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Sub Sailor · 01-15-06, 10:20 AM

Subs including nukes do shallow water ops, some times a heck of a lot shallower than we would like.
Here are the considerations that has dictated the US Navy shallow water ops. Bottom type, rocky bottom can spring surprises, manuvering room, can you get out of the road, type of ship traffic, Super tankers and other large ships, because of the bow wave they push, will suck a sub up from 300 feet to putting it in real danger of getting run over. That I experinced when we tried to use a Super Tanker to sneak into the Med in 1972. The theory was good but the phyics was crappy. It was like being in one of those elevators in a big building. There are other things that are considered before they order an expensive nuke sub in to shallow water.
Nukes, like me, don't like really shallow ops, because of silt, but no ones really likes them for any reason. Lots of water over you and under you is better.
I have seen 18 feet under the keel, and that was about as close as we dared go because of danger of hitting the screw. I don't know about the shrouded screws as I was never on a boat that had them.
Some of the missions that are designed for SC and DW are not realistic. I don't know if AI sees them but real aircews in daylight and decent water can see a sub running at 200 feet. There are pictues they have taken, one was the Swordfish SSN-579 of Hawaii in 1966. I hate to admit it but aircarft are the next best weapon for asw, especially the damm helicopters, nasty little rascals.

Deeper is better,

Ron Banks MMCM(SS), USN(Ret)

01-15-06, 10:20 AM	#7
Sub Sailor Commander Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Orofino, Idaho Posts: 443 Downloads: 66 Uploads: 0	Shallow Subs including nukes do shallow water ops, some times a heck of a lot shallower than we would like. Here are the considerations that has dictated the US Navy shallow water ops. Bottom type, rocky bottom can spring surprises, manuvering room, can you get out of the road, type of ship traffic, Super tankers and other large ships, because of the bow wave they push, will suck a sub up from 300 feet to putting it in real danger of getting run over. That I experinced when we tried to use a Super Tanker to sneak into the Med in 1972. The theory was good but the phyics was crappy. It was like being in one of those elevators in a big building. There are other things that are considered before they order an expensive nuke sub in to shallow water. Nukes, like me, don't like really shallow ops, because of silt, but no ones really likes them for any reason. Lots of water over you and under you is better. I have seen 18 feet under the keel, and that was about as close as we dared go because of danger of hitting the screw. I don't know about the shrouded screws as I was never on a boat that had them. Some of the missions that are designed for SC and DW are not realistic. I don't know if AI sees them but real aircews in daylight and decent water can see a sub running at 200 feet. There are pictues they have taken, one was the Swordfish SSN-579 of Hawaii in 1966. I hate to admit it but aircarft are the next best weapon for asw, especially the damm helicopters, nasty little rascals. Deeper is better, Ron Banks MMCM(SS), USN(Ret)