Run silent, run deep...

Some of you may think, because of my comments in the KMS Bismarck post, that I do not like submarines. Nothing could be further from the truth. I simply commented that their limitations at that time denied them a strategic role (Even convoy raiding became nigh impossible when His Majesty's navy employed more sophisticated methods in their convoy ASW escort). Now, powerful and reliable torpedos, cruise missiles, nuclear warheads, nuclear reactors and silent drives give modern submarines a multidimensional role with many strategic aspects (besides that of a silent nuclear weapons platform) as seen in the Falklands war, which will be my next post.

For the moment, let me just say that I am a sub person and many are the hours that I have spent on submarine simulators running real-time patrols... :)

Here are two videos: The first one is of the KNM Utsein (S 302 ), an Ula-clas diesel-electric submarine of the Royal Norwegian Navy (german design: U-Boot Klasse 210) test-firing a DM2A3 torpedo against the KNM Stavanger, an aged norwegian Oslo-class frigate that had been decommissioned in 1998. The test took place in 2001.

For the Ula-class submarines we read in Wikipedia:

"The Ula class submarines are among the most silent and manoeuverable submarines in the world. This, in combination with the relatively small size, makes them difficult to detect from surface vessels and ideal for operations in coastal areas. During the annual NATO Joint Winter exercise in 2004, the HNoMS Utvær had to be disqualified from the exercise because it kept the entire landing operation at bay. The Ula class submarines are regarded as both the most effective and cost-effective weapons in the RNoN."



The second video is a wonderful scene from the film Crimson Tide, when the Ohio-class submarine dives to commence patrol operations. Here is the ultra-cool dialogue:

- X.O., take her down.
- Take her down. Aye, sir. Control/Bridge: Sounding.
- Bridge/Control: Sounding: one-three-zero fathoms.
- Lookouts, clear the bridge.
- Clear the bridge. Aye, sir.
- Officer of the deck, prepare to dive.
- Captain down.
- Captain is down.
- X.O. Down.
- X.O. is down.
- Submerge the ship.
- Diving Officer, submerge the ship. Make your depth one-five-zero feet.
- Make my depth one-five-zero feet. Aye, sir. Chief of the watch, on the 1MC, DIVE, DIVE !
- Make your depth one-five-zero feet. Five degree down bubble.

The choir sings what seems to be an abridged version of the first two verses of the US Navy Hymn, "Eternal Father strong to save":

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walkedst on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
Amen.

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