Re: PLAN submarines Thread II
Some believe for it to be an SSGN, you must have dedicated missile tubes. This works clearly for the Ohio SSGN conversions and the Oscars, and eliminates the RN vessels and the Sea Wolves. But what of the LA Flight III vessels or the Virginias? They have 12 VLS tubes, but they are certainly not considered SSGNs.
Some other anlysts believe you have to have at least 20 VLS tubes to be properly called a SSGN. This would eliminate the LA Flight II class and the current Virginias.
I personally believe that the defining characteristic is really what the vessels primary mission is.
There is no doubt that the primary mission of an LA Class, Sea Wolf, Virginia, Trafalgar, Astute, Akula, Type 093, etc are all as attack subs.
There is also no doubt that the primary mission of the Ohio conversion subs and the Oscars is a guided-missile sub for anti-shipping or land attack.
Now, with new vessels like the Yasen and the later flight Virginias, where you will have in excess of 20 VLS tubes available, those ships will fill both roles depending on mission, or depending on targets of opportunity. They are both exceptuionally quiet and capable attack subs with the potential for large loadouts of ASW and anti-surface torpedoes. But they also carry plenty of VLS tubes (and can launch tube launched missiles) to handle a significant anti-shipping or laund attack.
Right now, the only true SSGNs IMHO, are the four Ohio SSGNs for the US Navy, and the remaining Oscar boats for the Russians.
Once they are gone, I believe the distinction will be blurred and you will have more and more being built that can perform both roles.
Depends on the analyst.
Some believe for it to be an SSGN, you must have dedicated missile tubes. This works clearly for the Ohio SSGN conversions and the Oscars, and eliminates the RN vessels and the Sea Wolves. But what of the LA Flight III vessels or the Virginias? They have 12 VLS tubes, but they are certainly not considered SSGNs.
Some other anlysts believe you have to have at least 20 VLS tubes to be properly called a SSGN. This would eliminate the LA Flight II class and the current Virginias.
I personally believe that the defining characteristic is really what the vessels primary mission is.
There is no doubt that the primary mission of an LA Class, Sea Wolf, Virginia, Trafalgar, Astute, Akula, Type 093, etc are all as attack subs.
There is also no doubt that the primary mission of the Ohio conversion subs and the Oscars is a guided-missile sub for anti-shipping or land attack.
Now, with new vessels like the Yasen and the later flight Virginias, where you will have in excess of 20 VLS tubes available, those ships will fill both roles depending on mission, or depending on targets of opportunity. They are both exceptuionally quiet and capable attack subs with the potential for large loadouts of ASW and anti-surface torpedoes. But they also carry plenty of VLS tubes (and can launch tube launched missiles) to handle a significant anti-shipping or laund attack.
Right now, the only true SSGNs IMHO, are the four Ohio SSGNs for the US Navy, and the remaining Oscar boats for the Russians.
Once they are gone, I believe the distinction will be blurred and you will have more and more being built that can perform both roles.
