Russian Subs Patrolling Off East Coast of U.S.

The New York Times ^ | August 4, 2009 | Mark Mazzetti & Thom Shanker

[Saint Reagan]

WASHINGTON — A pair of nuclear-powered Russian attack submarines has been patrolling off the eastern seaboard of the United States over recent days, a rare mission that has raised concerns inside the Pentagon and intelligence agencies about a more assertive stance by the Russian military.

The episode has echoes of the cold war era, when the United States and the Soviet Union regularly parked submarines off each other’s coasts to steal military secrets, track the movements of their underwater fleets — and be poised for war.

But the collapse of the Soviet Union all but eliminated the ability of the Russian Navy to operate far from home ports, making the current submarine patrols thousands of miles from Russia even more surprising for military officials and defense policy experts.

“I don’t think they’ve put two first-line nuclear subs off the U.S. coast in about 15 years,” said Norman Polmar, a naval historian and expert on submarine warfare.

[Saint Reagan]

[tet68]

Someone needs to turn that into a .gif that turns from
“reset” to “Launch”.

[Cementjungle]

Maybe they’re planning to take out Congress. Now that would be such a shame.

[Red Steel]

Russian Subs Patrolling Off East Coast of U.S.,

With a Virginia class SSN following in close proximity.

[RC2]

They most likely have permission from whats his name.

[Cementjungle]

They most likely have permission from whats his name.

They have mine too.

[DonaldC]

I’m sure we are doing the same to them.

[ScubieNuc]

Russian Subs Patrolling Off East Coast of U.S.,

With a Virginia class SSN following in close proximity.

No Doubt.

[GeronL]

Maybe even the SS Texas?

[wally_bert]

But probably under orders to do absolutely nothing if our Russian friends decide to do anything rash.

[robertwalker62]

their subs don’t even need to do anything to be a threat:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_submarine_K-219

[Terry Mross]

Is a military coup in the works for the U.S.? Will someone stand up and say “Enough!”

[From The Deer Stand]

Biden said we’d be tested in the Zero administration and that we may not like the way they respond. Hope he’s wrong on both occasions. We haven’t like the way they’ve responded to anything yet.

[greatplains]

Why should they do anything rash? That implies that they find us threatening. The best and bravest armed forces in the world has it’s collective hands tied.

[NonValueAdded]

what about their boomers?

[Popman]

Fear not, Comrades. Premier Obama is my homie.

[Tonytitan]

But probably under orders to do absolutely nothing if our Russian friends decide to do anything rash.

It's probably sailing with a training crew of inexperienced conscripts. The fear is not that they'll do something rash, but something extremely stupid.

[BlueNgold]

Are they trying to defect?
Should we call in U.S.S. Dallas?

Where the heck is Jack Ryan when you need him???

[NativeNewYorker]

What Would Sarah Do?

[mkjessup]

If the Soviet err, 'Russian' subs are just attack 'SSN' type boats, I'm not so concerned.

On the other hand, if they were armed with cruise missiles or ballistic missiles, I think I would be VERY concerned, and as other posters have mentioned, hopefully we've got some of our own subs keeping close tabs on them.

[lakeman]

And this is news how?

[Slump Tester]

Let's not forget those bastards at Toshiba who sold them the technology to duplicate our silent propulsion and the ability to track OUR subs with.

It may have been in the 80's, but there will never be ANY Toshiba products in this house!

How many folks today even remember this? I'll bet there are a good many Freepers using Toshiba laptops.

[RoadGumby]

This particular Freeper will Never buy Toshiba, for just that reason.

[jla]

What Would Sarah Do?

In any situation, or crisis, I am confident that a President Palin would always err on the side of protecting her country, even if it risked being 'chastised' by leaders of other nations or their citizens.

[Ed Condon]

Forney, Wampum, Pa.

[Indy Pendance]

Nothing to see here, it’s just Obama’s ride to Martha’s Vineyard.

[wally_bert]

I could see the stupid side now that you mention it. However since they are just learning, anything they do is OK as per 0’s rules of engagement.

[PureSolace]

Cold War II

[Palladin]

Either that or the Russians want to trade in their Clunkers.

[Indy Pendance]

Clunker subs? LOL!

[Thane_Banquo]

I myself am not terribly worried about it, since those are probably the only two sea-worthy submarines in the entire Russian fleet.

[tarheelswamprat]

The Swedes were complicit in that betrayal as well - a Swedish company called Kongsberg.

[conservativegranny]

Or they have come to rescue us from our oppressive government.

[synbad600]

They just want to enjoy the FL coast now that the snowbirds are up north.

[MikefromOhio]

She’d do absolutely nothing. She would (hopefully) let the Navy handle it.

[sonofstrangelove]

It only takes 5-15 minutes from a Russian sub missile launch either from the West or East Coasts to hit any city.Very little time to take cover.It takes the same amount of time for our missiles from a Trident submarine to hit their Russian targets.

[bd476]

They provide security for Obama on his sabbaticals to Moscow, courtesy of Putin and Soros.

[MissDairyGoodnessVT]

Hey Obeyme- your ride is here

[EGPWS]

The NYT's sonar has detected it.

Good job NYT! /s

[Swan]

The big question here is why would the New York Times have/been given this knowledge? The follow-up question is why are they being reported?

[rottndog]

This is why we need to be investing in modern diesel boats.

[sonofstrangelove]

[EGPWS]

“Anytime the Russian Navy does something so out of the ordinary it is cause for worry,” said a senior Defense Department official who has been monitoring reports on the submarines’ activities.

Yeah!

Submarines will take the focus off of those who really are for the destruction of the USA post haste......

Liberals in power and Al Qeada as a close second.

[Red_Devil 232]

OMG The Russians Are Coming!

[PROSOUTH]

Don’t worry about the Ruskies missels we have our Laser trained on it right now. As soon as the silo door opens we will melt it in seconds. Shhhhh maybe I wasn’t supposed to tell that.................

[rottndog]

Let's not forget those bastards at Toshiba who sold them the technology to duplicate our silent propulsion and the ability to track OUR subs with.

Toshiba sold machining technology used in the manufacture of propellers. There's a great deal more to controlling sound emissions from the propulsion plant than just the screws....not that that isn't important too.

Any anomaly in the propulsion plant can cause a distinct sound signature to be transmitted to the water. Under way we spend as much time listening to ourselves as we spend listening to others.

[sonofstrangelove]

We still need to be mindful that a submarine in the West Coast and a submarine in the East Coast can turn cities into radioactive rubble in 5 minutes. I think most people people do not know that.

[sonofstrangelove]

It is good to be vigilant

[Snickering Hound]

[bareford101]

I was thinking along the same lines, but more specifically I was trying to place where the obamanation is staying this month on his ongoing vaction..somewhere on the east coast....hmmmm