The way Clancy had the Japanese navy disable two nuclear carriers and sink a US sub in Debt of Honor was actually believable. And then the turnabout when we got our own back was a great exercise in how we would answer asymmetric warfare, as long as we could identify who the bad guys were.
While Japanese subs might still be ahead of Chinese ones in sensors,the gap is closing somewhat.For one,the PLAN is planning to install AIP on it's new Kilo class subs,massively increasing submerged endurance-Im not sure if Japan has yet installed AIP on it's boats.Then they are acquiring the Klub cruise missile for their Kilos & possibly Song class,which is supersonic & comes in land attack as well as anti-ship variants,it looks better than the Harpoon on paper.Most importantly,the electronics gap will close when the EU lifts it's arms embargo.Italy,France & Germany build excellent sonars & ECCM & China has enough D/Es & N-subs to install them on.
Phsstpok,
Wasn't it disabling 2 carrier & sinking 2 attack subs in Debt of Honour??Anyway,I stopped reading Clancy ages ago-it's always the same bland scenario,based on his atrociously substandard knowledge of global politics.