Free Republic

On the American ballistic submarine USS Maine in waters off the Florida coast not too long ago, two submariners eyed a U.S. aircraft carrier through their periscope in the roiling sea. “I think it’s the Washington,” one submariner said. “It doesn’t matter — it doesn’t know we’re here,” the other replied, eyeing the carrier through the scope. “Bang,” he said. “You’re dead.” In the submarine world, carriers, like other surface ships, represent targets. But lately U.S. aircraft carriers have appeared to be growing more vulnerable to threats deployed from under the sea and in the air. And those threats have...

Iran's reported acquisition of a record-breaking British speedboat has raised fears it plans to arm it with high-speed Russian torpedoes to sink a U.S. aircraft carrier in hit-and-run raids if Iran is attacked because of its nuclear program. The Financial Times reported Sunday that Iran has got its hands on the 51-foot craft, the Bradstone Challenger, despite U.S. and British efforts to prevent it from obtaining the high-performance boat. The boat was designed by Lorne Camopbell of Britain and is powered by U.S. Caterpillar engines. It was built by ICE Marine of Britain. The project was partly financed by Navatek,...