Post Cold War Submarine QOTW - 18 DEC 2016

Submarine Questions of the Week

Part I

1 - Which is the most appropriate explanation for the symbol (inset) displayed on the foremost centerline, at eye-level of the sub's sail (above)?

----(a) The sub was the first of its class (specify its class).
----(b) The sub received its nation's excellence award the month before (specify award date).
----(c) The sub's commanding officer was the fleet's commodore (specify the commodore).
----(d) The sub's commanding officer was the fleet commodore's son (specify the C.O.).
----(e) The sub was credited with decommissioning a U.S. submarine (specify the U.S. sub).  

2 - Identify the submarine above (class, unit ID number, & name).

3 - Identify the submarine below  (class, unit ID number, & name).

Part II

4 - Which is the most appropriate description for the object being hoisted to/from the sub's sail (photo directly above)?

----(a)  Object was a high-yield ballistic missile warhead (specify mega tons).
----(b)  Object was a low-yield warhead (specify kilo tons).
----(c)  Object was a high-yield rocket warhead (specify type of high explosive).
----(d)  Object was a satellite (specify type: spy, gps, communications, other.).
----(e)  Object was an escape capsule for sub's crew (specify crew size).  

5 - What year is considered the final year of the Cold War?

ANSWERS: Wednesday, 21 DEC 16.

Submarines are always silent and strange.
  

Submarine Limited Value Quotes of the Month

Background

When it comes to submarine-relater matters ("Submarines are always silent and strange.") the public can be virtually assured that 99.9% of informed quotations about important matters are of limited value due to: historical obsolescence; futuristic speculation, and omission of critical detail.

Quotations excerpted from 2 publications this month illustrate such limited value:

Quotations

1.  "The question that must be posed is thus, what should be done with a second-hand submarine which is in perfectly good condition?" 

Gadi Eisenkot, Chief of General Staff, Israel Defense Forces (IDF), The Jewish Voice, "Israel to Get Dolphin Submarine in 2019; Will Put Oldest Sub Out of Action", Raphael Rahaman,16 December 2015.

M.E. note:  Estimated cost for the replacement sub is 400 million euros ($440 million).  When decommissioned, the older sub could conceivably be: stripped and sold for scrap; sunk in deep water; used in training recruits; traded-in to Germany's HDW; or donated to a friendly country.  Which option(s) is/are actually realistic for Israel, or has an entirely different decision actually been made?

2.  "Russia already has taken steps that would "guarantee neutralizing" any prospective missile defense."

Col. Gen. Sergei Karakayev, Strategic Missile Forces' commander, MOSCOW (AP) ,  Russian general says new weapons will 'neutralize' US shield, Dec 16, 2015.

M.E. note:  Russia's Status-6 torpedo, NATO code name Kanyon, was "leaked" in September and appears to be the Karakayev's neutralizing factor.  Firstly,  how and where does one test a long-range, thermonuclear warhead or a nuclear-powered torpedo nowadays?  If Russia does so with impunity can North Korea and Iran be far behind?  Secondly, Russia's Bulava (missile) tests had many failures.  And underwater tests may make weapons susceptible to capture and analysis.  If not tested at long range, however, what certainty can Russia have of course accuracy and even survival when struck by marine biologics?  Assume Russia decides not to risk testing Kanyon.  Then, accidentally sinking a Carnival cruise liner full of foreign tourists becomes grossly unacceptible. Building the Kanyon is one thing; if Russia ever tests the claimed thermonuclear warhead, the world will know and Russia relegated to remain on the BRICS for a long, long time --- a poor outcome for a talented people.
 
Submarines are always silent and strange.