The U.S. Navy’s Attack Submarine ‘Nightmare’ Is Getting Serious

National Security Journal ^ | 7/7/2025 | Andrew Latham

[whyilovetexas111]

The U.S. Navy is facing a critical shortage of attack submarines, a “nightmare” scenario where aging Los Angeles-class boats are being retired faster than new Virginia-class submarines can be built. This impending capability gap is a symptom of a much deeper crisis within the American naval shipbuilding industry, which is plagued by inefficiencies, delays, and an inability to keep pace with the rapid expansion of China’s Navy.

[rottndog]

Time to break out the submersible drones.

[TexasGator]

Quietness is a major factor.

So are weapons. My old boat could fire subconscious but could not fire cruise missiles.

New tech. No longer are subs using periscope that require large penetrations and constraints the sub layout.

Many other factors.

[A Navy Vet]

Paging Secretary Hegseth.

[grey_whiskers]

You are so far behind. Don’t you know that we will be shielded by proper use of personal pronouns?

...and raised eyebrows!

[Reverend Wright]

“China’s Navy is a China Sea Navy. They are growing and worthy of attention. But they cannot project strength in the same way as a carrier fleet.”

---

Tell the Houthis. Because they haven’t heard the message about the USN incredible “strength projection”.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/second-fighter-jet-falls-off-carrier-1.7528391

[TexasGator]

“Does it have something to do with the sub’s nuclear fuel?”

Our older subs had to be refueled several times I a 30 year lifetime.

New subs last 30 years with the original core.

But, the reactor components have limited lifetimes due to irradiation and chemical corrosion.

[SuperLuminal]

"Can we even afford to build more?"

More importantly: "Can we even afford to not build more?

[Orosius]

Don’t they make them for the Israelis?

[TexasGator]

Underwater: 400 nm @ 8 knots

Our nuclear subs: Unlimited range at 30+ knots

[jjotto]

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/08/israel-launches-new-submarine-first-in-world-with-modern-missiles-in-sail/

[AppyPappy]

And we bypassed the Seawolf somehow. The Russians are still active. A friend’s son was a bubblehead. He knows too well.

[If You Want It Fixed - Fix It]

U.S.S. Nightmare

Can anyone write?

[dljordan]

“We won’t even have a space program.”

But we have plenty of well paid bureaucrats pretending we have one.

[Orosius]

Thanks, looks good.

[jjotto]

Germany is now building three nexgen ‘Dakar’ class subs for Israel.

[ro_dreaming]

We have some of those. The "Manta" (picture below) is one that is VERY intriguing to me, as a former sailor.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-military-manta-ray-drone-b2538410.html

[central_va]

Globalism and off shoring are the gifts that free traitors gave us.

[central_va]

400 nm at 8 knots is two days under water. Not bad at all.

[Colorado Doug]

I have read many times that our Littoral vessels suck and that we should stop making them because they are worthless. So, yeah, build good ships instead.

[GingisK]

400 nm...Not bad at all

Only when we assume nautical miles rather than nanometers. ;-D