New Russian Nuclear Sub Catches U.S. By Surprise...

Geostrategy-direct.com ^ | Bill Gretz

[RCW2001]

Russia’s newest nuclear-powered submarine, the Gepard, will enter service next month. The super-quiet submarine has been identified by U.S. intelligence officials as an advanced Akula II-class attack submarine.
    The deployment of the Gepard surprised U.S. intelligence agencies which had not expected to see the new submarine launched for several years.
    The submarine is quieter than U.S. Los Angeles-class attack submarines, giving it greater survivability.
    The submarine will join the Russian Northern Fleet in early December, according to U.S. officials.

Russia's new super-quiet Gepard submarine..

---

    The submarine is the 14th Akula II submarine, has a maximum speed of 33 knots and can dive to depths of up to 1,800 feet. It will be outfitted with strategic nuclear cruise missiles.
    The ship demonstrates Russia’s continuing drive to develope sea-based strategic systems, the officials said.

[cardinal4]

I wasnt advocating the ostrich syndrome.I was merely stating that our friends the Russians have real quality control issues in their manufacturing sector.

[GoredInMich]

Good point. I remember hearing (reading) rumors as early as 1985, that there was a plane that was flying in our arsenal that was "invisible" to radar......thought it was a joke..........turned ot not to be.

MeTHinks that the US military, and DoD and the pentagon are pretty tight-lipped about the things they need to be.

I wouldn't put much stock in this Akula being any more superior to our LA class killer subs.

[paul51]

Maybe we should start a new pool. See who can guess the date this one explodes and goes to the bottom.

[Cicero]

As I recall it was Toshiba that sold to Russia the technology needed to make super-quiet, turbulence free screws (i.e. propellors). For some reason, we had given this data to the Japanese, and the Japanese sold it to Russia. That happened quite a while ago, I believe. I also seem to remember that a member of congress was criticized by the media for smashing a Toshiba TV set on the Capitol steps to demonstrate his thoughts on the matter.

[John H K]

I was just about to mention the Mig-25. People were absolutely s***ing their pants over the Mig-25 here. I remember visiting my Dad's ANG Squadron and there actually were these scary Mig-25-as-ultimate-bogeyman-be-prepared posters up.

Turned out the thing was a giant turd, took about two countries just to make a 180 degree turn, among other problems.

Every once in a while the Russians really get it right...the T-34, the AK-47, the SA-6 (though that one is now easily defeated, it was devastating in 1973). Most of the time they get it wrong, or an otherwise great appearing weapon will have a crucial weakness.

The T-72 and T-80 were also ridiculously overhyped. The Shkval is absurdly overhyped.

Gertz, along with some other bad hype sources like Newsmax and stuff, really have a problem with overhype of Soviet or Chinese weapons systems..they're incapable of writing straightforward articles..they all have to be as breathlessly excited as an Inside Edition or Entertainment Tonight segment.

And I simply don't trust the assertion that US Intelligence is "surprised." Of course, it's (understandably) unsourced, but it strikes me as a statement designed to hype the article..it could easily be the twisting of a vague statement of some low-level DIA flunkie or something that Gertz knows, etc.

[jmswope]

Hate to say this, but Russia, China, and probably France, are going to smother (annihilate) us some day. They're way ahead of us in military technology and thinking!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I recall the Toshiba connection, too. There will never be a Toshiba product in my home.

[desertcry]

Right on, I would rather have Russia as a freind than an enemy, particularly, if the capability of their new sub is what it is reported. Developing trust with the Russians may however take time, perhaps well beyond President GWB's term in office. It is timely that we now extend our hand in freinship to our former enemy.

[kachina]

Hate to say this, but the Akula class is already out-classed. Los Angeles class subs admit to being able to make in excess of 45 knots.

I don't think France could defeat Guatamala.

[hauerf]

But that's uninteresting speculation.

[Fides et Ratio]

Admiral Ramius:

"We shall lay off their largest cities and practice missILE drrrills, while they listen to their rock and roll."

[IMRight]

Thank you! I was beginning to think that too many freepers were wetting their pants over this.

So the russians now have a sub that is comparable to a 688? So what!

The LA class is over thirty years old and we have over fifty(51?) of them. And they are NOT the most advanced sub in the inventory. The idea that the russian navy can now compete with the early 80's USN is not very scary.

The russians have always had sub improvements that look scary to civilians (unmatched speed in the Alpha, incredibly fast torpedoes on some boats today, massive SSBNs,etc.) But very little that could compete with our boats in an actual conflict.

[gjenkins]

Actually the two step that is going on is the one where liberalism takes us two steps forward and the conservatives takes us two steps back. Ooops, thats no good, because the conservatives never repeal a law or prosecute a damn thing. We should call it the Texas drag, where the liberals are dragging us around on the dance floor. At least they aren't going as fast as they oherwise would be.

[j_tull]

Who needs SDI? < /sarcasm >

[Cobra64]

Hate to say this, but Russia, China, and probably France, are going to smother (annihilate) us some day. They're way ahead of us in military technology and thinking!

Yup the French have their Mirage fighters. They're so much of a "Mirage" that they've never been seen in combat. None of the countries you've mentioned can even build a friggin car that's worth anything!

[SubSailor]

You beat me to it. Thanks for pointing out the big "so what" about being comparable to the LA Class. Also, they probably gained a lot of their knowledge from the Walker family spies of the 1980's.

[Michael Barnes]

Ooohhh...Ahead of us in technology and thinking huh? Is that why the chi-com's were doing everything they could to rip off our W88 (and are still having problems producing the correct yield), is that why we have one of the most devistating tanks on the planet, is that why we harbor the best defense technology companies in the world?

[IMRight]

You beat me to it

I should have let you have it. Your nic would have lended extra credibility. My sub service was limited to a couple times on an Academy cruise and a lot of "book learning".

[kachina]

Bingo! let 'em go head-to-head with one in the Ohio class. End of story.