Gotland.

This is coolbert:

Read this stuff. Very alarming. It would seem that most of the American Navy anti-submarine warfare technology has been rendered obsolete?

"The Pentagon said it believes the greatest undersea threat facing the U.S. Navy since the end of the Cold War has arrived."

"USA to lease Gotland-class sub"

"Gotland class subs scare the US navy"

A Swedish Gotland class submarine was LEASED WITH CREW TO THE U.S. NAVY FOR A YEAR, AND THEN THE LEASE WAS EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

[Exercises were to commence in mid-2005. ARE STILL GOING ON NOW!?]

"The Swedish Government has granted approval for the USA to lease a Gotland-class submarine for a period of twelve months, complete with crew, to participate in joint exercises with the US Navy. The submarine will operate from bases on both the east and west coasts of the United States."

"The Swedish Government granted approval for the lease of a submarine, complete with crew, at a cabinet meeting on October 28th 2004. The naval exercises will be initiated as early as the first half of 2005."

"The naval exercises will be initiated as early as the first half of 2005."

[this sort of "thing" is normally TOTALLY UNHEARD OF!]

SO THAT AMERICAN "EXPERTS" CAN DETERMINE WHY THESE AIR-INDEPENDENT-PROPULSION SUBMARINES ARE SO INVULNERABLE TO DETECTION!!

"The Pentagon leased the Gotland for one year, but now has extended the lease for a second year, as they try to learn why this submarine so difficult to find underwater."

"the greatest undersea threat facing the U.S. Navy since the end of the Cold War has arrived"

"Gotland-class submarines, built by Kockums, are equipped with the Stirling AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) system. This allows a “conventional” (non-nuclear) submarine to remain submerged for weeks at a time, avoiding the need to surface for air and risk detection . . . The Gotland-class boats also feature excellent stealth capabilities, and have performed extremely well in international exercises, especially against the US Navy’s nuclear submarines."

"Swedish submarines are designed specifically for operating in the shallow waters of the littoral zone, and Swedish Navy crews are specially trained in the skills essential to missions in this niche sector."

[this is why the crew AND sub both were leased. Having a crew that is trained, knows how to handle the ship with skill, and are able to act with a FOREIGN MIND SET IS IMPORTANT TOO!! A very realistic test!]

"The American’s interest in this type of submarine was aroused earlier, during joint naval exercises, when the USN failed in its efforts to track a Gotland-class sub . . . feature stealth technology . . . smaller size also means that they can operate in shallower littoral waters."

"Since last summer the Navy has spent months playing a game of cat and mouse with the Gotland off San Diego, and time after time the Swedish sub has eluded its pursuers."

"According to Swedish newspapers, in training exercises the Gotland has sunk our most sophisticated nuclear submarines. But perhaps even more disconcerting, it reportedly sunk our largest aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Reagan."

I am quite the U.S. Navy has the Chinese threat in mind when it leased the Gotland from the Swedes. I can well imagine that if war with China ever does occur, it will be primarily a naval type war, with the U.S. Navy attempting to carry the war to the Chinese. AND DOING SO IN LITTORAL WATERS!! The Chinese will respond with their own AIP submarines, hugging the coastline, firing cruise missiles in response!

[the Chinese YET to have AIP drive submarines??]

coolbert.