The Modern Sniper and Anti-Submarine Warfare, by FlyBy

Much like the sniper on the modern battlefield, the submarine operates on the principles of stealth and surprise. As Scout and several of the other combat arms veterans here can attest, a well trained sniper has the ability to influence the outcome of a battle by properly balancing stealth, camouflage, marksmanship and personal initiative. So too does the submarine. A well trained crew, a solid boat and an aggressive skipper can reek havoc up one’s enemies on the high seas.

The sea is a formidable and unforgiving environment. Ask any professional sailor or merchantman and I’m sure they’d be happy to to share just how non-permissive the sea can be. Given this fact, there are a number of measures that can be used to mitigate the threat of an enemy sub. I won’t go into and discuss most of them here. This is not the proper place for such a discussion. A gain, much akin to the sniper, sight and sound are two of the primary sensors used when hunting/searching for a submarine that most folks are familiar with. The Hunt for Red October provides several good examples of these sensors. In the case of the sniper, the report of the rifle can be used to obtain a fix on his hide. However, a visual is indisputable. The submarine is no different. Sound is used as one of the primary means to locate and track the sub, but a visual is absolute. So what, who cares? The technology to build and mill propellers for maritime use is owned by Toshiba, the electronics giant.

Back in 1987, through a series of business deals, Toshiba, sold the principles of 5 axis milling technology to the Soviet Union. You can read about it here. The end result of this “business” transaction is that Russian submarines became that much harder to hunt and track. As tensions rise between Russian and Ukraine, China and Taiwan, the importance of this event will become increasingly more important.

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About the Author: NC Scout

NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at [email protected] or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .

6 Comments

  1. Centurion_Cornelius December 2, 2021 at 04:56

    Yessir. Back in the 60s I worked at Borg-Warner. We made the impellers for the cryogenic pumps on the Saturn rockets. They look very similar to these sub props, but in miniature. Works of art, really, ours functioned at -250*F, while sub props at -100*F.

    Big secret back then: the 3-4 axis milling we used. Programming a milling machine to go in 3 directions, some in a parabola, while simultaneously going North and East all at once–quite a chore. This was before CNC machining! All done by math and gearing.

    Armed guards at the gatehouse insured you took nothing in nor out. Lunchboxes, pockets, jackets, even caps–all inspected daily.

    As you ran your mill, Air Force and sometimes Navy Inspectors constantly looked over your shoulder, noting the settings on the machine, speeds, cutter. You forged relationships with other workers and the military; a common goal was at hand. Make the very best for America, nothing less.

    Your comments to inquiring questions by family or friends about what you did at work? One word: “CLASSIFIED.”

    That Borg-Warner would ever transfer or sell this ancient technology at that time? UNHEARD OF!

    • boss21 December 2, 2021 at 08:37

      @CC, Interesting history and amazing projects accomplished back then. In One World there are no secrets- said no sane people in history.

  2. FlyBy December 2, 2021 at 08:54

    The technology transfers and thefts that take place over such technologies are staggering. As I mentioned to Scout, the impact of this particular technology transfer was devastating. A submerged sub sounds very much like a freight train racing down some tracks, horn blowing, etc. The acoustic signature could be heard a long, long way off and still can depending upon the patch of ocean one is working with. However, after the technology transfer, the sub’s acoustic signature became more akin to a big rig. The distance the signature travelled was reduced several fold, making a tough job that much more difficult.
    Thank you for commenting and sharing your experience.

    • Johnny Paratrooper December 2, 2021 at 19:56

      Very interesting.
      Submarines have always fascinated me.

      • FlyBy December 2, 2021 at 23:13

        They are incredible machines. Extremely complex.
        Thank you for commenting.

  3. Grumpster December 3, 2021 at 00:34

    I would think that props could be 3-d printed out of something like carbon fiber, sintered titanium or some such exotic material. The need for balancing might be mitigated to a large degree, but I ain’t no ninjaneer neither. I have been under the impression that EM propulsion is the next gen.

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