Originally Posted by
SASless
Yep——have either read them or the eqivalent as I am a member of the USNI and stay current on Navy and other news-
Originally Posted by
SASless
How effective is the Carrier and its handful of F-35’s in the ASW sector as compared to the P-8’s and ASW Frigates?
if the Russians elect to challenge us on the East Coast of the US….might not you find yourself with pressing needs in your own home waters and with a max effort you can put to sea two carrier based task forces but only for a relatively short period.
Numbers or the lack of them does figure into the metrics.
The Russians have made improvements in the quality of the Subs over the years and do pose a threat but it would be more a Sub to Sub fight that will decide the outcomeI am thinking aided by ASW surface or ASW air assets.
You notice our Maine Corps has been talking about it having a role to play in the ASW business.
Traditional ASW forces must a bit like Jimmy Durante.
1. Carriers do not just carry jets. The RN and USN carriers also carry ASW helicopters. The Royal Navy decided in the 1950s that the ASW helicopter should replace carrier borne fixed wing ASW types, and throughout the Cold War used and equipped ASW helicopters differently, at greater range, equipped with radar (something the SH-3 lacked) and an Observer doing pretty much the same job as the TACCO in an S-3 Viking. The ASW helicopter has a unique contribution - dipping sonar. This can hold contacts for protracted periods, move from one location to another rapidly (pull the sonar out of the water, move, and then lower it again), and get under the thermal layer.
Surface warships usually have sonar for ASW - but long range detection means low frequency active sonar, which are towed array systems. As with any long range system there is a trade off between range and resolution, so the towed array equipped frigate will usually carry a dipping sonar equipped helicopter. If you want dipping around the clock, or for protracted periods then you need multiple helicopters, and collocating them aboard a carrier simplifies command, control, and support. This has been proven by real world experience.
The SSNs are perhaps the primary ASW platform, but they will often work in conjunction with surface warships, helicopters, and MPA.
As you note the Russian submarines have got better - but so have NATO naval capabilities.
2. The build up of the RN/RAF F-35B Lightning force is disappointing slow - but as far as I know then plan is to put 24 aboard the carrier. Leaving aside the issue of fending off attacks by the Russian Air Force and Russian Naval Aviation, they will have a role in countering reconnaissance aircraft that support the submarines and provide targeting information for long range missiles. The Russians (and others like the Chinese) like to boost about their long range missiles, but hope that nobody will point out that these things rely on third party assets like aircraft for targeting.
3. The USN Admiral who wrote of Russian submarines operating off the US East Coast was making a point - the Russian submarine threat still exists.
I thought that the idea of involving USMC assets was for delivering ASW torpedoes from USMC helicopters?
Originally Posted by
Asturias56
Russia has what? Maybe 7-10 modern subs - it's not the same threat it was 50 years ago
I think that Russian submarines numbers are around fifty, including roughly forty SSNs, SSGNs, and SSKs.
This might interest you:
The Yasen-M and the Future of Russian Submarine Forces - RUSI