from the med and tried to chase her down, she was only spotted on the surface some 400 miles from the coast of canada some three weeks later, which would have ment she went into the med and out and across the pond undetected.
mookiemookie
08-05-09, 07:18 PM
Actually, this is the meaning:D
http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/3108/soustov.3a/0_24904_a7f1a5b9_L.jpg
They should have taken a page from U-boat history...Beware the Bay of Biscay! :arrgh!:
ETR3(SS)
08-05-09, 09:51 PM
I laugh at you all. :har: If only ANY of you knew half of what I knew. But I have to leave it at that. :salute:
Oh and the pics of the Hartford, they damn near lost the boat.
geetrue
08-05-09, 10:49 PM
They like to work in pairs in case one of them needs spare parts :arrgh!:
bookworm_020
08-05-09, 10:55 PM
From the looks of the patrol numbers, it seems most of the Russian SSN force is patrolling off the U.S. coast. The rest of the ocean must be empty!:hmmm:
The rest of the ocean must be empty!:hmmm:
There is always lack of free space.
They should have taken a page from U-boat history...Beware the Bay of Biscay! :arrgh!:
http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/3108/soustov.3a/0_24904_a7f1a5b9_L.jpg
:D
Rosencrantz
08-06-09, 05:33 AM
No offence but somehow I get funny feelings when reading about these two russian subs from civilian US papers. Sure, it's Pentagon's job to be worried about everything 24/7, but still: is it really so big deal if Northern Fleet sends couple of SSN's near the US coast? Yes, russian out-of-area activities decreased dramatically after collaps of Soviet Union, but who could seriously think that situation would stay forever? That people are talking about cold war -type activities is, I think, both understandable and misleading. Wasn't it Pearl Harbour which teached the US Navy that there is certain areas in the world which should be watched close all the time, no matter is it a peace time or cold or hot war time? And isn't it a very US-like act to send SSN's for operations to their possible future war time op-areas? I bet the Barents Sea area has never lacked a US submarine since 1960's. And if you place your guns to your neibourgh's garden, is'nt it just a fare game to have some of his guns to yours? It's a free world, you see. ;)
And was Polmar right in his statement that there propably has not been a first class russian sub operating close to the US in 15 years? Wasn't it just few years ago when a Oscar II-class SSGN was doing some ELINT of west coast? Or is my memory coming tricky?
Greetings,
-RC-
Kapitan
08-06-09, 06:59 AM
yes your correct 1999 the submarine in question was the K141 Kursk russian oscar II class SSGN only sighted after it had surfaced off the coast of canada, apparently it was a statement from vladimir putin to the west that the russian navy can still operate close to american shores.
XabbaRus
08-06-09, 12:11 PM
I laugh at you all. :har: If only ANY of you knew half of what I knew. But I have to leave it at that. :salute:
Oh and the pics of the Hartford, they damn near lost the boat.
There must be some stuff you can tell.
I know of someone in the RN who did track the Kursk in the med, but I'm not saying when and what boat he was on....
ETR3(SS)
08-06-09, 12:35 PM
There must be some stuff you can tell.
I know of someone in the RN who did track the Kursk in the med, but I'm not saying when and what boat he was on....
I can tell you about the time I saw a whale. :D But seriously, being a radioman I knew a lot of things before the captain even knew. But also having been a radioman the name Walker was driven into my skull. So the most I might tell is a good sea story or two.
http://www.longam.net/sh4/sub.jpg
This is nothing new, the bomber flights began months ago so it was only a matter of time before Ivan started shore patrols again.
I doubt we stopped sniffing around Murmansk at any point since the 1950s :03:
geetrue
08-06-09, 04:50 PM
I can tell you about the time I saw a whale. :D But seriously, being a radioman I knew a lot of things before the captain even knew. But also having been a radioman the name Walker was driven into my skull. So the most I might tell is a good sea story or two.
After 38 years of being out of the Navy i have forgotten the techinal stuff, but I sure remember all of my sea stories.
There was the time we three in Sonar reported the sun going down and the OOD wanted to know how we could tell.
So we all got on the microphone and made hissing sounds for him.
or the one where we got a sexy german lady from a rock and roll band in Rota, Spain to talk on a portable cassete tape recorder right before we went on patrol.
"This is the captain speaking"
"We have just recieved a message from the president of the United States to launch missiles?
"Now man battle stations missile"
Those were the days ... :yeah:
XabbaRus
08-06-09, 04:53 PM
I don't want technical, I'm not that dumb, but sea stories would be great.
Even some funny stuff that happened when you encountered another sub. No need for details like sub, area, date etc...
geetrue
08-06-09, 05:31 PM
Okay just one more won't hurt ...
There we were on a dark and cloudy night on a diesel submarine running on batteries ten miles off the coast of Russian back in 63 with spooks (CT's) onboard to moniter any signals a Russian test fire launch could send back when out of no where a large contact is acquired.
I was just training to be a sonarman and couldn't tell what anything was yet all I could do is tell you where it was.
So I asked the man training me what it was, because it sounded big.
Petersen was his name and a damn good first class he was too.
So he takes the phones and listens and says, "That sounds like an aircraft carrier"
This contact is getting closer and closer till conn wants to know what it is.
Sonar/Conn what is that thing?
Conn/Sonar sounds like an aircraft carrier sir ...
Captain to the control room down below the conn says, Bring her up to periscope depth.
A few minutes go by and the captain requests for Petersen to come to the conn. So I am left all alone for the first time in the black hole of calcutta (sonar was called that in the old boats).
When Petersen gets to the conn ... the captain says, "Here take a look at your aircraft carrier"
It was a big ass cruise ship all lit up cruising down the coast of Russia.
He just kept trying to explain that four screws is four screws to him, but of course they didn't
have any aircraft carriers yet and our fleet didn't steam 10 miles off the coast of our neighbor in those days. :O:
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