[Pan_Yans Wife]

In port, not much of the sub sticks out above the water, they are not a big target. In the water, submerged, I think they could outrun an airplane, pretty easily. The terrorists would be better off targeting an air-craft carrier.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

For heavens sake don't give them ideas!

[webber]

I didn't think Al Qaeda or Iraq had subs.

[Jay D. Dyson]

In port, not much of the sub sticks out above the water, they are not a big target. In the water, submerged, I think they could outrun an airplane, pretty easily.

Actually, a sub moves slower under water than above water (since the resistance of the denser H₂O acts as more significant drag than a partially-submerged sub experiences), so no submarie -- fully or partially submerged -- could "outrun" an aircraft.

That said, I'd have to say that the idea of an aircraft trying to nose-dive into a submarine is pretty damned ridiculous. There are far larger radiologic targets that don't move that would prove far more appealing to terrorists bent on such an attack. Take your average, stationary nuclear power plant for example.

All told, I'd have to say this story is nothing more than alarmist poppycock. And I for one am damned well sick and tired of all these alarmist headlines that later prove to be false. The media -- and ESPECIALLY MATT DRUDGE -- should take a lesson from the old story about the boy who cried wolf.

-Jay

[blam]

"I think they could outrun an airplane, pretty easily."

You are not suppose to know that.

[Illbay]

In the water, submerged, I think they could outrun an airplane,...

Care to restate that?

[anymouse]

Nuke sub outrun an aircraft?! Huh?

Nuke subs can move darn fast when they have to, but not even close to the stall speed (the slowest speed that a plane's wing will provide adequate lift to keep it from falling) for most aircraft.

Also a sub's hull is pretty tough. I doubt even a 747 would do much damage to most nuke subs hulls. Aluminum against many inches of harden steel - my bet is on the sub.

Also Pearl has some significant defenses and a controlled airspace. There are other targets there of higher vulnerability and significance than subs. I'm sure that such an attack is not unexpected for CINCPAC. The Navy has a long memory when it comes to such attacks.

[Mike Darancette]

In port, not much of the sub sticks out above the water, they are not a big target.

In dry dock or the Boomer Submarine Pens they could be hit.

The Nuclear Balistic missiles and power plants could cause a lot of trouble if breeched.

This story has a ring of truth and plausability to it.

[E Rocc]

The terrorists would be better off targeting an aircraft carrier.

They wouldn't get within ten miles of one with an aircraft of dubious identity.

-Eric