Posted on 06/26/2002 6:16:50 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Heavy Use Taxes Submarines, US Navy Commander Says
Copyright © 2002, Dow Jones Newswires
By Greg Jaffe NORFOLK, Va. -- The commander of the U.S. Navy's submarines recently warned his bosses that the fleet, which has played a critical role in gathering intelligence about the al Qaeda terrorist network, should slow its pace of operations.
The vessels' nuclear-reactor cores are burning up faster than planned due to added missions since Sept. 11, shortening the submarines' life spans, Vice Adm. John Grossenbacher told his superiors. "I've told them this next year we need to see a reduction in the tempo of operations," he said. "They are working on it."
The 380-foot-long submarines' missions, which include secretly delivering teams of Navy commandos to hot spots around the globe and intercepting telephone conversations, have risen more than 30% since the terrorist attacks, Navy officials said. To accomplish the missions, submarines are skipping port calls, traveling more quickly between hot spots and forgoing some maintenance and training missions.
The warning comes at a time when the Navy's top submarine officers are battling their own service and the defense secretary's office in seeking to add more attack submarines to the arsenal of 54. Navy plans call for the number to drop to about 51 during the next decade.
Submarines are extremely effective platforms for gathering intelligence, but at $2.2 billion for a new attack sub they are also very expensive. "The capabilities that the subs provide, such as gathering intelligence, are capabilities that are in much demand," a senior Navy official said. "The question is whether submarines are the most cost-efficient way to perform these tasks."
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld hasn't included buying more attack subs on his list of military priorities.
Since Sept. 11, the service's attack subs have spent about 80% of their deployed time performing missions, most of which have been associated with gathering intelligence. "They are really going to destroy the force if they continue at this current pace," said Loren Thompson, chief operating officer of the Lexington Institute, a defense think tank in Arlington, Va. "Eventually you could have a serious accident."
Adm. Grossenbacher has told his senior leadership that during the next year, the Navy needs to reduce the percentage of time its subs spend on missions while deployed to about 72%. To put that into practice, the submarine force likely will have to begin turning down more assignments, which are given to it by the Central Intelligence Agency and the Pentagon. This wouldn't be the first time it refused assignments -- it did so during the Kosovo war in 1999. But with the push to gather intelligence that could head off another deadly terrorist attack, declining missions isn't done lightly.
Submarines are particularly adept at gathering intelligence because they "cannot be tracked like satellites and are more stealthy than unmanned aerial vehicles," said Michael Vickers of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. He said a combination of super-stealthy unmanned aerial vehicles or unmanned minisubmarines might provide a cost-effective substitute on some missions shouldered by the submarine force.
(END) DOW JONES NEWS 06-26-02
12:00 AM
Write to your Congressman.
Most of these boomers had 30 years of service .. .and were tired and ready for retirement.
Several of the boomers were converted to SSN/seal delivery teams - the last two - USS Polk and USS Kamahameha were just recently de-commissioned.
The only real solution to our immediate shortage of SSNs is to refuel the 688's that were planned for decommissioning rather than refueling!!
Four Trident SSBNs WILL be converted to SSGNs - and will be multi-mission - Seal teams, large cruise missile carrying platform, etc.
hchutch - The Seawolf class submarine is still likely to be 50% more expensive than the projected delivery cost of the Virginia class SSN. The Seawolf has some significant capabilities that are Nice to have .... but perhaps more spendy than we really need. We need to put more emphasis on procurement reform as part of the solution.
Currently we need this money to encourage foreigners to visit America with the possibility that they might stay here seeking work in our many occupations. This must not be demeaned as reducing the safety of Americans.
Foreigners contribute much more than any possible expense to us taxpayers. They divide and enrich our country by expanding different cultures that our children must experience to become proper politically correct adults.
I am sorry that I cannot support your thoughts in strenghtening America unless such a recommendation comes directly from the United Nations.
Your wonderful Congressman, Rep. Screwem Again
Please be sure to vote for the joint DEmRep Party during my fifth re-election.
NOTICE: We have made changes in my home office where you will be able to speak directly into a camera from outside of the building anytime you wish to voice your opinion on local issues. This must be enabled by sliding your Drivers License through the Electronic Identification Verifification Computer, then while looking into the camera lense, please speak in soft tones.
You must maintain a polite attitude during this process or the building security forces will removed you from the grounds. Permanent restriction is a sincere possibility.
eeeeeeekkkkk! - I just this weekend replaced a starter on an older model Toyota Camry. Thought it would be simple. Nope. Can't see anything when you get your hand in the only position to reach anything, then the bolts are so long they just barely, and I do mean just barely have clearance to come out. Cranking them 1/8 of a turn with an open end wrench. And that was just to get the old starter out.And the whole time laying on top of the engine.
I have no doubt maintenance and repair on a sub is murderous work. Probably had to take stuff the size of a car apart piece by piece to replace a fuse. No thanks.
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