Author: FalconsLairFalconsLair Date: Nov 11, 2007 04:57
11/11/2007: Intel News Brief: Chinese Sub Embarrasses U.S. Navy:
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 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.
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.
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