Nuclear Subs

XaNDeR

New Member
I've always had one huge question about nuclear subs.
The Seawolf class carries 50 weapons to Virginia's 38. The Seawolf is faster than Virginia. Yet people say the Virginia is more advanced than the seawolf. Which do you think is better. The faster, deadlier seawolf or the less deadly slower and more advanced Virginia.
Thnx.

I would put my money on Seawolf.
Virginia was designed as a cheaper alternative to Sea Wolf , infact Sea Wolf is faster , more equiped , and more quiet.
 

jaffo4011

New Member
Its not "america is the best" its just the facts bud. The astute is a fearsome platform, and dont think for a second that i am discounting its capabilities, i would love one for the RAN. But the fact of the matter is that the USN has the most sophisticated sonar systems in the world. Thats not that hard to believe given the huge ammount of funding going into R&D for the USN's SSN programe. Just because the Astute has a newer hull doesent automaticaly mean that it has superior systems to advanced USN boats like the Sea Wolf or Virginia.

Some data to back it up....



Post #691




Post #693

http://www.defencetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5679&page=47&highlight=astute


This is from someone who actually works in the field concerned and has dealt with collins class SSK systems and signature managment. So his oppinions on this subject tend to hold some weight.

And boys please dont get into a pissing contest, its not worth having annother thread closed down over. So the largest economy on earth can afford the largest R&D budget, and therefore has the most sophistocated systems, thats not hard to work out and it shouldn't prick anyones national pride to achnowlage it.

Jaffo i remeber you got pretty defenceive when someone stated that the F22 is half a generation ahead of the Typhoon, which it is, and now your getting defenceive over sonar capabilities. Mate its no black mark against the RN or RAF to admit that their platforms are behind the largest military and R&D infestructure on earth. If your going to get defenceive every time someone outlines the US's superiority in a particular field your going to be getting your knickers in a twist quite a bit.
im not at all defensive...its called objectivity.and having the highest budget doesnt automatically result in the best platform or design.sometimes money keeps being ploughed into a poor design just because its available instead of thinking laterally with less dosh!

and ozzy,i dont wish to be rude but could you utilise your spell checker as your spelling detracts from your obvious knowledge in your posts

cheers.
 

f-22fan12

New Member
One word, my obviously young friend - Saudi.



I hope you mean sailors.

I don't think that the Saudis would provide Pakistan funding if the Taliban took over there. That would be funding a terrorist state. The U.S. and others wouldn't just sit their and watch terrorists get hi-tech, expensive submarines. They would do something about it. The Saudis are close allies of the U.S. and I really don't think they would fund a terrorist state. If they did the U.S. and Europe would also put an arms embargo on them witch they wouldn't like either.

And by the way Izzy, I do know that the Saudis are the bank for Muslim countries that aren't that rich. But after all the U.S. has done to stop terrorists and extremists, I don't think the Saudis would fund Pakistan's new submarines.
 
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Izzy1

Banned Member
If they did the U.S. and Europe would also put an arms embargo on them witch they wouldn't like either.
And Saudi stops the oil - who comes off worse?


I don't think the Saudis would fund Pakistan's new submarines.
Get real - Saudi funded their nuclear weapons program for God's sake!!!
 

f-22fan12

New Member
Seawolf is to be fair a product of the Cold War - indeed I guess it was the last western SSN specifically designed to hunt and destroy Soviet subs.

Designed from the outset to restore and enhance the USN's acoustic advantage over a rapidly developing Soviet SSN fleet, the Seawolf program was blessed with massive funding and incorporated a lot of new technology. For instance, they were the first operational US SSN class to incorporate pumpjet propulsion. With sustained combat with the Soviet fleet in mind, a large magazine was fitted as standard.

They certainly weren't designed with littoral warfare in mind like the Virginia. The last Seawolf built, SSN-23 USS Carter had major modifications to give it a littoral capability, but the expense of Seawolf could no longer be justified. Seawolf is a hunter-killer, plain and simple and it without doubt does the job incredibly well.

The end of the Cold War meant that there was no longer a need for such a capable yet mission-specific platform like Seawolf. Virginia's design accepts the new need for a boat that could perform multi-role missions - especially supporting special forces and intelligence gathering. Given the lack of an enemy SSN threat, a large weapons magazine like that of Seawolf was a secondary consideration.

I think on a pure numbers versus development cost basis, Seawolf can still be judged more expensive than Virginia.

In conclusion, they simply were designed for different roles in an ever-changing world - yet without doubt both fantastic submarines.
I know all that. I'm not a fool. My question was would you rather put your money on Seawolf or Virginia. :)
 

f-22fan12

New Member
And Saudi stops the oil - who comes off worse?




Get real - Saudi funded their nuclear weapons program for God's sake!!!
They funded the nuclear weapons program when the country was run by a government or dictator. Not Taliban militants. There was already enough suspition about there nuke program under a stable government. I don't think they would let anyone fund a terrorist's NUCLEAR weapons.

Again, I really DO NOT THINK the Saudis would fund Pakistani weapons if the country was run by terrorists. They should have some sense in them, or do they not have any at all. I have full confidence that the will remember the terrorist strikes on their country and think differently. Pakistan's nuclear weapons don't help stability in an already dangerous part of the world. And the fact Pakistan has had how many military coups? does not make anyone feel good when they learn such an unstable country has nuclear weapons. Lets not even discuss the oil.

That's strange, you were thanking me for that in thread 49.


Grow up, fast.
I meant I knew one was designed for the cold war and the other was designed for the coastel regions to support operations against terrorists. I was just really trying to figure out how much more advanced Virginia was than Seawolf
I thanked you for your effort in resoponding. All you did was tell me how they were different and why they were built. Not which one you would think is better for a Hunter Killer Mission.

Anyways, lets stop argueing with each other so much. :)
 
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Izzy1

Banned Member
I really DO NOT THINK the Saudis would fund Pakistani weapons if the country was run by terrorists.
What?!!! As opposed to a military Junta who is backed by a state intelligence organisation that actually nurtured the Taliban threat in the first place! Again, please get real.


And the fact the Saudis funded Pakistan's nuclear weapons IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF.
Don't even go there - for a start I'm British, not Saudi. READ and inform yourself before you assume - it's something you clearly need to do a lot of considering the amount of people you seem to p**s off here on DT.


Pakistan's nuclear weapons don't help stability in an already dangerous part of the world.
In all fairness, nuclear weapons and the threat of escalation stopped the last confrontation between India and Pakistan over Kashmire several years ago.
 

Jade

New Member
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #69
O.K.

1) I hear the Astute's propulsion makes it quieter than a baby Dolphin !!

So, how can you detect it ?

2) The Astute's speed is 20 knots, so for it's size it's the fastest sub as well !!!

3) So, if Subs are undetectable, then who is to say whose nuclear missile targeted this or that country ?
This could mean total confusion and total war - as Castro said !?

Can anyone answer that pls ?
 

f-22fan12

New Member
What?!!! As opposed to a military Junta who is backed by a state intelligence organisation that actually nurtured the Taliban threat in the first place! Again, please get real.
The military created the militancy to fight the Soviets in Afg. At this time everyone was helping them to stop the Soviets.



Don't even go there - for a start I'm British, not Saudi. READ and inform yourself before you assume - it's something you clearly need to do a lot of considering the amount of people you seem to p**s off here on DT.

I'm sorry about my comment and will take your advice.


In all fairness, nuclear weapons and the threat of escalation stopped the last confrontation between India and Pakistan over Kashmire several years ago.
I understand that nukes prevented India from attacking Pakistan but still. Thats a dangerous part of the world. And another countries acquiring of nukes doesn't help.
 

Izzy1

Banned Member
I understand that nukes prevented India from attacking Pakistan but still. Thats a dangerous part of the world. And another countries acquiring of nukes doesn't help.
For once, I couldn't agree more :) .
 

f-22fan12

New Member
O.K.

1) I hear the Astute's propulsion makes it quieter than a baby Dolphin !!

So, how can you detect it ?

2) The Astute's speed is 20 knots, so for it's size it's the fastest sub as well !!!

3) So, if Subs are undetectable, then who is to say whose nuclear missile targeted this or that country ?
This could mean total confusion and total war - as Castro said !?

Can anyone answer that pls ?
1) Might be true not sure though
2) You could detect it the way you detect other subs. Dipping sonar from a helicopter, active or passive sonar as well. It would be harder to detect if it is that quiet though.
3) They're not "undetectable" but are hard to detect. People really don't know who targets their missiles at who. But you could kind of figure/guess. During the Cold War it would be obvious that the USSR and U.S. targeted missiles at each other. I wouldn't be surprised if China targeted its missiles at the U.S. and Taiwan. But anyhow it doesn't take long to retarget or target a missile. A few flicks of the switch and there you have it.
4) Its not that far fetched a war could start by complete accident. If a country was test launching another potential "enemy" of that country would think they were launching and launch back. :)
 

f-22fan12

New Member
By the way, Izzy1 do you know if Janes fighting ships has alot about submarines? If it doesn't could you tell me a book by Janes that does have alot about submarines.
 

Izzy1

Banned Member
Jane's Fighting Ships certainly contains details on all the World's current submarines. Yet, it does not go into detail very much - mainly given to the fact that it is such a large piece of work and there is only so much space available.

Personally, I don't think you can go far wrong with www.globalsecurity.org It may not be bang up-to-date, but its very close, well sourced and completely free.
 

f-22fan12

New Member
Izzy1, thank you. I've used global security and like you said it is not up to date. This becomes quite irritating.
Thank You. :)
 
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