An independent case for the US Navy to return to diesel-electric submarines
Opinion piece with a ronin research approach - Alternative title Diesel Boats forever tomorrow
With nearly 80 submarines, the US Navy is without question the most powerful submarine force on the planet. Since the late 1950s US Navy submarine building has been almost exclusively focused on nuclear powered designs. The last diesel powered front line boat was decommissioned in 1990. Since then there have been several voices calling for the Submarine Force to have at least some diesel-boats on hand. This article takes the form of ronin research which is masterless, and therefore free to challenge the conventional thinking on this topic, and highlight emerging capabilities which are beyond the scope of current planning... Read More >....
All articles
Houthi_mines_in_Red_Sea
New threat to international shipping in Red Sea
Images have just surfaced (Twitter) of the type of mine laid by retreating Houthi rebels in Midi, Yemen. At the same time reports are coming out in Arab media that the Saudi Navy has disarmed some sea mines in the Red Sea (Alarabiya). It is possible that the two sources are reporting the same mines. The improvised weapons appear to be of the floating type with contact detonators. Although they appear basic, they are a significant threat to merchant shipping using the busy Red Sea route... Read More >....
North_Korean_Submarines
Guide to the North Korean Navy's submarine capabilities 
With approximately 70 boats North Korea has the second or third largest fleet of submarines in the world, after only the United States and possibly China. And while the submarines themselves may be small or antiquated, the men who man them have a proven track record of loyalty, discipline, basic naval competence and aggressive leadership.
... Read More >....
AssaultRifle_Quiz3
Test your knowledge of assault current rifles and similar weapons.
NR-1
The US Navy's nuclear powered midget submarine: NR-1 At barely 40 meters (130ft) the NR-1 (Navy Reactors-1) was a midget submarine by US Navy standards. It was by far the smallest nuclear powered submarine in the world when she was launched on 25th January 1969. A special mission spy submarine, she was built under the guise of research, oceanography and later deep sea rescue in great secrecy in the same shed where the first nuclear submarine, USS Nautilus, had been.
... Read More >....
Evolution of Polish Blotniak SDV
The Polish Blotniak is the only single seat enclosed SDV (Swimmer Delivery Vehicle) ever seriously developed. 
Originally posted 22nd Oct 2014
CIA_Water-Air_1958
Overview of CIA Water-Air Division equipment, 1958 This is a summary and analysis of a CIA booklet from 1958 (now declassified with redaction) covering ”Equipment and/or Test Reports Available for Operational use or Planning”. It was compiled by the CIA Water-Air Division who were the Cold War evolution of the Wartime OSS Maritime Unit. Read More >....
Spy Subs - X-RAY
Russian X-RAY Class Special Mission submarine 
The Russian Project 1851 Nelma class (NATO: X-RAY class) midget submarine is shrouded in secrecy. Read More >....
Swedish_Sub_Incursions_RYAN
Swedish news article on Cold War imcursions 
This morning’s Blekinge Lans Tidning (BLT) newspaper ran a story on the Swedish Cold War submarine Incursions. Retired Naval Officer Nils-Ove Jansson drew parallels to when Soviet Spetsnaz combat swimmers came ashore in Sweden to reconnoiter the placing of nuclear mines (allegedly). An interesting article in a few ways... Read More >....
Unbuilt_Russian_Spy_Subs
Multifunctional underwater station (MPS) In 2010 the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade patented a ‘Multifunctional underwater station (MPS) (Russian: Многофункциональная подводная станция (МПС). Two years later Russian submarine design bureau Lazurite proposed the same design for a range of underwater engineering tasks. Although presented as a civilian platform the design gives us good insight into the Russian ‘deep station’ spy submarines operated by GUGI (Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research, Military Unit 40056)... Read More >....