Wasp (CVS 18) - Naval Cruise Book

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Q., Vg I , , I I I 5 I I I I I I I i I I I I I 1 I I Ir the problem of getting some indication of 3110 N The first step in the hunt for a submarine i , I Q VISUAL presence of a submarine in a particular body of Wag Jil If The vastness of the oceans of the world and 111 wide range of variations within the sea itself woi against us in detection. We are countering with in tensive studies of the nature of the sea and the us of the latest electronic equipment. cl.AsslFlcA'rlo The problem we call classification develops from the lack of complete information provided by present detection devices. Many things in the sea can produce mirages which act like submarines. After detection we must classify our Contact into one of three categories: a. NON-SUB - a passing whale perhaps, or a school of fish. b. POSSIBLE -indications of a submarine, but I not definite indications. c. POSITIVE - confirmed submarine contact. kg x V x . .,,,- NON-SUB . . POSSIBLE . . , POSITIVE . . . In detection our basic systems are still sound systems. Ranges of sonar have more than doubled since World War ll., This is not enough, but is an improvement. The aircraft borne magnetic detector - MAD - is quite useful in classification, but even the theo- retical ranges are still far sh t ' ' ' or of what we need in detection equipment. Radar is useful against snorkel subs, but radar can't penetrate water. Similarly, ECM equipment can detect any radiation from b ' ' ' a su marine, but not unless the submarine radiates. Visual search still has its place in detection. ' Detection remains our area of greatest concern. ' ,X

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wimize-,Lf 5 ' 'U' an One squadron of 14 Sikorsky H S S helicopters operates from the WASP, adding the use of their dunking sonar and airborne weapons to ASW tactics. These helicopters usually operate near the WASP and are dispatched to the area of any submarine contact. A detachment of 4 Douglas AO5W Skyraider aircraft round out the WASP's ASW air group. These versatile aircraft provide a powerful airborne search radar platform, a radio communications relay, and an airborne station for the air control of other aircraft. A detachment of 6, Martin P5lVl 'tlVlariner aircraft, supported from a Naval Air Station ashore, operate with the units of the TASK GROUP. These long range amphibious patrol bombers combine a variety of detection devices and kill weapons with facilities to control other aircraft. Eight modern destroyers complete the roster of units that operate with the WASP in TASK GROUP BRAVO. They add long endurance and seaborne sonar, radar, Electronic Counter Measures CECMD and numerous sub killing weapons to the varied capabilities of the force.

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Once W9 have located a submarine, the task remaining is that of pin pointing his location and delivering a destructive weapon on him. But even when detected and properly classified, sub- marines are slippery customers. They have evasive tactics, decoys, and clever ways of disap- pearing while you are watching them. Drawing the net around one is a complex job,usually re- quiring smooth teamwork by several units. The final step - destruction - is one which relatively, is in good shape. lf we can find a sub- marine and identify him and get a reasonably good fix on his position, we have weapons to take care of him. lt doesn't take a megaton bomb to knock out a submarine., Even a small hole in a pressure hull is enough to put him out of business. But there is always a few hundred feet of water between the attacker and his target. The weapon must negotiate this distance, find the submarine, and explode close enough to render a lethal blow. We now have the atomic depth bomb, which gives us a much greater probability of destroying an enemy submarine. The World War ll depth charge had a lethal radius of 35 feet. Using a nu- clear charge,'an average kill radius measured in the hundreds of feet can be obtained against a modern submarine. The atomic depth bomb is not the ultimate answer to the submarine, but it is a powerful addition to the anti-submarine arsenal. The responsibility to authorize the use of these nuclear weapons lies solely with the President of the United States.