Answers to Sub Mystery Questions from 19 SEP 2014

Background for questions is found at original posting here.

 ANSWERS - Sub Mystery Q.O.T.W.

Questions
1 - There is a very compelling reason that should have discouraged Taiwan from buying 8 US-made diesel subs; what is it?  ANS:   Bids from seven domestic and foreign companies were received, the FMS [foreign military sales] program was evaluated by the U.S. Navy to cost $10.5 billion, a price tag that led to boycotts of the FMS by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the People First Party (PFP) in Taiwan.  Also, a US Council on Foreign Relations commentary said any sale of subs to Taiwan would be too costly and that they are not an effective defensive capability


2 - There is a also a compelling historical reason that should prevent even an Obama administration (with a lawyer in charge of our Navy) from signing onto an FMS (foreign military sales) deal with Taiwan; what is that history? ANS: "Taiwanese military officials have an unfortunate history of passing classified military information into the hands of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA),"

Bonus Questions
(Many former submariners experienced the curious wonder of transiting through a canal in a sub.  Unfortunately, a recent canal transit proved more hectic for one submarine.)

3 - Identify the submarine by name. ANS:  Tayrona de Colombia  (S029), a Type 209, HDW (German-built) sub.


4 - Describe the known damage.  ANS:  Propeller required replacement and transmission system inspected.  Consequently, engines were stopped dead in the water (DIW) in canal, a very vulnerable situation for any naval sub. Unlike Russia (and other submarine powers), however, Colombia's navy quickly acknowledged major repairs and revisions of some of its systems. In 2009, however. Russia's diesel sub Alrosa also had a DIW episode, which Russia immediately attempted to cover-up but failed to hide.


5 - Where was the sub towed for repairs? ANS: Cartagena..after the September 7th incident.


Submarines are always silent and strange.

Submarine incident bodes poorly for a nuclear fleet

Background  (History)

"Minor Malfunction on Board Alrosa Submarine Used to Undermine Russia’s Image" - PRAVDA, Nov. 24, 2009.

PREDICTION:
"For first world countries, even some Canadians should agree, a commissioned military submarine dead in the water must always be considered a MAJOR problem." -Vigilis, Nov. 24, 2009.

PROOF:
"The Alrosa submarine recently suffered an engine fire and almost sank. It is likely to be under repair for the foreseeable future." - Dr. Dmitry Gorenburg in the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University,  "Military significance of the Sevastopol basing agreement", April 28, 2010.

India's submarine INS Sindhurakshak (Current Event)

India's submarine INS Sindhurakshak received help from Egyptian Navy when it encountered extreme bad weather and rough sea on its way back home after mid-life up-gradation in Russia. The Sindhurakshak, a Russian Kilo Class submarine built in 1997 at Admiralteiskie Verfi shipyard in St Petersburg, underwent mid-life up-gradation.The Egyptian Navy towed the submarine to Port Said along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in March, sources said.


PREDICTION:
If preparations for getting diesel subs underway cannot be reliably managed with better professionalism than reflected by the INF Sindhurakshak incident in March (submerged submarines are generally immune to 'bad weather') than operation of nuclear submarines, like Chakra, will undoubtedly prove more fateful, perhaps tragically so.  - Vigilis May 29, 2013.

PROOF:
(future events, near misses, or disasters to be announced)

Submarines are always silent and strange.