Russian Sub Skirts Coast

freebeacon.com ^ | November 5, 2012 5:05 pm | Bill Gertz

[BenLurkin]

A Russian nuclear-powered attack submarine cruised within 200 miles of the East Coast recently in the latest sign Russia is continuing to flex its naval and aerial power against the United States, defense officials said.

The submarine was identified by its NATO designation as a Russian Seirra-2 class submarine believed to be based with Russia’s Northern Fleet. It was the first time that class of Russian submarine had been detected near a U.S. coast, said officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of anti-submarine warfare efforts.

One defense official said the submarine was believed to have been conducting anti-submarine warfare efforts against U.S. ballistic and cruise missile submarines based at Kings Bay, Georgia.

A second official said the submarine did not sail close to Kings Bay and also did not threaten a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group that was conducting exercises in the eastern Atlantic.

Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base, north of Jacksonville, Fla., is homeport for two guided missile submarines and six nuclear missile submarines. The submarines are known to be a target of Russian attack submarines.

Meanwhile, the officials also said that a Russian electronic intelligence-gathering vessel was granted safe harbor in the commercial port of Jacksonville, Fla., within listening range of Kings Bay.

The Russian AGI ship, or Auxiliary-General Intelligence, was allowed to stay in the port to avoid the superstorm that battered the U.S. East Coast last week. A Jacksonville Port Authority spokeswoman had no immediate comment on the Russian AGI at the port.

“A Russian AGI and an SSN in the same geographic area as one of the largest U.S. ballistic missile submarine bases—Kings Bay—is reminiscent of Cold War activities of the Soviet navy tracking the movements of our SSBN’s,” said a third U.S. official,

[Noob1999]

“Tell Vlad that I’ll have more flexibility on November 7!”

[BigCinBigD]

Meanwhile in Moscow a periscope pops out of a manhole cover.

[driftdiver]

Nothing to see here, move along.

[Red Steel]

Since we know about it, it was tailed by Virginia class sub.

[NeverForgetBataan]

“Andrei... you’ve lost another submarine?”

[BenLurkin]

So if Russkie pops open a hatch, we’ll send her to the bottom.

But can we let her take out Phlly first?

[tom h]

Recognizing that this used to happen all the time during the Cold War ...

Does this mean that Hillary did not reset our relations with Russia?

[massgopguy]

Agent 13 is that you?

[null and void]

To be fair, that’s precisely what they are supposed to do.

WE are supposed to keep them from doing this unmolested.

They’re doing their part, are we doing ours?

[Professional]

A curious question I have...

If International waters are like 12 miles off the coast, then what is the problem if a russian sub is 200 miles off the coast?

Granted, seeing a Russian aircraft carrier and all, 13 miles off the coast would be considered “hostile”? Is there a buffer zone, or courteous zone, so that folks don’t get into a dangerous game?

[CrazyIvan]

They’re just checking that cable tap between Washington and Kenya.

[oyez]

If Obama is reelected he will offer to homeport those things in Newport and San Francisco.

[cripplecreek]

I think there is also a 200 mile exclusion zone but its primarily for economic reasons like keeping foreign fishing vessels out.

[Seruzawa]

I’m thankful to the Ruskies for providing our Navy with free targets.

[wonkowasright]

If Obama is reelected he will offer to homeport those things in Newport and San Francisco.

Useless trivia. During the civil war Lincoln allowed Russian navy vessels to berth in New York Harbor and San Francisco harbor ( unless I got the east coast port wrong ).

In that case they were to help protect against English attack or so I understand.

[buffaloguy]

I wonder if we have underwater robots that can attach tracking devices on Russian subs. Seems like a really good idea.

Or maybe just spraypaint “US Navy says howdeedo!” on the side of the hull. Could be a hoot.

[cripplecreek]

I don't quite understand how it works. There are multiple zones but military vessels are probably subject to a whole different set of treaties.

[Hammerhead]

duplicate post.

and why is it news that a russian sub is 200 miles off our coast...or within 12 miles for that matter?

happens every day.

been there, done that.

SSN 663

[dfwgator]

"Andrei...you've lost another submarine?"

[rottndog]

They’re doing their part, are we doing ours?

Since we know about the presence of the Russian boat, we obviously are doing our job. It was likely tracked and followed since it left its' home port.

This is nothing new. Back during the cold war whenever we left port, there was a Soviet trawler out in international waters watching us leave and reporting our movements. It's part of the game.

What is surprising is that this info was leaked...I don't understand what's to be gained by telling Ivan that we know their boat is there. Now that they know that we know, they know our ASW capabilities are superior to their stealth capabilities. Why hand them that info?

[Professional]

Didn’t russians play a game with their bombers, where they flew them out in a hostile fashion, then play a game of chicken? Was it Iceland they flew at, then turned around?

[Seruzawa]

Threadwinner!

[Secret Agent Man]

Get Your Daily Dose of Rejuvenating Manly Radiation Every Day - Join the Russian Navy.

[Nevermore]

officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of anti-submarine warfare efforts

OK, so lets blab about it to the press, by all means.

[Navy Patriot]

Not a big deal, we do this sort of stuff all the time, and the Russians do it as much as they can, which will be steadily more.

This is intelligence and training not threatening or or Sabre rattling. Rarely have mistakes been made and the Russians have moved away from their communist cold war paranoia, so more are less likely.

[navyblue]

“Back during the cold war whenever we left port, there was a Soviet trawler out in international waters watching us leave and reporting our movements. It’s part of the game.”

Yes, I remember this, Many times coming into and out of
Chesapeake we would see these Russian trawlers with a lot of radio antennas. Strange thing was, for being a fishing boat, you didn’t see any sea gulls around it.

[GBA]

I wonder what they picked up.

[rottndog]

Strange thing was, for being a fishing boat, you didn’t see any sea gulls around it.

Isn't seagull a Russian delicacy? Gotta eat something...

[dfwgator]

[NonValueAdded]

“Emeeeeergency, everybody to be getting from street.”

[uglybiker]

“Andrei... you’ve lost another submarine?”

Maybe they were looking for 'Horrywood'!