Be a shame if one of those subs ran into a Kraken and exploded
Basically they are a 12 missile version of a Russian Delta 4 SSBN.
Bkmk
Sound quieting is built into the sub from the beginning. There's a limit to what you can do after they're in the water. The Chinese boats are like the first generation U.S. SSBN. They took a fast attack hull and built a missile compartment onto it. As a result there is little streamlining and a lot of limber holes and protrusions to create noise.
If there is a war between China and 7 other allied nations, is it really a world war?
I recall the hysteria in the 1970s when the Soviets unveiled the “Alpha” and the “Typhone.” “Alpha” was capable of 45 knots underwater; “Typhoon” was pretty much like this sub. Both were made of titanium-—supposedly a big advantage over our steel hulls.
Small problem: the “Alpha” was, according to sailors, a “hand grenade.” You “pull the pin & throw.” It could go 45 knots for a very limited time before the reactor blew. The “Typhoon” had the problems all Soviet subs had-—unreliable, reactor leaks, etc.
Was this the “bump”? Did the US navy signal that it can see these subs by ramming one?
Quieter & stealthier’ upgrades
So that’s what our sub ran into last week
This a test
Given China’s world-wide known crappy craftsmanship and their cheap knock-off’s that fail almost instantly, what’s the over/under on these things blowing themselves up before they ever get a chance to launch a missile at us?