Do submarines decide the outcome of the war at sea?

Yesterday's event showed what war at sea really is. So it is worth to look at the history of similar clashes, and at the same time point out the situation in which Poland is located today – a coastal state which does not have a viable submarine in service.

Rare cases in post-war history

Contrary to popular imagination, the combat sinking of a warship by a torpedo launched from a submarine after the end of World War II was among the rare cases.

It is therefore worth recalling earlier events in which the submarine sank the submarine. The first such case after 1945 was the 1971 event, when the Pakistani submarine PNS Hangor sank the Indian frigate of INS Khukri during the Indian-Pakistan War.

One of the most famous examples remains the sinking of the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano On May 2, 1982, during the Falkland Islands War. The unit was hit by torpedoes fired by British nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror (S48). Interestingly, the weapons used came from constructions developed during World War II.

Another loud incident of this kind was the sinking of South Korean corvette ROKS Cheonan March 26, 2010. The unit was hit by a CAT-02D torpedo launched by a North Korean miniature submarine.

Fourth case after World War II

IRIS sinking Dena So it means that in postwar history we only have a fourth case of submarine sinking.

At the same time, this is the second case of the use of a fighter nuclear submarine against a submarine in combat conditions.

However, unlike previous events, new generation weapons were used. In this case, a heavy Mk-48 ADCAP torpedo, one of the most modern torpedoes on U.S. Navy equipment, was used. Its head contains approximately 295 kg of the PBXN-105 explosive, the blast force of which corresponds approximately to half a ton of TNT – as demonstrated by yesterday's sinking of IRIS Den's frigate.

The Brutal Lesson of the Maritime War and the Polish Thread

History shows that despite the enormous technological development of military submarines still remain one of the most dangerous opponents at sea.

Once the submarine is detected by a hidden submarine operating, its chances of response are often minimal. Under such conditions, the torpedo remains one of the most brutal and effective weapons of the modern naval war.

The thread is also worth mentioning here in the Polish NavyIn which more than three decades have been announced the acquisition of new submarines. However, further governments could not bring this process to an end. A country that has access to one of the most strategic waters in Europe today is virtually without these capacities.

Meanwhile, the Ork program decided to choose Swedish project, which is faced with a long delay that has reached almost decades. Moreover, in the current configuration these units are to enter service without maneuvering missiles – one of the key elements of deterrence in the modern maritime war, which would certainly not make life easier for Russian planners.

Submarine as a deterrent

In the context of submarines, it is worth recalling the words of Mr Tomasz Witkiewicz, who, in our portal, highlighted the real role of submarines in the modern maritime war. More about the need to obtain OOP we wrote earlier on Shipyard Portal.

OOP is not just about protecting the Baltic Sea and participating in NATO missions. The submarine is primarily a deterrent tool – even one forces the opponent to continuously secrete the forces of the ZOP, restricts its operating freedom and complicates planning.

The second thing is reconnaissance. The submarine in the Baltic Sea can collect hydroacoustic data from Russian units, build target libraries and strengthen the exchange of information within NATO. This will not be replaced by corvette or aviation.

The third point is training. Without its own submarines, it is impossible to effectively train forces to combat submarines. If we can't practice against a real opponent, it's hard to talk about superiority in an underwater environment.

The Baltic is a closed water, shallow, with dense infrastructure. Under such conditions, the secretly operating OP is one of the most effective means of impact – both defensive and offensive. In short, submarines are not an addition to the fleet, but an element of balance of forces. Without it, Poland gives its opponent the entire underwater environment practically without a fight.

Mariusz Dasiewicz – publisher of the Shipyard Portal. He deals with the issues of the Polish Navy and shipbuilding industry. In its texts, it focuses on modernisation programs of the navy and issues related to the development of maritime security of Poland. It focuses on a factual analysis and transparency of the decision-making process.