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Originally Posted by Sub Sailor
May never happen on this forum, but I would really like to see in real life the British, French, Russians, and the US to accept we are in a new era with terrorism, and in my opinion, the resurgence of China all of us have more to gain working together, sharing info, and yes operating together.
Oh before anyone goes ballistic, and chastises me for not mentioning country X, this is a sub forum post about nuke boats so I only use the countries that currently are operating Nukes. China has them and from what I am reading is improving them along with their whole Navy, but they are a long way from cooperating with the above mentioned counties. I also predict the next "Cold War" will be with China against players to be named later.
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Despite the arguments that seem to have suddenly appeared out of nowhere on this thread, I think there is a general consensus on what your saying.
However,
What you say does highlight one of the major differences between the combat doctrines that have dominated the latter development of both the Virginia and the Astute - terrorism.
The Virginia reflects the US doctrine that warfare is shifting towards dealing with insurgance groups. The Virginia is a strike platform, as well as an attack vessal. Her ability to launch a salvo of cruise missiles whilst hidden off a countries coast reflects this. It is the same doctrine that has seen the conversion of some Ohio SSBN's into SSGN's.
The Royal Navy however does not see Submarines as part of the war on terror. Very little in the way the British Military is structured has changed post Sept 11th 2001. Royal Navy subs are primarily used as platforms designed to deny an opponent the freedom of the seas so that the Surface Fleet can operate safely. The Tomahawk capability operated by British Subs is clearly a secondary capability in the eyes of strategic planners. When Royal Navy Subs do use their cruise missiles, they do so as part of a carrier group, or some other type of taskforce - in other words they only do so when they are being covered, they do not do so in isolation.