Russian Subs Patrolling Off East Coast of U.S.

The New York Times ^ | August 4, 2009 | Mark Mazzetti & Thom Shanker

[Saint Reagan]

WASHINGTON — A pair of nuclear-powered Russian attack submarines has been patrolling off the eastern seaboard of the United States over recent days, a rare mission that has raised concerns inside the Pentagon and intelligence agencies about a more assertive stance by the Russian military.

The episode has echoes of the cold war era, when the United States and the Soviet Union regularly parked submarines off each other’s coasts to steal military secrets, track the movements of their underwater fleets — and be poised for war.

But the collapse of the Soviet Union all but eliminated the ability of the Russian Navy to operate far from home ports, making the current submarine patrols thousands of miles from Russia even more surprising for military officials and defense policy experts.

“I don’t think they’ve put two first-line nuclear subs off the U.S. coast in about 15 years,” said Norman Polmar, a naval historian and expert on submarine warfare.

[rottndog]

This is why we need to be investing in modern diesel boats.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

[EGPWS]

“Anytime the Russian Navy does something so out of the ordinary it is cause for worry,” said a senior Defense Department official who has been monitoring reports on the submarines’ activities.

Yeah!

Submarines will take the focus off of those who really are for the destruction of the USA post haste......

Liberals in power and Al Qeada as a close second.

[Red_Devil 232]

OMG The Russians Are Coming!

[PROSOUTH]

Don’t worry about the Ruskies missels we have our Laser trained on it right now. As soon as the silo door opens we will melt it in seconds. Shhhhh maybe I wasn’t supposed to tell that.................

[rottndog]

Let's not forget those bastards at Toshiba who sold them the technology to duplicate our silent propulsion and the ability to track OUR subs with.

Toshiba sold machining technology used in the manufacture of propellers. There's a great deal more to controlling sound emissions from the propulsion plant than just the screws....not that that isn't important too.

Any anomaly in the propulsion plant can cause a distinct sound signature to be transmitted to the water. Under way we spend as much time listening to ourselves as we spend listening to others.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

We still need to be mindful that a submarine in the West Coast and a submarine in the East Coast can turn cities into radioactive rubble in 5 minutes. I think most people people do not know that.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

It is good to be vigilant

[Snickering Hound]

[bareford101]

I was thinking along the same lines, but more specifically I was trying to place where the obamanation is staying this month on his ongoing vaction..somewhere on the east coast....hmmmm

[edge10]

‘This particular Freeper will Never buy Toshiba, for just that reason.’

Mega ex-submariner dittos!

[Pan_Yan]

And that is how I kept getting in trouble . . . singing under the aft escape trunk sonar pod.

[Strategerist]

Actually a Russian SSBN just out of port in the Barents Sea or the Sea of Okhotsk can turn all American cities into rubble, and have been able to since the 70s. They don’t need to patrol near the US.

[Pan_Yan]

I myself am not terribly worried about it, since those are probably the only two sea-worthy submarines in the entire Russian fleet.

The Russian Navy is working on scrapping most of the soviet era fleet and consentrating on building a much, much smaller but much more effective fighting force. Some reports say their long term plans are to end up with only 20 submarines, but have much higher reliability. They are not wasting resources trying to maintain the 150+ subs they had 20 years ago.

[Ashviadan]

I had not idea...just checked and don’t have ANY Toshiba products and certainly won’t buy any!!! Thanks for the info!

[Earthdweller]

All so the Obama’s can continue to study the Russian language..how nice of them.

[Drango]

How is this even news? Russia has been doing this for 50 years!

[rdl6989]

That’s my question.

[Gay State Conservative]

Putin knows that the USSR can slap the punk currently living at 166 Pennsylvania Ave around like a red headed stepchild and he'll do nothing about it.

Except maybe apologize to the USSR for all the crimes we've committed since 1917.

[Gay State Conservative]

Putin knows that the USSR can slap the punk currently living at 166 Pennsylvania Ave....

Ooops...I meant the other punk,the one up the street at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.