I saw this news item ref>>>http://www.breitbart.com/print.php?id=D99SCM7O0&show_article=1
and it made we think back to a time when I was on a 378'WHEC with ASW capability when we would track subs, and wonder if given the increasing militarization of China and Russia's current initiatives whether it is such a good idea to not equip the NSC's and future OPC's with no such capabilities? Just something to ponder on this Coast Guard Birthday as we reflect on our storied past in this realm! Any thoughts?

They could probley refit Cutters if ASW becomes the mission,For now the Navy has that job,the Navy needs something to do anyway.

Ship mounted sonar and weapons systems are obsolete. The fight is in the air or underwater. LAMPS, Aerostats, or submerged passive sensors are the future in ASW. Private companies are developing passive monitoring devices for coastal defense. Remotely operated mines or torpedos be used as offensive weapons. If the CG was proactive, they will start to work closely with R&D companies to beat the Navy to controlling coastal ASW.

Yesterday, I was talking with two guys who were prior Navy. One had been an ST. He told me how they use to patrol for mines over in the Middle East.

I assume they used SONAR to search for mines, something I hadn't given much thought to in the recent discussions we've had here ref the lack of SONAR on the cutters.

Don

The first vessel to enter the harbor in Kuwait City at the end of Desert Storm was a CG TPSB "Raider" boat, a 22-ft Boston Whaler, probably because of its small draft and fiberglass hull wouldn't attract a magnetic mine.

A history lesson for the day.

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Ship mounted sonar and weapons systems are obsolete.

Seems to me "obsolete" beats the heck out of "nothing". Obsolete means you may not locate the newest, quietest subs but not everyone has those.

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They could probley refit Cutters if ASW becomes the mission,For now the Navy has that job,the Navy needs something to do anyway.

Of course the way one learns it is now "the mission" may be after swallowing a torpedo.

Plus, drug smugglers now use semi-submersibles. If they take the next step it would be handy to be able to find them.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ex_CG_GM,

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Of course the way one learns it is now "the mission" may be after swallowing a torpedo

Gosh the CG may have to become part of the Navy and man those big Navy ships again.

Could be, since they have basically "gelded" their own ships.

If they do I hope they aren't as worn out as the ones I sailed on.

I suspect the amount of Russian patrols off the coast of the USA is minute when compared to our activities off of their coast. I'm not sourcing that statement from anything..it's just a hunch.