Silent Running -- Washington Free Beacon
Russian attack submarine sailed in Gulf of Mexico undetected for weeks, U.S. officials say.
A Russian nuclear-powered attack submarine armed with long-range cruise missiles operated undetected in the Gulf of Mexico for several weeks and its travel in strategic U.S. waters was only confirmed after it left the region, the Washington Free Beacon has learned.
It is only the second time since 2009 that a Russian attack submarine has patrolled so close to U.S. shores.
The stealth underwater incursion in the Gulf took place at the same time Russian strategic bombers made incursions into restricted U.S. airspace near Alaska and California in June and July, and highlights a growing military assertiveness by Moscow.
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My Comment: This is a major security failure on the part of the US Navy.
3 comments:
Personally, I doubt it. We don't really have any solid evidence that the USN didn't detect her.
Friends I have in the Navy have said that the SOSUS net can pretty much track Russian subs when they leave their home ports. With the Navy and the Coast Guard hunting Narco-subs in the Gulf, I find this even less likely.
I DO imagine that the USN would allow people to THINK they didn't detect her in order to get more funding/protect existing funding, but I just don't see this happening. I've known too many submariners who've told me about tracking various Russian subs - including Akula's - to think one just strolled into the Gulf without us knowing about it. Besides, why tell your enemy that you can track his quietest boats? Better to let them THINK you can't when you can, then the other way 'round.
Orion
I was also surprised by this report, because I do know that the US Navy is very good at tracking naval assets. I hope that you are right Orion when you state that the US Navy is not in the habit of telling Russia (or anyone else) on what they are capable of .... that if anything .... this US announcement is just a disinformation ploy. But if not ... whoa-boy .... this is a major national security failure.
Sure looks like a fake - Here's a link to that effect:
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsub/articles/20120817.aspx
Orion
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