Penetrating a CVBG is trivial for a submarine, really. With no more Perry class frigates or Spruance and Kidd class destroyers, who is the ASW platform? The Arleigh Burkes? Ha!
We don't need ASW platforms anymore, since the USSR collapsed.
/sarcasm
An OHPr myself - god I loved huntin’ the shadows with that tail. This happened a lot with the russians before - someone mentioned that diesels are hard to detect - this is true. But I still caught quite a few japanese and korean diesels before they could do much. I think as with our “cia” skills - we have laxed off in our asw skills as well.
My real question though is where was the Battle group sub. My guess is they were sitting behind and below the diesel and watching the whole thing - of course if it had been a real situation ....
Do not get me wrong. It's a numbers game and we should have kept the Spruance class in particular. They were excellent ASW platforms, and with the VLS tubes had also developed into very strong multi-role destroyers...they were however weak on AAW. Still, most had a good 15-20 years service life left and instead of at least using them to replace the older vessels in the reserve fleet...the bulk of them we have sunk in live fire exercises.
Of even more concern is the retirement from ASW duties and carrier service of the S-3 Vikings. They were designed specifically for ASW duty, and had long legs (range) for that duty. There is absolutely nothing in service to replace them. All airborne ASW duties for the CSG now are performed by the helos...which, while good, have very short legs. It is true that we use the P-3 Orions as well, but they have to fly from shore and are only of limited use.
An ASW version of the Osprey would help...but the Vikings, or its replacement, were optimized and designed specifically for that purpose.
Having said all of that...my own inside sources tell me Trav that we pretty much rooted this guy out and forced him to the surface. Though we have reitred significant assetts, and in the world today, particularly with China going hells bells in naval buildup, we should have maintained the vast numerical and qualitative advantage that we had.
Just the same, with the Burkes and the helos and the LA Class subs performing ASW duties, we are far better at the ASW job than anyone else in the world.
Though I agree with your assessment of surface ASW capability, I think the ASW role for the CVBGs is supposed to fall on their LA class sub escorts. Modern diesel-electric boats will be our bane for the foreseeable future.
Unfortunately we're going to have to suffer a severely damaged or sunk bird farm to get REALLY serious about this.