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Submarines are incredibly important to waging nuclear warfare. 18 US submarines literally contain over a third of the entire active strategic nuclear missile f
by chakalakasp 10y ago
Submarines are incredibly important to waging nuclear warfare. 18 US submarines literally contain over a third of the entire active strategic nuclear missile force. Russia has a smaller, but still very significant nuclear force cruising under the waters. If you know where they are when hostilities break out and can sink them before they launch, that offers a huge strategic advantage. It's the biggest high-stakes chess game in existence and it's being played all the time.
In a sudden nuclear conflict, there would be no time to destroy the drones. In a long build up to a potential nuclear conflict, destroying them could, in itself, be seen as an act of war. There could certainly be countermeasures, but forcing the enemy to execute countermeasures usually tips the board in your favor in some way. And strategic nuclear submarines don't really get to use many active countermeasures. Their job is to remain hidden until they are called upon to pop up and end the world.
- CamperBob2 10y agoBut all of the data you get from these drones will be bogus, even if the enemy has to construct a fleet of Potemkin submarines to ensure it. When hostilities break out, we will have the strategic advantage of knowing exactly where the enemy's subs aren't. If you know where they are when hostilities break out and can sink them before they launch How exactly do we plan to implement that doctrine? If we strike second, it will be too late. If we strike first, we're the bad guys. In a long build up to a potential nuclear conflict, destroying them could, in itself, be seen as an act of war. And this is a problem in itself. What happens during the next Cuban Missile Crisis, when some random unmanned tracking drone fails for no particular reason?
- _Tetsuo 10y agoIf we strike first, we're the bad guys. Here's a terrifying thought, regarding the nature of war: Being the bad guy doesn't really matter when you win.
- chakalakasp 10y ago>How exactly do we plan to implement that doctrine? If we strike second, it will be too late. If we strike first, we're the bad guys. Both major nuclear superpowers (U.S., Russia) absolutely have a large number of first strike scenarios. Nobody cares about being the "bad guy" in a nuclear war, they just want to be the nation that survives and has the advantage after the initial exchanges.
- tbihl 10y agoIf memory serves, it's 14. The last 4 Ohio boats (Ohio, Michigan, Florida, Georgia) are converted for missions other than strategic deterrence.
- noir_lord 10y agoEven more important for the UK and French nuclear deterrent since our (I'm from the UK) deterrent is entirely submarine based and we usually only have one at sea at any given time (one at sea, one in port/training, one in refit).