Submarine Warfare - Post-World War II

Post-World War II

The advent of the nuclear submarine in the 1950s brought about a major change in submarine warfare. These boats could operate faster, deeper and had much longer endurance. They could be larger and so became missile launching platforms. In response to this the attack submarine became important. The US also used nuclear submarines as radar pickets for a while. Diesel-electric submarines continued to be used as they were better in coastal waters and less expensive, while also much quieter than earlier nuclear subs. There have also been major advances in sensors and weapons.

During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union played what was described as a 'cat-and-mouse' game of detecting and even trailing enemy submarines. As the West enjoyed a considerable advantage in the quality of its technology, by the early 80s U.S. attack submarines were almost as quiet as an equivalent body of seawater, a benchmark the Russian Navy did not reach until after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Indeed, the technological difference between the rival powers were so huge, that Soviet subs in the early days could be heard 'across the Atlantic' (in one hyperbole), and Soviet subs were forced to periodically 'clear the baffles' through high-speed, 'jinking' manuveurs that themselves generated noise.

Since the Second World War, several wars, such as the Korean War, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and the Falklands War, have involved the use of submarines. However, the importance of the submarine has shifted to an even more strategic role than the disruption of merchant shipping, with the advent of the nuclear submarine carrying nuclear weapons to provide second-strike capability. To counter the threat of these submarines, hunter submarines were developed in turn. Later submarine-launched land-attack missiles were employed against Iraq and Afghanistan. The role of the submarine has extended with the use of submarine-launched autonomous unmanned vehicles. The development of new air independent propulsion methods has meant that the diesel-electric submarine's need to surface, making it vulnerable, has been reduced. Nuclear submarines, although far larger, could generate their own air and water for quite extended durations, meaning their need to surface was limited in any case.

In today's more fractured geopolitical system, many nations are building and/or upgrading their submarines. The JMSDF has launched new models of submarines every few years; the South Koreans have upgraded the already capable Type 209 design from Germany and sold copies to Indonesia. The Russians have improved the old Soviet Kilo model into what many are calling equivalent to an 1980s 688, and so on.

At the end of his naval warfare book The Price of Admiralty, military historian John Keegan postulates that eventually, almost all roles of surface warships will be taken over by submarines, as they will be the only naval units capable of evading the increasing intelligence capabilities (space satellites, airplanes etc.) that a fight between evenly matched modern states could bring to bear on them.