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The Navy’s Virginia-class fast-attack submarine is its newest and most technologically advanced. Its quiet nuclear-powered propulsion system and sensitive sonar are designed for tracking other subs and warships. The Navy has 12 of the subs and plans to acquire at least 30.
America's most advanced nuclear submarine was slicing through the water off Hawaii last month, 400 feet under the surface, when a sonar operator suddenly detected an ominous noise on his headphones.
It was a faint thump … thump … thump — the distinctive sound of a spinning, seven-bladed propeller on a Chinese attack submarine called a Shang by the Pentagon and its allies.
A neon green stripe on his sonar screen indicated that the Shang was only a few thousand yards off the U.S. sub's bow.
"Sonar contact!" he yelled to 15 officers and crew in the dimly lighted control room. "All stations, analyze!"
Within seconds, the 377-foot-long Mississippi banked right and gunned its nuclear-powered propulsion system for one of the Navy's most difficult maneuvers: sneaking up behind another submarine and shadowing it without being detected.
WNU Editor: The Pacific is becoming the key region for these subs to now operate .... The Navy now has 43 of its 71 submarines in the Pacific.
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