What do you think of an unmanned vehicle launched from a Navy sub?

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 22:40:12 -0400

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_UNDERSEA_DRONES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-07-20-19-26-33

In a time of budget constraints and a slowly shrinking submarine force, are UUVs (unmanned underwater vehicles) a step in the right direction? Will they help with mapping, counter-mine operations, surveillance? What else could be in store?

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2015 10:40 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 22:40:57 -0400

As a related topic how many people realized that we actually launched a UAV from a submarine 2 years ago?

http://www.nrl.navy.mil/media/news-releases/2013/navy-launches-uav-from-submerged-submarine

Navy Launches UAV from Submerged Submarine - U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

A milestone in U.S. Navy history, an all-electric NRL-developed unmanned aircraft was successfully launched and flown from the submerged USS Providence.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2015 11:02 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 23:02:08 -0400

I think unmanned vehicles, regardless if they are airborne or subsurface, are a reality and will contribute to future successes.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jul 22 at 2015 11:20 PM

COL Charles Williams — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 23:20:31 -0400

They work very well for ground and air forces. So, it makes sense.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jul 22 at 2015 11:35 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 23:35:55 -0400

Sounds like a great development with a lot of possible applications.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2015 12:23 AM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 00:23:24 -0400

I think that any unmanned subsurface vehicles created will be perfect for reconnaissance and mapping uncharted depths of the sea. I do not see them being an efficient means of direct attack or defense simply because the present state of artificial intelligence and problem solving capabilities able to be utilized by autonomous craft are simply not able to match the wit, skill, and speed of a human in direct control. Now, I said direct attack and defense because even if these craft aren't dealing the blows to our enemy at sea they can still play an enormous part of collecting intelligence used for planning these assaults. No small feat under the ocean.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jul 23 at 2015 2:10 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 02:10:52 -0400

Why? because we can! How long has this bad boy been around before the News Media found out. I remember testing the Tomahawk in the Late 70's and how government actually kind of encouraged UFO talk in SOCAL (Southern California) to explain when we would launch them and land them out in the Desert in California (Early Models Range was only 250 miles).

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 23 at 2015 9:42 AM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 09:42:10 -0400

If it will save the life of even one Sailor I'm all for it.

Response by LCDR Jeffery Dixon made Jul 23 at 2015 12:30 PM

LCDR Jeffery Dixon — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 12:30:45 -0400

As a Submariner myslef, fantastic!

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jul 23 at 2015 12:32 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 12:32:11 -0400

It seems inevitable. After all, the Puzzle Palace is on record as saying that the next generation of Fighters after the F35 will be unmanned...

I would think that SSBN's with D5 Launch tubes would be the best vehicle; unless the vehicles are turtlebacked the way other submersibles are on some subs...

Response by SGT Christopher Churilla made Jul 23 at 2015 1:46 PM

SGT Christopher Churilla — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 13:46:28 -0400

Other forces use drones, why shouldn't the Navy?

Response by LCDR Doug Nordman made Jul 30 at 2015 12:29 PM

LCDR Doug Nordman — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 12:29:04 -0400

Heh. Launching unmanned vehicles from Navy submarines? No problem. We've done it for decades.
What's really impressive is recovering the UUV. We do all right with tethered communication buoys, floating wires, towed sonar arrays, and SEAL vehicles, but we've paid a lot of money for the experience...