Israel's Submarine Fleet

[AVGWarhawk]

At one point, the submarine rose to the surface to take a break. The sub’s commander, then-Lt. Colonel Oded, looked through the periscope and saw a calm, blue sea. However, one crew member soon informed him that he just saw the New York towers collapsing on television. Oded’s first reaction was laughter: What kind of movie are you watching there? How could the Twin Towers collapse? Yet soon after, the official announcement arrived from Israel.

The training session ended abruptly. Orders started to pour in from Navy headquarters. The submarine went into high alert and sank into the water for a lengthy period of several weeks. “In such case,” Oded says, “nobody knows where you are except for your crew and your direct commanders. Even your family doesn’t know. They don’t know what you’re doing or when you’ll be back. They know nothing.”

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7...120185,00.html

[CCIP]

A thoroughly professional and ready 'silent service', no less than one would expect from Israel.

It's interesting to say the least to see small diesel boats used as a regional mini-version of a ballistic nuke - more or less the same ultimate role. I don't think their real mission is much of a secret.

[Tchocky]

And the next day, Commander Benjamin Adnam was nowhere to be found..

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Tchocky

And the next day, Commander Benjamin Adnam was nowhere to be found..

And neither was the Thomas Jefferson...

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Oberon

And neither was the Thomas Jefferson...

or HMS Unseen.

[JSLTIGER]

Can't remember the last time that I read that book.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by CCIP

A thoroughly professional and ready 'silent service', no less than one would expect from Israel.

It's interesting to say the least to see small diesel boats used as a regional mini-version of a ballistic nuke - more or less the same ultimate role. I don't think their real mission is much of a secret.

Agreed....but is their second strike capability taken into account by those who would oppose them?

I'm not sure.

[nikimcbee]

I wonder how well they stack up in a sub v sub battle?

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

I wonder how well they stack up in a sub v sub battle?

Against their potential foes?

Easily got those Egyptian Romeos beat. Those things just rot at the pier. Got Iran's three Kilos beat, they lack digital sonar among other things basic to a modern submarine. Against Turkey it might be intresting, Turkey has lots of submarines but they are mostly older boats (Type 209s from the 1970s and 1980's) Libya's one remaining sub is not much of a threat anymore. I guess that leaves us with Algeria who has two somewhat nice Project 636 Kilo boats and Pakistan who has some modern-ish Agosta 90B submarines; those are the closest to Israel's submarines in terms of capabilities.

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Against their potential foes?

Easily got those Egyptian Romeos beat. Those things just rot at the pier. Got Iran's three Kilos beat, they lack digital sonar among other things basic to a modern submarine. Against Turkey it might be intresting, Turkey has lots of submarines but they are mostly older boats (Type 209s from the 1970s and 1980's) Libya's one remaining sub is not much of a threat anymore. I guess that leaves us with Algeria who has two somewhat nice Project 636 Kilo boats and Pakistan who has some modern-ish Agosta 90B submarines; those are the closest to Israel's submarines in terms of capabilities.

, I'm placing my bets on training. I taking a wild guess that Israel's naval training is waaaaaaay better than all of the surrounding Arab nations combined. They are not a naval power with a naval tradition, but neither are their enemies. I think it would be a toss-up vs Pah-k-i-stan, but everybody else, I think Israel would ass-whoop. I'd think all of their enemies would try to bomb the subs in port, oh, wait, they need to get by the IAF. Nevermind.