On 15 Jun 2006 09:20:55 -0700, "Gordon" wrote:


There used to be a photo of a purported SUBSAM in the sail of a Kilo.
Other units were rumored to have it. I doubt it would be all that
useful, but I wouldn't want to be two MAD runs into my attack and find
out we were wrong about whether or not the system exists.

I remember. Not a "happy thought"!!! ;-)

The "mine"-type SAM as described by another poster is, in my opinion, a
viable alternative that fits neatly with a suite of other
countermeasures. While the helo is stuck in a dip, their acoustic
signatures are detectible for miles and this could be exploited. I
like the idea of a high-alt drop on an unalerted sub, but I cringe to
think of the IFF issues. A torp can't tell a cowboy from an indian.

Without going into details, even 30 years ago we could do some pretty
good passive tracking and develop attack criteria that did not require
active confirmation. MAD is about as non-selective as the seeker on a
MK46. So's a "pinger." You do your ID from the passive data and, if
cleared by higher authority, nail the SOB before he even knows you're
in the area.

Something I've often seen claimed (and seen depicted in Hollyweird
epics) but never confirmed by someone in a postion to know, was
whether or not a really noisy aircraft (like a P-3 or a HS-3) could
actually be detected by a sub's passive arrays. I've always had my
doubts (that air/water interface is tough to penetrate) but I really
don't know. I guess I really don't want to know (given that I've just
gotten my first Reserve retirement check :-) ).

Still, if accoustic detection by the sub of an aircraft is practical,
then a system to attack the aircraft becomes a viable option. If the
first time you know an aircraft is around is when you hear an
air-launched homing topedo "light off" then there's no sense in
wasting the space and other assets to support such a system.

I spent my time in VS-27, VS-30, VS-73, VP-93 and FASOTRAGRULANT.

Bill Kambic
Haras Lucero, Kingston, TN
Mangalarga Marchador: Uma Raça, Uma Paixão