The best new subs out there are the diesels being manufactured in Europe. Very, very quiet.
Yes, they’ve got the new AIP systems that allow submerged operations for 2-3 weeks. They don’t have the speed or world-spanning range of our nuclear attack boats, but they are quiet and deadly for close-in, littoral operations.
Yeh, well, I bet they have that phoney code that enables them to pass the eco test each year.
Last year or maybe a couple of years ago, our Navy leased the use of a diesel electric submarine built for the Swedes, I believe. It was to train our boat crews on how to hunt for that type of sub. Don’t know if we still lease the use of the Swedish sub.