garyb@SSD.CSD.HARRIS.COM (Gary Barton) (06/06/90)
From: garyb@SSD.CSD.HARRIS.COM (Gary Barton) I was thinking the other day about what a sub would have to go through to launch a ballistic missile. Of course, since I have never been on a sub at all, let alone when a missile is launched, all of what follows is speculation. Nevertheless, I have read that when launched from a submerged position, SLBMs are forcibly ejected from the launch tubes of the sub with sufficient velocity to reach the surface, where the rocket is fired. If this correct (please correct me if this is not), I thought to myself that the force necessary to eject a large missile into the surrounding water with sufficient velocity to reach the surface would be considerable. Such a large force, and would result in a pretty good jolt for the sub and its occupants (Newtons third law). If the speculation above is correct, this would seem to preclude the simultaneous launch of multiple missiles (which is probably not a good idea for other reasons). However, I would also expect that there would be some minimum amount of time that must elapse to let the sub recover from the shock of a preceding launch before a subsequent missile could be launched. So, here are some questions for someone in the know: What actually happens to the sub when a missile is launched? How fast can a SLBMs be launched from a submerged submarine? Is there a price that is paid in terms of the accuracy of the targetting if the missiles are launched one after the other? It would also seem that there would be some maximum speed for a sub to be moving when is wants to launch a missile. What would that speed be? Given these parameters, it seems that for some period, a sub that launches a sequence of missiles will be vulnerable to attack because it will most likely be moving slowly in a steady course with a series of missiles being launched. This would seem to give an almost perfect targetting solution to any potential aggressor. To what extent can this period of vulnerability be exploited to destroy the sub or neutralize subsequent launches? My assumptions may be way off base, but I hope not. Please show enlighten me if they are. Also, if someone would like to recommend references that describe SLBM technology and tactics, they would be very much appreciated. -- ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ | Gary Barton | Harris Computer Systems Division | | Software Development | 2101 W. Cypress Creek Rd. | | garyb@csd.ssd.harris.com | Ft. Lauderdale. FL 33309 | | {uunet,mit-eddie,novavax}!hcx1!garyb | (305) 974-1700 | ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++