Page 47: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (July 1990)

New Navy Report Outlines

Potential Submarine Threat

From Third World Nations

A new U.S. Navy report, "Anti- submarine Warfare: Meeting the

Challenge," outlines what it calls the emergence of "a significant

ASW problem" from Third World and nonaligned nations with sub- marine forces. The report, there- fore, represents a major shift from the Navy's almost exclusive focus on the Soviet threat.

According to the 72-page report, the availability of modern diesel- electric submarines combined with the latest in torpedo and cruise mis- sile technology make the submarine forces of Third World and non- aligned nations an increasingly more potent threat.

Of the two dozen countries cited in the report, only China and India have nuclear-powered submarines among their forces. The rest of forces of the Third World and non- aligned nations outlined are com- posed of diesel-electric submarines, some of which are the new air-inde- pendent propulsion type.

The emergence of modern, rela- tively inexpensive, air-independent propulsion technology has turned diesel-electric submarines into true submersibles.

The report states, "Able to stay submerged for extended periods, us- ing these new propulsion systems to recharge their batteries without noi- sy snorkel operations, hybrid-diesel submarines equipped with modern cruise missiles and torpedoes are a significant ASW problem. The availability of this technology to

Third World and nonaligned na- tions will make ASW a major con- sideration in future low-level re- gional conflicts."

Because of the ready availability of these quiet submarines, as well as the existence of quieter Soviet sub- marines, the Navy report stresses the need for the development and funding of various Antisubmarine

Warfare (ASW) programs in the years ahead in order to maintain an edge in underwater surveillance op- erations.

Among the ASW programs cited by the report for continued support include: advanced underwater vehi- cles for submarines, improvement of

SQQ-89 sonar for surface ships, re- finement of bi-static and multi-stat- ic active sonar systems for surface ships, advanced active and passive sonobuoys for patrol aircraft, up- grade of the mobile passive sonar system, and deployment of a fixed active system.

Some of the newest class of ASW platforms in the U.S. include the

Arleigh Burke Class (DDG-51) Ae- gis destroyer, the improved version of the Los Angeles Class (SSN-688) attack submarine, the new Seawolf

Class (SSN-21) submarine, and the

Small Waterplane Area, Twin-Hull (SWATH) T-AGOS ocean surveil- lance ship with the Surveillance

Towed Array Sensor System (SUR-

TASS).

Avondale Awarded Navy $24.4-Million Contract

For Destroyer Overhaul

The U.S. Navy has awarded a $24.4-million contract to Avondale

Industries, Inc. for the overhaul of the Spruance Class destroyer USS

Stump (DD-978) at Avondale's main yard in New Orleans, La. The announcement was made by Sena- tor J. Bennett Johnston, Con- gressman Bob Livingston and

Congresswoman Lindy Boggs, members of the Appropriations

Committee.

The repair and overhaul work will be performed at the company's main yard and at its Algiers facility.

The contract will require about a year to complete.

Avondale Industries, Inc. is one of the nation's leading marine fabrica- tors. In addition to its shipbuilding operations, the company specializes in boat and LCAC construction, and is a major repair contractor for com- mercial and Navy ships.

For further information regarding

Avondale Industries' service capa- bilities,

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US Navy Homeports Select

Seaward Marine Fenders

Seaward International, Inc. has recently received its largest order ever for the supply of foam-filled marine fenders to the U.S. Navy.

The order was placed by Firth Con- struction Company of Baton Rouge, •La., who was awarded the prime construction contract from the Nav- al Facilities Engineering Command to supply and install the homeport fender systems.

Over 75 Sea Guard® model netless fenders, ranging in sizes from 4 by 8 feet to 8 by 16 feet, will be delivered for installation at the new U.S. Nav- al homeports in Ingleside, Texas,

Pascagoula, Miss, and Pensacola,

Fla. Included in this purchase are special high-capacity Sea Guard fenders, measuring 6 by 20 feet, which will be installed on fabricated steel used to berth aircraft carriers at the Pensacola and Ingleside loca- tions.

The completion of this order will bring to five the number of Sea

Guard fenders which have been or will be installed at Navy homeports:

Eleven fenders are to be installed in

Mobile, Ala., and 28 fenders are already in place at the new Navy facility in Staten Island, N.Y.

For more information on fenders available from Seaward Interna- tional,

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NASSCO Wins $233,372 Contract

For USS Schenectady

National Steel and Shipbuilding

Company, San Diego, Calif., was recently awarded a $233,372 cost- plus-award-fee contract for advance planning work for the Drydocking

Phased Maintenance Availability of the USS Schenectady (LST-1185) for fiscal year 1991. The work will be performed in San Diego, and is expected to be completed by mid-

January 1991.

The contract includes options for advance planning and production work for nine availabilities over the next five years. If exercised, these options could amount to nearly $44 million for NASSCO. The expected completion date for all availabilities is in May of 1995.

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ARLINGTON, VA 22202 703-979-1240 1166 CHURCH ROAD

BRUNSWICK, ME 04011 207-729-2950

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