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By Brian R. Wolfe
The Cold War may have ended, but the geography of the North Atlantic remains unchanged. Iceland still dominates the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom Gap—the only route for surface ships and submarines moving into or out of the Norwegian Sea—and Keflavik is still home for U.S. Navy P-3Cs, patrolling the straits.
P-3 crews learn to live with low ceilings, strong cross-winds, wet runways, and low temperatures much of the year; at a latitude of 65°, the days are short during the winter—getting night flying time is no problem. In recent years, fewer Soviet submarines have been detected transiting the waters of the G-I-UK Gap. The ballistic missile submarines—equipped with new, longer-range missiles— are now in range of their targets while loitering in well-protected bastions close to home. P-3s based at Keflavik are increasingly involved in supporting fleet operations—screening the battle groups during transits, identifying neutral shipping, and conducting ASW while the carriers take a brief respite from flight quarters. What aircraft will take the place of the Orion?