|
FlyingBear -> RE: ASW screens for surface groups (2/24/2016 3:41:36 PM)
|
Do you find helos at tens of miles from the lead ship to be effective? I find that when trying to search such a large area with short range dipping sonar the search density gets too low and the risk of subs leaking through is too high.
My thinking is that since effective torpedo range is little more than 5 miles, being certain to detect a sub at 10 miles is more important than having a chance of detecting it at 30 miles. On the other hand, detecting Charlies before they can launch helps preserving SAMs (and before about 1985 a Charlie launch can even be dangerous).
Which leads me to:
- SSNs about 100 miles out
- S-3: 50 - 80 miles up to 45 degrees to either side of the PIM, which also covers the sides of my force with a sonobuoy fence on both sides
- Frigates or destroyers in a passive ASW screen 25 - 35 miles out.
- Close in AAW escorts can sometimes double as active ASW screen, especially putting an SQS-26/SQS-53 cruiser a couple miles ahead of the carrier serving both as an AAW goalkeeper and active sonar platform (if they are that close to the carrier they will soon hear it anyway)
- Helos with dipping sonar 8 - 12 miles out, with the sole job of protecting the carrier. But I have almost never had them make the first detection on an approaching sub.
Not sure if I should reverse the order of the SSNs and S-3s.
That's how I do it... [:)] The "Carrier Battle Group ASW test" I uploaded some time ago is set up roughly that way.
|
|
|
|
