[IonImplantGuru]

[The Virginia class boats] Too expensive, too big, and too capable to risk sending in there IMHO, we need our own diesel electrics in my view.

You and quite a few US submarine veterans too, Jeff.

[Jeff Head]

Thanks, I have a son in law in the services. Our enemies are quite content to expend quite a few cheap DE's to bag one or more of our nukes. The only place they have the chance to do that, IMHO, is in the littorals. They want to draw our big boats in there, where they may be able to maintain some symbolance of air superiority because it is so close to their shores, so they can take their shots against our subs...and also against our carriers.