New Russian subs and cruise missiles pose a ‘serious problem’ for the US – the Pentagon

Name: New Russian subs and cruise missiles pose a 'serious problem' for the US - the Pentagon
Uploaded: 2020-07-29
Channel: Boyko Nikolov
Description: On Tuesday, the US Senate Armed Services Committee is discussing Van Hurk's candidacy for the position of Commander of the US Northern Command (NORTHCOM), which is responsible for the country's territory in North America.

By Boyko Nikolov On Jul 29, 2020

WASHINGTON, (BM) – New Russian submarines and cruise missiles pose a “serious problem” for the United States, US Air Force Lieutenant General Glen VanHerck said, learned BulgarianMilitary.com.

On Tuesday, the US Senate Armed Services Committee is discussing Van Hurk’s candidacy for the position of Commander of the US Northern Command (NORTHCOM), which is responsible for the country’s territory in North America.

“Over the past 30 years, our rivals and potential adversaries have watched how the United States carries out containment, how we compete, how we behave during conflicts. Russia is developing strategic capabilities such as submarines, which are now a serious problem to track,” VanHerck said at a Senate hearing.

He added that modern submarines enable Russian cruise missiles to threaten US territory, and this is also a “serious problem.”

According to him, China is following the same development path and its armed forces can increasingly act as expeditionary forces, that is, far from their territory.

On April 19 this year the National Interest magazine reminded the words of Rear Admiral of the American Navy Dave Johnson, who was so impressed by Severodvinsk, the lead ship of the project, that he ordered his model for his office, “so as not to forget what the Navy will have to deal with.”

One of the advantages of “Ash” submarines is stealth. So, in 2018, when the Russian submarine sailed in the Atlantic Ocean, the US military could not find it for several weeks. The whole thing, NI explains, is in a case made of low-magnetic steel, which significantly reduces the magnetic signature of the submarine.

“In peacetime, losing a Russian submarine is a headache. During a conflict, losing a track of a submarine is a mortal danger,” the author concluded.

On June 27 the commander of the US Navy in Europe and Africa, James Foggo said that Russia is turning the Eastern Mediterranean into one of the most militarized zones in the world thanks to the presence of submarines.

“The Russians are deploying quiet, modern diesel submarines armed with Caliber,” Foggo quotes Stars and Stripes. He noted that Russian submarines are capable of moving in different parts in European waters and can hit missiles in any capital of Europe or Africa.

Thus, according to him, the military needs to be especially careful. In addition, he warned of the possibility of Russian forces strengthening their positions in Libya. “Now think about what Russia is doing in the Crimea and Tartus and what kind of threat they can pose by acquiring a stronghold in Libya,” Foggo added.

All these statements would be only theoretical. But, only a few days ago [July 19 – ed.], the British navy lost a Russian submarine under the English Channel. So, as we reported same day the alliance lost the Russian submarine Krasnodar off the coast of England in the English Channel.

The British military missed a Russian Varshavyanka-class submarine in the English Channel. According to Forbes magazine, the location of the Krasnodar submarine is unknown. “The Russian submarine was heading towards St. Petersburg,” the message says.

The submarine entered the English Channel and reached the westernmost point of Great Britain – Cape Lands End in Cornwall. Since then, the sub’s coordinates are unclear.

“Krasnodar” already crossed the English Channel in May 2017, then the submarine was accompanied by ships of the British Royal Navy.

In addition, Krasnodar took part in the marine phase of the Russian military campaign in Syria. From the underwater position, the submarine launched cruise missiles at terrorist targets.

Too much evidence that the alliance is unprotected by Russian submarines

Russian submarines are attracting the attention of the Western military and the media more and more often. In early July, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing NATO officials and military analysts, that at least 10 Russian submarines participated in military exercises in the North Atlantic Ocean at the end of 2019.

Russia is increasingly sending its submarines to areas where they “could threaten NATO ships,” said Vice Admiral Keith Blount, head of the NATO Joint Naval Command. He also noted that the campaigns of Russian submarines are becoming longer and longer.

At the same time, the WSJ quoted the commander of the Northern Fleet, Vice Admiral Alexander Moiseev. He said in early spring that the Russian Navy is expanding the geography of combat duty.

“Last year, our multi-purpose submarines worked out a number of tasks with deep-sea diving in various areas of the neutral waters of the Norwegian Sea. Submariners of the Northern Fleet <…> successfully operated in the Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean,” said Moiseev.

Passages of Russian warships and submarines across the English Channel regularly attract the attention of the British Royal Nevi. In June, the United Kingdom Navy tracked the passage of the Russian Vice-Admiral Kulakov large anti-submarine ship through the strait.

He was accompanied by the frigate HMS Westminster and the patrol ship HMS Tyne, the report said. It is emphasized that the British Navy monitors the passage of ships through the British zone of interest on an ongoing basis. At the same time, the message of the British command notes the “safe and professional” actions of the Russian ship.

In December last year, the British HMS Tyne was urgently called into the English Channel, through which the Russian training ship Perekop was passing.

A year earlier, in the summer of 2019, the British Royal Navy patrol ship “Fort” escorted the Russian corvette “Vasily Bykov”, which passed through the English Channel. The Englishman set sail from Liverpool on June 23, and on the 24th he sailed off the west coast of France, where he met with the Russian corvette.

In March of the same year, the British destroyer HMS Defender monitored the movements of the Russian frigate Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov. Together with three more Russian vessels, the frigate entered the English Channel earlier this month.

The detachment practiced anti-sabotage and air defense missions in Morey Firth off the northern coast of Scotland.

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