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#21
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Mike Burleson
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Apr 15, 2004 12:55 PDT
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Greetings! We are back and in numerical order with more Navy news, and
some links at the bottom for more info! Enjoy!
The Revolutionary Tomahawk
Since its deployment to sea in the 1980’s, the Tomahawk Land Attack
Missile (TLAM) has completely changed the way the US Navy fights. Once
the bulk of America’s submarines and surface ships existed to protect
the handful of aircraft carriers, which were the main offensive arm of
the fleet. With the employment of Tomahawk, each vessel becomes a
carrier, dispersing the Navy’s striking power throughout the fleet.
Cruise missiles possess many characteristics of unmanned aircraft
(UAV’s), now entering service. Early air launched versions were touted
as replacements for manned bombers in heavily defended air space.
Terrain following radar allows the Tomahawk to be preprogrammed for a
given target. Latest versions can receive course corrections in-flight,
with the help of satellites and GPS, giving the missile precision
accuracy. With a range of 1000 nautical miles, they greatly extend the
reach of combat vessels.
Over 1100 Tomahawks have been fired in anger since their combat debut in
the 1991 Gulf War. Each missile fired means the loss of a $1.4 million
dollar weapon, however, and stocks are always low. The Navy is trying to
give cruise missiles more bang for buck in several new upgrades. The
Block IV Tactical Tomahawk will be cheaper at $575,000 each, and posses
a long-loiter capability lasting for hours. Onboard cameras provide
damage assessment and improved guidance will let the Block IV change
targets in mid-flight. Further improvements increase the versatility of
Tomahawk. Ordinance designers plan to separate the missile’s 1000 pound
payload into 7 independently guided munitions, similar to warheads on
modern ballistic missiles. This will extend the Tomahawk’s mission from
attacking a single target to several at once, increasing the striking
power seven-fold, and providing maximum cost-effectiveness.
The US Navy is taking note of this expanded capability to its surface
fleet by changing how it deploys its carrier strike groups. Normal
rotation included a 6 month cruise that could be greatly prolonged in an
emergency, as happened recently in Iraq. The rules have now changed from
cruising to surging, which means the bulk of the carrier force remains
in port undergoing training or a refit. Meanwhile the submarines and
surface combatants perform the traditional role of forward deployment
and showing the flag. In a crisis the navy claims it can deploy 8
carrier groups on short notice. Last fall, the navy tested the new rules
when briefly no aircraft carrier was deployed in the Middle East, in
spite of ongoing combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Currently underway is the conversion of 4 former Trident Ballistic
Missile submarines into cruise missile firing SSGN’s. These large and
powerful vessels can launch 154 Tomahawks while submerged, adding to
firepower at sea and giving the carriers less to do. It is conceivable
with these new underwater battleships placed at strategic points around
the globe, a future crisis may be over long before the Navy’s flattops
can reach the scene. If so the Navy may find less uses for new $6
billion dollar warships, their expensive air-wings, and highly
sophisticated escort vessels.
The New Undersea Warfare
US attack submarines have entered a new age of warfare in the post 9-11
environment. Gone are the lone-wolf tactics of the Cold War, of a single
nuclear boat stalking its Soviet counterpart in the silent seas. The
old ways have been replaced by a renewed emphasis on joint operations.
Teamwork may be a hard sell for the Cold War era of submariners, but is
increasingly seen as vital for the Navy to do its part in the War on
Terror.
The recent invasion of Iraq highlighted the new warfare. Throughout the
conflict, 12 American and 2 British subs conducted precision strikes
with Tomahawk cruise missiles against land targets. The attacks were
coordinated with Marine, Army and Air Force personnel.
Littoral operations offer new challenges for the silent service. Taking
into account water temperatures, salinity, and crowded shipping lanes,
the navy must conduct new training and introduce advanced technology to
find its quarry. To undertake this change, it is not only looking to
sophisticated weapons and tactics, but new methods of shipbuilding.
Commercial off-the-shelf material (COTS) is spearheading the
transformation. COTS material, added to existing attack boats, is far
cheaper than building an entirely new warship, and can be updated
periodically. So far, several Los Angeles class subs have been so
modernized, most recently USS Tuscon and USS Columbus. These vessels
have had radio rooms and fire control systems updated. Beginning in
2004, Virginia class attack subs will introduce built-in sensors,
communications gear, and sonar especially tailored for the littorals.
The Virginia's entire combat system is derived from COTS material. A
new Common Radio Room, also installed on Los Angeles, Seawolf, and the
new Trident SSGN conversions, will be built in.
COTS is restoring the acoustic advantage to US submarines in littoral
waters. The Acoustic Rapid COTS Insertion (ARCI) program is being
back-fitted in older boats, and in new build Virginias. The wide
aperture array sonar included in this package can detect targets using
passive sensors, without giving itself away. Older towed arrays,
deployed in the cold war, tend to waver when ranging, thus revealing the
location itself and its parent vessel.
There is a downside to applying COTS to warships. Submarines are often
put to the extremes, above and below the surface, and much wear and tear
of equipment takes place. Commercial material can break down easily in
such harsh conditions of deep depths and varying temperatures.
Designers hope to get around this by intense training of crews and
installation of back-up systems.
The present fleet of 53 attack subs (down from a cold war high of 96)
are stretched to the limit, with new post 9-11 duties, as well as its
older mission of intelligence and surveillance. Submarines are often
found taking the place of aircraft carriers in its traditional role of
forward deployment. The new strategy is to keep the bulk of the carrier
force in port, while waiting for orders to surge in an emergency.
America's Silent Service is now needed to keep potential adversaries
like China and North Korea in check if the flattops are needed
elsewhere.
To offset this deficiency, some within the Navy are calling for an
increase in the fleet to 75 boats by 2025. With modern attack subs now
costing nearly $2 billion each, it is doubtful the government, faced
with rising deficits, and the price of rebuilding Iraq, will mount such
a huge shipbuilding program.
Tactical Tomahawk
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/factfile/missiles/tacttom.html
Trident SSGN conversions
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/factfile/ships/ship-ssgn.html
Fleet response Plan
http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=9060
Mike Burleson is a writer and military historian living in Charleston
SC.
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