[sci.military] SUBS SINK TRAWLER

amichiel@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Allen J Michielsen) (12/13/90)

From: amichiel@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Allen J Michielsen)
In article <1990Dec12.032349.11731@cbnews.att.com> swilliam@dtoa1.dt.navy.mil
>From: swilliam@dtoa1.dt.navy.mil (Williams)
>>On november 22nd, the trawler Antares caught a sub in its nets, and
>>was pulled under. The four crewmen paid ''the catch'' with their lives.

>... In this book, Commander Bill Anderson mentioned Nautilus 
>running into a fish net and towing the trawler for some distance before 
>Nautilus' crew realized what was happening.

   Now I'm not doubting your references or recall, but considering the physics,
how would a sub come to realize that it had 'snagged' (relatively) light weight
vessel.  Sub tactics don't generally include active sensors, but passive ones,
(except of course when engaging a contact....).  I also can't imagine being
able to 'measure' drag in either mechanical or electrical means, until fairly
high speeds are desired.  I suppose that only the following of the 'noise'
generated by the trawler would be the indication that it had been snagged.
So, I guess I'd make the logical jump in assumptions, that IF the nets were
really strong enough to not rip, then a sub could sell drag a snagged surface
contact for a mighty long time and honestly realize it.
   I suppose then that it will probably happen eventually, become big news,
and then be sold to the mass public of proof of just how bad the XYZ navy
is, dragging these poor fishermen around the sea of 123 for N days....

al


-- 
Al. Michielsen, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Syracuse University
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