Using Radar to Search for Submarines

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by SeaQueen

That is true. Covertness is definitely the submarine's advantage. None the less, the Airforce, at the present time, doesn't seem to have much trouble surpressing air defenses sufficiently to allow their B-52s, B-1s and B-2s as much access as they need. The other thing about submarine mining is that it basically takes a submarine out of the game. That one submarine is dedicated to mining, and that's pretty much it. After it lays it's mines, it has to go all the way back to wherever they've forward based it. Then it'll most likely be weeks until the submarine can begin transiting back to the theatre. At that point, things will be pretty much over. Unless you just happen to have a spare submarine in the theatre, still I wouldn't do it.

Well I have to disagree with you on the USAF's ablity to conduct SEAD in this case. To lay mines they would need to fly at low altitude a to avoid damage to the mines when the enter the water. So unless they fly far off the coast they are voulnerable to MANPADs and other light SAMs not to mention small arms fire ("Every cousin with a rifle" to quote Flight of the Intruder).

The Swedes and Germans have gotten around the whole taking a sub out of the game thing. They use GRP mine cratles to haul dozens of mines around in additon to their torpedo armorment.