Russia masters NATO submarine destruction tactics
US, WASHINGTON (ORDO NEWS) — The Russian Navy is gradually increasing the scale of its exercises, conducting them in the Black, Baltic, Mediterranean Seas, and more recently in the Barents Sea. Russia conducted its exercises in the Arctic after US and British military vessels carried out maneuvers in the region for the first time since the Cold War. In the Arctic, there is the headquarters of the Northern Fleet of Russia, which is responsible for the country’s naval strategic nuclear forces and which has many bases in the Murmansk region.
The Barents Sea is currently under the scrutiny of the United States and its NATO allies amid tensions with Russia. In this regard, the US Navy and their partners began to spend more time in this region to gain experience in naval operations in difficult conditions, primarily in conditions of extreme Arctic cold, as reported by Business Insider.
Given that the United States and its allies actually conduct maneuvers in territories that Russia considers to be its “backyard,” it is logical that Moscow has stepped up its efforts to develop new anti-submarine tactics.
This new anti-submarine tactic was developed last year, but the forces of the Russian fleet have tested it in action recently, according to Navy Recognition. The Russian special strike group includes several small anti-submarine ships and several project 22160 corvettes, which are equipped with modern sonars to detect submarines, torpedoes and underwater combat swimmers. Corvettes can lead and give directions to other warships, which will attack the enemy with torpedoes and depth charges.
Submarine expert Igor Kurdin said in an interview with Navy Recognition the following: “Submarines are currently particularly vulnerable. The greatest danger is enemy aircraft and mines, which can block exits from bases. It is necessary to conduct a whole operation so that the submarine can go to sea. Submarines follow minesweepers, which clear their path of mines. “The strike group, which is engaged in the search for enemy submarines, also goes into the sea.”
The introduction of such tactics should be an alarming sign for the US Department of Defense. Ballistic missile-equipped nuclear submarines of the United States Navy remain the central component of the United States nuclear arsenal. The Pentagon plans to begin replacing obsolete Ohio-class submarines over the next decade, but the cost of a dozen new Columbia-class submarines may limit the US Navy’s efforts to restore other forces that might be needed to counter the challenges from Russia and China.
Meanwhile, NATO forces also conduct their own anti-submarine exercises, as more countries that are not part of NATO deploy their submarines. In 2020, they conducted Dynamic Manta anti-submarine exercises, in which nine countries took part, who decided to test their anti-submarine defense capabilities, including their warships, coastal patrol aircraft, helicopters and submarines, as well as to increase the ability of NATO forces to work together. USNI News noted that “the ability of NATO forces to detect, track and recognize submarines is important not only to strengthen defense against Russia, but to ensure basic security of movement in the Mediterranean.”
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