Kilo This - Pound That

Last year the Royal Swedish Navy's diesel-electric attack submarine Gotland managed to snap several pictures of the 9th NIMITZ - class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan during a wargames exercise in the Pacific Ocean, effectively "sinking" the aircraft carrier. The wargames exercise was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the US fleet against diesel-electric submarines, which some have noted as severely lacking.

The Iranians have 3 Soviet built (perhaps 5) kilo class submarines with diesel-electric propulsion systems similar to, though somewhat less advanced, than the Swedish Navy's Gotland class submarines.

In the fall of 2000, the Royal Swedish Navy's submarine HMS Halland (also Gotland Class) swept the board in exercises with Spanish and French naval units in the Atlantic. Futhermore, she also defeated the USS Houston a Los Angeles-class nuclear attack from the USA.


It appears that Iran might be in possession of shkval torpedo technology, according to recent claims emanating from Tehran.



Iranian Kilo class diesel-electric submarines operating in the unique marine milieu of the Persian Gulf might pose a significant challenge to full spectrum dominance ambitions and USN security concerns given certain asymmetric pecularities in US submarine technology and tactics. If Iranian Kilo class submarines are fitted with Shkval torpedo technology then the prospect of successful suicide attacks against extremely high value targets as the Nimitz must be a factor of pivotal consideration.

It is therefor of some noteworthiness that the USN has been engaged in intense exercises with the Swedish Navy's diesel-electric submarine Gotland for the past year, developing capabilities to counter the threats posed by similar diesel-electric submarines. The timing, intensity, and specific nature of the training regimin might be considered interesting when assessing US schedules and designs for Iran.

Timetable: Gotland & San Diego
Sweden has long held joint exercises with US forces, including submarine warfare and rescue exercises. In 2004, the Swedish Government decided to deepen that cooperation on the Naval front so as to further develop both nations' capabilities in submarine operations.


On March 21 2005, Rear Admiral John J Waikwicz, head of ASW COMMAND signed an agreement with Sweden for lease of the submarine Gotland and a crew of 36 servicepersons. The Gotland is to be stationed in San Diego.

On May 10 2005, the Gotland is readied for transport to San Diego.

On May 8 2006, the Gotland is drydocked for maintenance. This is the second drydock of its Sand Diego stay.

On May 11 2006, a letter home from the crew of the Gotland is published. It cursively describes some of the exercises they have engaged in during their year in San Diego.

It would seem that the Iranian Kilo class submarines might not pose a problem of the same dignity to the USN as they most recently and surely did. Thanks Meatballs!

Meanwhile, the bedwetting paranoiacs over at LGF continue to deride Sweden as a land of treachery with a government soft on the so-called War on Terror simply because Sweden has often taken mild-mannered issue with Israel's rather horrendous stewardship of the occupied territories.

As always, the likes of LGF are as loud and shrill as they are almost always completely wrong in their racist and vicious rantings. But such are the pitfalls of being born and raised as an incontinent whiner. Thank goodness for super absorbent adult diapers. Now where the heck are my industrial strength earplugs?