1/c submarine community professional knowledge learning Objectives

1. 
   Discuss the role of submarines with respect to coordinated operations. This discussion shall include:
   

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  Naval Special Warfare (NSW)
  
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  TLAM strike
  
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  Anti-submarine Warfare (ASW)
  
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  Anti-surface Warfare (ASUW)
  

2. 
   Describe the unique communication challenges of integrating submarines into coordinated operations.
   
3. 
   Understand how complacency and informality contributed to the USS Hartford collision.
   
4. 
   Describe why the submarine force is relevant to the Navy’s mission as stated by reference (v.). This discussion shall include how each platform (SSN, SSGN, and SSBN) contributes to this mission.
   
5. 
   Describe the next phase of Virginia Class construction and the Ohio Class replacement. This discussion shall include:
   

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  Vertical Launch System replacement on Virginia Class
  
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  Changes to the bow on Virginia Class
  
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  Virginia Class cost reduction
  
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  SSBNs replacement plan (general understanding)
  

Submarines can covertly insert and extract Special Operations Forces (SOF). The Submarine Force is most familiar with working with Navy Sea-Air-Land (SEAL) teams, but has also demonstrated the ability to conduct operations with Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps special operations personnel. Special operations include combat search and rescue, reconnaissance, sabotage, diversionary attacks, monitoring enemy movements and communications, infiltration/exfiltration, and pre-amphibious landing surveys.

Any US submarine can conduct combat swimmer operations and a significant number can conduct Dry Deck Shelter (DDS) operations. Each submarine has two escape trunks designed for crew evacuation which can be used for swimmer “lock-in/lock-out.” Two or three combat swimmers enter the trunk, shut the lower hatch, flood the trunk with water, open the outer hatch and swim out.
Cruise Missile Strike Capability

Submarines provide the unique capability to covertly launch precision strikes using Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles (TLAM). This covertness provides an opportunity for national leadership to use non-military instruments of power during crisis resolution without provoking the other party by overtly placing surface warships in the area. If diplomacy solves the crisis the submarine can depart the area without having demonstrated an aggressive American stance. Should diplomatic, informational, and economic options fail, the submarine can have ordnance on target within minutes. All US SSNs have the capability to launch TLAMs. Submarines receive strike packages from Joint Force Commanders in theater.

The arms race with the Soviets included both sides building more and better surface ships, surface sensors, and surface fired weapons systems. The postulated World War III scenario included US Carrier Battle Groups (CVBGs) meeting Soviet Surface Action Groups (SAGs) in the middle of the oceans and ‘duking it out’ for control of the sea lines of communication. It was postulated that the submarine would be key to sink the high value unit in the SAG. Today this scenario is unlikely. However, the submarine’s value as a ASUW asset has not diminished.

The most significant challenge for a submarine within a coordinated operation is communication. To communicate, a submarine must be close to the surface. Near the surface, submarines are severely limited in speed and stealth may be compromised. Therefore, they are unable to fulfill their intended purpose. This concept may be difficult for Joint Force Commanders to fully understand to completely leverage the submarine’s capabilities. Commanders from other communities are used to communication availability one hundred percent of the time an asset is employed, which is not the case for submarines.

The USS Hartford and USS New Orleans collision was a collision between the Los Angeles-class submarine USS Hartford and San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS New Orleans on 20 March 2009. It occurred in the Strait of Hormuz, between Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Musandam, an exclave of Oman. A U.S. Navy investigation into the collision found that the Hartford was solely to blame for the accident. According to the Navy, the accident was caused by poor, lax leadership on the submarine and a failure to adequately prepare for and conduct the crossing of the Hormuz Strait by the crew. As a result, the captain and several other officers and sailors were removed or disciplined. The collision occurred as Hartford and New Orleans transited the Strait of Hormuz. The collision inflicted minor injuries on 15 sailors on the Hartford and ruptured a fuel tank on the New Orleans, spilling 25,000 US gal (95,000 L) of diesel fuel. Both vessels continued on under their own power. The Hartford was submerged and at periscope depth at the time of the collision. Hartford is believed to have rolled about 85° during the collision and sustained extensive damage to its sail, periscope and port bow plane, totaling over $100 million. There was no damage to the nuclear reactor. An inspection of New Orleans in Manama, Bahrain by Navy divers found a 16 by 18 ft. hole in the ship's hull, a ruptured fuel tank, and interior damage to two ballast tanks.

The crew had been operating at sea for an extended period of time in conditions with many surface contacts. During the Strait of Hormuz transit, the crew let their guard down during one of the most challenging aspects of the transit – crossing the straight at periscope depth. Data provided by the ship’s sensors were not utilized to understand the contact picture. The crew also failed to develop an adequate plan for crossing the Straight.

• Informality

A Lack of standards and not holding personnel accountable led to a climate where backup from the watch team was not given or utilized. Watchstanders would frequently sleep on watch, leave their watchstation, and engage in off-topic conversation. Proper watch team backup could have enabled watch standers to overcome the poor Straight crossing plan and prevent collision.

The mission of the U.S. Navy is to maintain, train and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas. SSN and SSGN submarines are capable of delivering strike weapons anywhere in the world at any time. SSBN submarines are the most stealthy, survivable arm of the nation’s nuclear triad, ready to launch in a moment’s notice. All classes of U.S. Submarines are key elements of naval power projection and are vital in deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas through anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare (ASUW and ASW, respectively).