[OT]Submarine Matters

> I had heard this story before but only heard that they took photographs

There have been a number of shots taken of ships sterns. Most of them while
the periscope was submerged - the interesting bits are the propellors.*
Most of the shots though were taken of vessels not of allied nations, and in
difficult circumstances. Unreliable rumour has it that Vladivostok harbour was
one of the usual settings, but them that says don't know, and them that knows
don't say.

> I've heard comment

> just replaced them.

See above re knowing/saying. But it has been publically acknowledged
that a) there were severe flow noise problems at high speed at one time, b)
Several buckets full of money were spent to resolve this (and MANY other)
problems c) The American Combat System thay have is still not worth a damn and
d) In the last FLEETEX off Hawaii, they "killed" a US SSN, one of the improved
LAs. Being fair, the old Oberons used to do things like this too, but the US
subs are bound to be a lot quieter than they were even a few years ago. And
the Oberons had a combat system that worked properly. So in my uninformed
opinion, they're probably pretty good, maybe some of the best bluewater subs
in the world, but aren't anywhere near their full capability
yet. Had they been refitted with the German ISUS-90 sub combat system
(as the RAN wanted before the US Govt put pressure on to cancel the deal) they
would be rather better. I know because I had a hand in the design and
construction