The Bear Comes Calling Off the East Coast

Reuters is reporting that a pair of Russian nuclear attack submarines have been monitored operating off the east coast. I personally find this development very interesting for a number of reasons, beginning with the fact that someone considered this newsworthy. While the operation of the submarines off the East Coast is the catchy headline, this is the part that has me thinking about the news report.

The U.S. Navy was able to track the submarines as they made their way through international waters off the American coastline, the official told the newspaper.

"We've known where they were, and we're not concerned about our ability to track the subs," the official added. "We're concerned just because they are there."

One of the Russian submarines remained in international waters on Tuesday about 200 miles off the coast of the United States and the second sub made a port call in Cuba in recent days, the newspaper said, citing Defense Department officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Very interesting. "200 miles off the coast of the United States" suggests the Russians decided to remain outside the Economic Exclusion Zone, a conscious decision.

Why are we revealing that we can track the Russian submarines, do we do ourselves any favors by revealing our capabilities?

But here is the key. As other nations continue to develop naval capabilities we need to recognize that the operation of submarines off the US coast is going to become more common, not less. Indeed, what is the first thing China will do when tensions at sea rise over Taiwan or some other matter? Most likely, the deployment of submarines off the coast of Guam, Sasebo, Pearl Harbor, and if the PLA Navy has any strategic thinking at all, San Diego.

But this is what the US Navy needs to think about... the submarines off Guam, Sasebo, and Pearl Harbor can be Yuan class, because Yuan's appear to have much better endurance for submerged operations than Song class submarines do, but for west coast operations it will be nuclear submarines. For Russia, it will always be nuclear submarines off the East Coast, because the conventional submarines make more sense for operations off Europe.

Just a few things to think about. In general, I do not see this news report alarming except that someone thought it was a good idea to brag about detection. That really makes us look stupid if by chance Russia has a third nuke boat out there. Saying nothing is smarter than saying something, particularly because the only good reason anyone can ever make for a conventional submarine for the US Navy is to suggest we need to increase coastal defense submarine capacity off our own shores... something this news report does not suggest as a real need right now.

Anyone want to guess what class of Russian submarines are operating off the East coast? My guess would be both are Akula class.