PLAN SCS Bases/Islands/Vessels (Not a Strategy Page)

USNI info on the USNS Bowditch glider:
lbs_glider.png
 

Blackstone

Brigadier
This is pretty brash and cheeky on the part of the PLAN, I must say. If your map is correct this UUV was confiscated outside the boundaries of even the 9-dash line that China claims jurisdiction over. That's essentially the PLAN telling the US "what's that you dropped in the water there? Step aside, I'll just take that now, thanks. Now move along, mmkay?"
We don't know all the facts, and the "chase" might have started well inside China's so-called 9-dash line. It's even possible the submerged gliding drone was at some point close to China land features. We should wait for more facts to come out before making final judgements.
 

Blackstone

Brigadier
the chart is based on the USN statement (I'm not insinuating anything) "... about 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay ..."
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The so-called chart is from the narrative of the US, and may or may not be completely accurate. Once could imagine the underwater gliding drone making its way close to a Chinese land feature to collect intelligence, and then gliding its way for hundreds of nautical miles towards Subic Bay. I'm NOT saying that's what actually happened, but we do ourselves no favors jumping to conclusions without more facts and evidence.
 

fatfreddy

New Member
Registered Member
The so-called chart is from the narrative of the US, and may or may not be completely accurate. Once could imagine the underwater gliding drone making its way close to a Chinese land feature to collect intelligence, and then gliding its way for hundreds of nautical miles towards Subic Bay. I'm NOT saying that's what actually happened, but we do ourselves no favors jumping to conclusions without more facts and evidence.
Also the news focused on where it was "snatched" but we don't know of course where the drone/probe went. I think we would be naive if we think a Navy ship is collecting data for benign uses. The drone can go considerable distances under water and its entirely low risk that it "strays" into Chinese waters. The reasons are quite clear to me and that would include assisting US Navy submarines in their stealth movements and trying to detect movements of the PLAN submarines.
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
This is cold war level stuff...but in those days, these types of chips were not generally USNS but USS and had enough armament to keep such a thing from occurring.

Now so anymore and this small Chinese vessel literally came in as thwe US vessel was preparing to lift it out of the water and snagged it and took it.

But it is not a super secret or mainline, modern capable device, and my guess is that Trump would behind the scenes tell the Chinese to cease and desist, but then make a point of its technological level by in the open saying (and meaning it) that the US id not want it back.
 

delft

Brigadier
The drone has been returned to US according to many sources. No doubt China copied the memory of the device and if it found it contained sensitive information might has wiped it.
 
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