[rlmorel]

Check out the pre-existing discussion at:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1923614/posts?page=132#132

Jeff Head (one of Free Republic’s resident experts on Naval issues) has opined (and I agree) that the Chinese sub was forced to surface. (Be sure to read his post)

It makes more sense than just surfacing in the middle of the battle group to make a point. Any sub drivers out there have an opinion of whether or not a sub is going to surface in the company of “enemy” ships without being forced to do so?

I was always under the impression that was anathema to any submariner of ANY country, but not having served on boats, I don’t know. Any thoughts?

[Liberty Valance]

fttt

(forced to the top ;o)

[CodeMasterPhilzar]

I was only a civilian puke working with the Navy in the 80s... But it was my understanding that detection was generally considered universally bad. You never wanted them to detect you, period. You wouldn't want them getting a recording of your sonar signature. You wouldn't want them to see you execute your evasion tactics, nada. You don't want to give the other side any information at all. It was to the point that when subs played wargames they would use sound augmenters to make them louder than normal, and change their signatures so that no-one, even our allies, knew exactly what they sounded like.

However, it is said that if you really, really want to rattle a surface group commander's chain... You let them detect you, get a solid hit, then disappear. That way they know death is on their doorstep, and there is nothing they can do about it. It is rumored that under direct orders from someone at the admiral level that card may have been played once or twice.

One guess on the chinese sub's surfacing... They played the game well and managed to get inside the screen. However, it took so long and/or relied on favorable currents/drifting etc. that they had no battery left for a mock attack or evasion/extraction and were forced to surface to recharge and/or exchange air. Or maybe the screen commander decided to prosecute the contact and they were forced to surface. That could be from an active sonar lashing, mock depth charges (Soviets used to do that to us)...Or maybe the sound of a 688 opening the outer doors of its torpedo tubes about 3000 yds astern... ;-)

[A.A. Cunningham]

Jeff Head (one of Free Republic’s resident experts on Naval issues)

That's debatable.

[Calpernia]

I recommend his books too, Dragon’s Fury.