Silent Running

[X Factor 1,110]

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.

The submarine patrol also exposed what U.S. officials said were deficiencies in U.S. anti-submarine warfare capabilities—forces that are facing cuts under the Obama administration’s plan to reduce defense spending by $487 billion over the next 10 years.

The Navy is in charge of detecting submarines, especially those that sail near U.S. nuclear missile submarines, and uses undersea sensors and satellites to locate and track them.

The fact that the Akula was not detected in the Gulf is cause for concern, U.S. officials said.

The officials who are familiar with reports of the submarine patrol in the Gulf of Mexico said the vessel was a nuclear-powered Akula-class attack submarine, one of Russia’s quietest submarines.

A Navy spokeswoman declined to comment.

One official said the Akula operated without being detected for a month.

“The Akula was built for one reason and one reason only: To kill U.S. Navy ballistic missile submarines and their crews,” said a second U.S. official.

“It’s a very stealthy boat so it can sneak around and avoid detection and hope to get past any protective screen a boomer might have in place,” the official said, referring to the Navy nickname for strategic missile submarines.

The U.S. Navy operates a strategic nuclear submarine base at Kings Bay, Georgia. The base is homeport to eight missile-firing submarines, six of them equipped with nuclear-tipped missiles, and two armed with conventional warhead missiles.

“Sending a nuclear-propelled submarine into the Gulf of Mexico-Caribbean region is another manifestation of President Putin demonstrating that Russia is still a player on the world’s political-military stage,” said naval analyst and submarine warfare specialist Norman Polmar.

“Like the recent deployment of a task force led by a nuclear cruiser into the Caribbean, the Russian Navy provides him with a means of ‘showing the flag’ that is not possible with Russian air and ground forces,” Polmar said in an email.

The last time an Akula submarine was known to be close to U.S. shores was 2009, when two Akulas were spotted patrolling off the east coast of the United States.

Those submarine patrols raised concerns at the time about a new Russian military assertiveness toward the United States, according to the New York Times, which first reported the 2009 Akula submarine activity.

The latest submarine incursion in the Gulf further highlights the failure of the Obama administration’s “reset” policy of conciliatory actions designed to develop closer ties with Moscow.

Instead of closer ties, Russia under President Vladimir Putin, an ex-KGB intelligence officer who has said he wants to restore elements of Russia’s Soviet communist past, has adopted growing hardline policies against the United States.

Of the submarine activity, Sen. John Cornyn (R., Texas), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said, “It’s a confounding situation arising from a lack of leadership in our dealings with Moscow. While the president is touting our supposed ‘reset’ in relations with Russia, Vladimir Putin is actively working against American interests, whether it’s in Syria or here in our own backyard.”

The Navy is facing sharp cuts in forces needed to detect and counter such submarine activity.

The Obama administration’s defense budget proposal in February cut $1.3 billion from Navy shipbuilding projects, which will result in scrapping plans to build 16 new warships through 2017.

The budget also called for cutting plans to buy 10 advanced P-8 anti-submarine warfare jets needed for submarine detection.

In June, Russian strategic nuclear bombers and support aircraft conducted a large-scale nuclear bomber exercise in the arctic. The exercise included simulated strikes on “enemy” strategic sites that defense officials say likely included notional attacks on U.S. missile defenses in Alaska.

Under the terms of the 2010 New START arms accord, such exercises require 14-day advanced notice of strategic bomber drills, and notification after the drills end. No such notification was given.

A second, alarming air incursion took place July 4 on the West Coast when a Bear H strategic bomber flew into U.S. airspace near California and was met by U.S. interceptor jets.

That incursion was said to have been a bomber incursion that has not been seen since before the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

It could not be learned whether the submarine in the Gulf of Mexico was an Akula 1 type submarine or a more advanced Akula 2.

It is also not known why the submarine conducted the operation. Theories among U.S. analysts include the notion that submarine incursion was designed to further signal Russian displeasure at U.S. and NATO plans to deploy missile defenses in Europe.

Russia’s chief of the general staff, Gen. Nikolai Makarov, said in May that Russian forces would consider preemptive attacks on U.S. and allied missile defenses in Europe, and claimed the defenses are destabilizing in a crisis.

Makarov met with Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in July. Dempsey questioned him about the Russian strategic bomber flights near U.S. territory.

The voyage of the submarine also could be part of Russian efforts to export the Akula.

Russia delivered one of its Akula-2 submarines to India in 2009. The submarine is distinctive for its large tail fin.

Brazil’s O Estado de Sao Paoli reported Aug. 2 that Russia plans to sell Venezuela up to 11 new submarines, including one Akula.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow’s military is working to set up naval replenishment facilities in Vietnam and Cuba, but denied there were plans to base naval forces in those states.

Asked if Russia planned a naval base in Cuba, Lavrov said July 28: “We are not speaking of any bases. The Russian navy ships serve exercise cruises and training in the same regions. To harbor, resupply, and enable the crew to rest are absolutely natural needs. We have spoken of such opportunities with our Cuban friends.” The comment was posted in the Russian Foreign Ministry website.

Russian warships and support vessels were sent to Venezuela in 2008 to take part in naval exercises in a show of Russian support for the leftist regime of Hugo Chavez. The ships also stopped in Cuba.

Russian Deputy Premier Dmitri Rogozin announced in February that Russia was working on a plan to build 10 new attack submarines and 10 new missile submarines through 2030, along with new aircraft carriers.

Submarine warfare specialists say the Akula remains the core of the Russian attack submarine force.

The submarines can fire both cruise missiles and torpedoes, and are equipped with the SSN-21 and SSN-27 submarine-launched cruise missiles, as well as SSN-15 anti-submarine-warfare missiles. The submarines also can lay mines.

http://freebeacon.com/silent-running/

[Harsh_77 716]

Interesting.......

[Tanya and Barry 59]

Last time I checked the US doesn't own the Gulf of Mexico... Our territorial waters stop 12 miles from shore. We routinely patrol undetected off the Russian coast in the Pacific and Arctic oceans and the Baltic Sea. Pretty meaty story...(unnamed Official)...

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

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.

SNIP

http://freebeacon.com/silent-running/

Couple of obvious questions--

1. How do we know it was there for a month, if no one knew it was there ? I will bet you thousands to dollars the US Navy knew it was there. Of course they are not going to admit they knew it was there. That would be a real bone head intelligence snafu.

2. And what does Kings Bay in Georgia have to do with it. Kings Bay is no where near the Gulf of Mexico. It's on the Atlantic and several days sailing time from the Gulf.

[mawilson 2,133]

Last time I checked the US doesn't own the Gulf of Mexico... Our territorial waters stop 12 miles from shore.

Are you fuckin' kidding? The US had NEVER allowed Russia (or the Soviet Union) anywhere near the Western Hemisphere.

The Monroe Doctrine, the Cuban missile crisis - ring a bell?

[Tanya and Barry 59]

Are you fuckin' kidding? The US had NEVER allowed Russia (or the Soviet Union) anywhere near the Western Hemisphere.

The Monroe Doctrine, the Cuban missile crisis - ring a bell?

I was a submariner. Russians patrolled off the Atlantic and Florida coast for years. Not in the Western Hemisphere? Do you understand maritime law? We tracked them and followed (with some mutual harassment) them but could not engage them. You have read too many novels my daft friend...The Soviet Union ran their naval vessels in and out of Cuba for years. They only ran into trouble when they tried to base nuclear missiles in Cuba. Monroe Doctrine? You must have taken middle school history twice...But, carry on. As evidenced with your other posts you aren't shy in venturing out of your depth...

Couple of obvious questions--

1. How do we know it was there for a month, if no one knew it was there ? I will bet you thousands to dollars the US Navy knew it was there. Of course they are not going to admit they knew it was there. That would be a real bone head intelligence snafu.

2. And what does Kings Bay in Georgia have to do with it. Kings Bay is no where near the Gulf of Mexico. It's on the Atlantic and several days sailing time from the Gulf.

Spot on...

Edited August 15, 2012 by Tanya and Barry

[mawilson 2,133]

I was a submariner.

Yeah, and I was an astronaut.

[Tanya and Barry 59]

Yeah, and I was an astronaut.

Absolutely brilliant! How much are you willing to lose on it?

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I was a submariner. Russians patrolled off the Atlantic and Florida coast for years. Not in the Western Hemisphere? Do you understand maritime law? We tracked them and followed (with some mutual harassment) them but could not engage them. You have read too many novels my daft friend...The Soviet Union ran their naval vessels in and out of Cuba for years. They only ran into trouble when they tried to base nuclear missiles in Cuba. Monroe Doctrine? You must have taken middle school history twice...But, carry on. As evidenced with your other posts you aren't shy in venturing out of your depth...

Spot on...

It kills me the way people jump all over this like it is news. Yawn. Heck Naval Intelligence probably released the news story. The Russian Boomer was probing, what do they want they Navy to say... Yes we detected you at Point A, B C , E the following Grids, etc etc. Here is what you did wrong, so next time you can avoid detection.. The big giveaway was throwing in kings bay to make it sound spooky. although Kings bay is in the St Mary's river basin next to Cumberland Island, which is no where near the Gulf Of Mexico

Military does it all the time. I remember before we went to Desert Storm all that was in the news was about how piss poor our equipment was and how it would fail. 60 mins ran a whole segment on what a shame the AH-64 Apache was and how it was a waste of Tax Payers money. Of course 60 mins loved the chance to blast the military and the military loved giving the enemy intelligence showing us to be week.

For those that remember the Apache went over there and owned the desert night, and laid waste to the Republican guards.

P.s. glad you were on board I wanted a submariners opinion. Obviously our Astronaut never served on the sea or ever read Tom Clancy for that matter.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

It kills me the way people jump all over this like it is news. Yawn. Heck Naval Intelligence probably released the news story. The Russian Boomer was probing, what do they want they Navy to say... Yes we detected you at Point A, B C , E the following Grids, etc etc. Here is what you did wrong, so next time you can avoid detection.. The big giveaway was throwing in kings bay to make it sound spooky. although Kings bay is in the St Mary's river basin next to Cumberland Island, which is no where near the Gulf Of Mexico

Military does it all the time. I remember before we went to Desert Storm all that was in the news was about how piss poor our equipment was and how it would fail. 60 mins ran a whole segment on what a shame the AH-64 Apache was and how it was a waste of Tax Payers money. Of course 60 mins loved the chance to blast the military and the military loved giving the enemy intelligence showing us to be week.

For those that remember the Apache went over there and owned the desert night, and laid waste to the Republican guards.

P.s. glad you were on board I wanted a submariners opinion. Obviously our Astronaut never served on the sea or ever read Tom Clancy for that matter.

Boomers are ballistic missile submarines. If anybody spots them, they failed their mission. This akula class submarine is a hunter/killer.

Edited August 15, 2012 by The Patriot

[Ban Hammer 12,835]

For those that remember the Apache went over there and owned the desert night, and laid waste to the Republican guards.

the a-10 warthog was no slouch either!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

the a-10 warthog was no slouch either!

I thought the Apache's ended up being just launchers, glorified fire support. The real heroes were those aircraft and troops on the ground with laser designators that had to get close enough to actually see the enemy.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Hilarious seeing the RWN's gobble this ####### as though it was fine wine.

[Danno 1,228]

Are you fuckin' kidding? The US had NEVER allowed Russia (or the Soviet Union) anywhere near the Western Hemisphere.

The Monroe Doctrine, the Cuban missile crisis - ring a bell?

Actually "we" have strayed from the Monroe Doctrine ourselves which is prompting Russia to return the actions on us.

The Monroe Doctrine is a policy of the United States introduced on December 2, 1823. It stated that further efforts by European nations to colonize land or interfere with states in North or South America would be viewed as acts of aggression requiring U.S. intervention.[1] The Doctrine noted that the United States would neither interfere with existing European colonies nor meddle in the internal concerns of European countries.

We are not only all over Europe but we are drafting into NATO as many nations which are on her boarder as we can.

Nato partners

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/North_Atlantic_Treaty_Organization_%28orthographic_projection%29.svg/550px-North_Atlantic_Treaty_Organization_%28orthographic_projection%29.svg.png

Albania

Belgium

Bulgaria

Canada

Croatia

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Turkey

United Kingdom

United States

How can we with a straight face tell Russia they cannot play on our back porch when we have set up house on theirs... even going so far as to groom former soviet bloc members right on Russian boarder into our Military alliance... complete with military training.

What would Monroe have thought about that?

And what would Jefferson had said, wasn't he the one who cautioned against "alliances" which lead to war? Most of these countries bring nothing to the deal yet each and everyone could drag us into a war, per our commitment.

News flash, Russia is making a presence in this hemisphere in retaliation to our presence in theirs.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

the a-10 warthog was no slouch either!

Gwad yes man. Those things use to fly over and were awesome. That 25MM cannon laid wastes. Lets face it our Military maneuver divisions kicked but. The Abrams was rocking also.