Search This Blog

Friday, September 14, 2012

Submarines for Taiwan: A Flight of Fancy

Hai Lung (Zwaardvis) class submarine |A submariner friend from way back emails to question whether I have thrown my support, such as it is, behind Taiwan’s quixotic bid to build or buy a subsurface fleet. Evidently some press accounts say yes. Short answer: no.

It’s worth tackling such misconceptions foursquare. Truth is, my advocacy of Taiwan Navy submarines is tepid on its hottest day. That’s why undersea warfare is nearly invisible from my chief works on the island’s maritime defense (here, here, and especially here).

Battle fleets meant for commanding the sea are out. “Sea denial” is in. Swarms of small, missile-armed surface craft scattered around the island’s rugged periphery are the weapons of choice. Crowding the seas with such craft is where the ROCN ought to concentrate effort and resources.

Read more
om

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Fair Use Notice

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner.

The material is being made available in an effort to advance understanding arms trade activities, for non-profit research and educational purposes only.

I believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.

If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

This is a completely non-commercial site for private personal use. No fee is charged, and no money is made off of the operation of this site.