The uninvited guest: Chinese sub pops up in middle of U.S. Navy exercise

It seems to me, what with my being such a genius when it comes to warfare, that this sophistication is something China would want to keep to themselves rather than demonstrate for the Americans. I could be wrong about that.

But this would be very funny if it weren't funny at all. If someone wanted to, they could bring a couple of these right up to the edge of Manhattan. That would be 9-11 on steroids.


USS Kitty Hawk, CV-63

When the U.S. Navy deploys a battle fleet on exercises, it takes the security of its aircraft carriers very seriously indeed.

At least a dozen warships provide a physical guard while the technical wizardry of the world's only [only? -ed] military superpower offers an invisible shield to detect and deter any intruders.

That is the theory. Or, rather, was the theory.

American military chiefs have been left dumbstruck by an undetected Chinese submarine popping up at the heart of a recent Pacific exercise and close to the vast U.S.S. Kitty Hawk - a 1,000ft supercarrier with 4,500 personnel on board.

By the time it surfaced the 160ft Song Class diesel-electric attack submarine is understood to have sailed within viable range for launching torpedoes or missiles at the carrier.

According to senior Nato officials the incident caused consternation in the U.S. Navy.


Chinese Song Class submarine
The Americans had no idea China's fast-growing submarine fleet had reached such a level of sophistication, or that it posed such a threat.

Via The Signs.