How do you escort a SAG with a sub?

MarkShot · 02-08-06, 11:10 AM

In the spirit of "how do you" questions like "how do you sneak into a port", here is my contribution:

How do you escort a SAG and provide ASW security?

In this particular case the SAG is moving at 10kts in deep water.

The problems I have with this type of scenario are:

(1) There are so many friendlies in the SAG that the sonar waterfall is totally cluttered with their noise. How am I going to find the faint single NB line that hints a sub it on the prowl?

(2) I have to get sufficiently out in front of the SAG that I can take out an enemy sub before he launches weapons. Given all the noise the SAG (prop and active sonar) is making, I figure they must be identifiable at 30nmi or so. The problem is how do I get out in front of them fast and not turn myself into a target? I am going to need to sprints at 20+ kts or better. During those sprints I will be noisy and blind. I am certain that coming out of one of those sprints I will hear a TIW. (Of course, that may be a good way of smoking out a sub; if I survive - sort of an inverse recon by fire.)

(3) What if while sprinting in #2, the enemy maintains his stealth and simply lays in wait for the SAG? Or what if he makes his attack run from one of the flanks?

(4) Oh, one more little wrinkle in this particular scenario. There is one other LA class sub also providing escort ASW. How do I avoid finding and killing him by accident while not waiting for a full ID to shoot? I guess that may be the easiest to answer - if the first NB line is 50Hz shoot; if 60Hz it is my sister ship.

Thanks for your thoughts on this matter.

02-08-06, 11:10 AM	#1
MarkShot Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,134 Downloads: 93 Uploads: 0	How do you escort a SAG with a sub? In the spirit of "how do you" questions like "how do you sneak into a port", here is my contribution: How do you escort a SAG and provide ASW security? In this particular case the SAG is moving at 10kts in deep water. The problems I have with this type of scenario are: (1) There are so many friendlies in the SAG that the sonar waterfall is totally cluttered with their noise. How am I going to find the faint single NB line that hints a sub it on the prowl? (2) I have to get sufficiently out in front of the SAG that I can take out an enemy sub before he launches weapons. Given all the noise the SAG (prop and active sonar) is making, I figure they must be identifiable at 30nmi or so. The problem is how do I get out in front of them fast and not turn myself into a target? I am going to need to sprints at 20+ kts or better. During those sprints I will be noisy and blind. I am certain that coming out of one of those sprints I will hear a TIW. (Of course, that may be a good way of smoking out a sub; if I survive - sort of an inverse recon by fire.) (3) What if while sprinting in #2, the enemy maintains his stealth and simply lays in wait for the SAG? Or what if he makes his attack run from one of the flanks? (4) Oh, one more little wrinkle in this particular scenario. There is one other LA class sub also providing escort ASW. How do I avoid finding and killing him by accident while not waiting for a full ID to shoot? I guess that may be the easiest to answer - if the first NB line is 50Hz shoot; if 60Hz it is my sister ship. Thanks for your thoughts on this matter. __________________ War games, not wars! --- Only a small few profit from war (that should not stand)!