"Of all the branches of men in the forces there is none which shows more devotion and faces grimmer perils than the submarines," Sir Winston Churchill once said, following the action submariners saw during World War II. Submarines have come a long way from their modest beginnings as small wooden submersibles with hand-crank propellers. Today's billion-dollar vessels carry some of the most technologically advanced equipment and powerful weapons known to man. For decades they have provided America with a powerful and precise weapon of war. But the submarine's greatest advantage has been its versatility, a quality often best exploited by the junior officer. This flexibility has allowed the submarine to undertake new and demanding roles and missions, a trend that should only increase in frequency in the future.
The Navy's Noble Partners
The U.S. Navy submarine fleet earned its distinguished reputation from the diligence, ingenuity, and sacrifices of officers and enlisted men. Whether one considers the SS Turtle attacking HMS Eagle during the Revolutionary War, the development of the Navy's first submarine, the USS Holland in 1900, or Los Angeles-class submarines tracking Soviet boomers, America's underwater fleet has proved itself worthy time and again. Throughout the Fleet's history junior officers have been leading the pack, from shiphandling excellence to devising new strategies for attack.
During World War II U.S. submarines played a devastating role in crippling Japanese naval forces. After the Pacific Fleet was crushed at Pearl Harbor, only the submarines and carriers survived in sizable numbers; however, carriers were hampered without surface escorts. Submarines picked up the slack. They immediately set about sinking Japanese warships and merchants. For the rest of the war the Japanese sustained such heavy merchant and tanker casualties due to submarine attacks that in countless battles they were forced to fight with limited supplies, reinforcements and troops. Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz attested to the pivotal role submarines played when he said, "We shall never forget that it was our submarines that held the lines against the enemy while our fleets replaced losses and repaired wounds."
Junior officers were essential to the success rate of the submarine fleet during this period. Early on, due to poor design and testing, the Mark 14 steam torpedo proved to be an unreliable weapon, displaying numerous problems with running depth and detonators. While the Navy Bureau of Ordnance refused to change the design and blamed the poor performance on improper launch, it was the junior officers and submarine crews who went to work to untangle the problem. They created their own detonators, conducted tests, and lobbied the bureau to run official tests to reveal the errors. Despite having poorly functioning torpedoes for much of the war, these junior officers paved the way for the astonishing success submarines enjoyed during World War II: almost 1,400 enemy vessels sunk, for 5.3 million tons.
A Versatile Platform for the New Century
Today the role of the submarine is changing again. The need for a massive nuclear deterrent and for dozens of boats capable of tracking enemy subs has diminished with the conclusion of the Cold War and the move toward smaller conflicts. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq call for a platform that can provide support to forces on shore, through strike warfare, surveillance, intelligence gathering, and anti-shipping strikes. The Navy is responding to these new objectives and assignments well, yet there is much still to do.
Four Ohio-class submarines were taken off nuclear deterrent duties and converted to guided-missile submarines, designated SSGN. These modified boats are capable at focusing on the strike mission, and with 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles on board, are able to deliver a heavy payload to numerous targets. In addition, to deal with small conflicts, littoral combat, and the need for increased versatility, the Navy has commissioned the Virginia-class attack submarine. These advanced nuclear-powered boats are designed for deep-ocean and littoral antisubmarine warfare. They are fitted with photonics masts that contain advanced digital cameras, replacing the mechanical, line-of-sight viewing system of the traditional optical periscope.
Multiple Conflicts, Manifold Capabilities
During World War II many admirals considered it blasphemy to replace the battleship with the carrier as the Fleet's flagship. Despite such opposition the carrier quickly proved pivotal during the war, as its increased range, speed, and versatility were impossible to ignore. The senior officers who fought the transition did so not because they believed the battleship was better for the Navy and the country, but because it was the platform they had always known.
Now it's time for the Navy to begin to shift from the massive carrier toward Virginia-class subs, less expensive and safer missile platforms, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Many missions that the carrier accomplishes with a crew of more than 5,000 officers and Sailors could be achieved by the submarine. This would increase the Navy's mobility, as several such ships could be sent to multiple hotspots, whereas a single carrier can only be sent to one region.
Soon, despite the carrier's successful history and overwhelming authority, today's officers must similarly adapt to the changing global situation. Submarines have been a vital weapon of war in America's naval history, and this trend will only increase in coming months and years. Their large payload, stealth, mobility and adaptability will ensure it.
Junior officers play a central role in leading their crews in embracing change and accepting increased responsibility. Admiral Hyman Rickover put it best when he said, "I believe it is the duty of every man to act as though the fate of the world depends on them. Surely no one man can do it all. But one man can make a difference."