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Originally Posted by DS
My little essay is NOT about how the KILO is the best, nor is it so titled. Far from it. My post was to draw attention to the spirit of this boat class, and how she might present new challenges and even opportunities for different tactics, for those who might not have considered trying out a diesel boat.
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I was aware of that, but the post simply had too high a proportion of masochism not to poke at it.
I'd do one for the Akula:
1) The Akula is quiet at slow speed - OK, so it ain't quite Seawolf, but it is still a little better than a 688, which is still statistically my most likely sub enemy. Being better than half your competition ain't bad.
2) The crappy SSAZ display forces me to use narrowband (OK, here starts the masochism), which is what I was really supposed to use anyway but tend to dump in favor of broadband set on long time intervals in waterfall equipped subs. The inadequate washout speed forces me to go slow (my fave speed in a 688I is about 15 knots and then wonder why my points keep getting deducted for getting counterdetected).
3) Lack of a usable active sonar display forces me to play more realistically (not just pinging away - I used to do that a lot back when I played 688I).
4) I got supersonic antiship missiles, which allows me to attack effectively from further away (not very efficiently, since they still get shot down like hell, but at least I could do it).
5) I can use 3D airborne attack tactics for vertical envelopment, thanks to a healthy arsenal of antisub missiles. This opens up a whole new art.
6) Real Life Only: I only have to handle 50 guys, not 110+. This means fewer people to handle, a lot fewer fitness reports to write and analyze ... etc. The fact that I get a Commander's Deputy to do some of this paperwork can't hurt.
7) Real Life Only: I'd be saving a lot of money, since in the Russian Navy I'd feel a lot more like staying in the sub rather than out of it.