Gavin-Phillips Posted May 10, 2015 Posted May 10, 2015 I read the headline about this test last night but didn't really read the article until an hour or so ago. Looking at some of the comments, some people are thinking it might actually be a Scud unit (can you fire one of those from underwater?) but I'm just not sure about what kind of missile nor submarine it was fired from. The article didn't give much away in terms of details, has anyone heard or read anything more about the test?
Markus Becker Posted May 10, 2015 Posted May 10, 2015 Their biggest sub is a Romeo(1,8k tons displacement submerged). A Gato/Baleo is larger, so I think this was a PR stunt. http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/nordkorea-feiert-erfolgreichen-test-einer-unterwasserrakete-a-1032976.html
EchoFiveMike Posted May 10, 2015 Posted May 10, 2015 NK was given some Golf class submarines in the 90's; they were essentially scrap but... The 1st Soviet SSBM was a Scud, so it's possible, even probable that the NK's basically duplicated the 1950's Soviet missile program. Since NK seems to be stuck in the crappy parts of the 1950's, this would make sense. S/F.....Ken M
Gavin-Phillips Posted May 10, 2015 Author Posted May 10, 2015 Their biggest sub is a Romeo(1,8k tons displacement submerged). A Gato/Baleo is larger, so I think this was a PR stunt. http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/nordkorea-feiert-erfolgreichen-test-einer-unterwasserrakete-a-1032976.html It may not be the launching sub but that video does show a surfaced submarine that looks like a Romeo-class to me, very close to the launching area. Thanks for the replies.
Markus Becker Posted May 10, 2015 Posted May 10, 2015 The English Wiki says a Chinese version of the Romeo can fire an anti ship missile while submerged. Maybe the Norks did that? I find the still pics in the video a bit fishy. Especially the fact that they are stills. Easier to fake I presume.
DB Posted May 10, 2015 Posted May 10, 2015 The suggestion is a two-tube modification to their largest class, attached to the sail. My understanding is that 1960s technology could detect that class of submarine from such a long range that it was impossible to tell which ocean it was in.
RETAC21 Posted May 10, 2015 Posted May 10, 2015 I think that you are misreading this, it's a SLBM - a Sibling Launched Ballistic Missile, something all descendant of the Grate Ladder must do from time to time in order to be taken seriously by the Tinsel Generals in NK.
M48A5K Posted May 13, 2015 Posted May 13, 2015 (edited) http://gall.dcinside.com/arm/429554http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=shm&sid1=100&oid=056&aid=0010168946http://www.janes.com/article/51356/north-korean-slbm-test-leaves-more-questions-than-answers There are claims that the photographs released by NK is photoshoped, and some even say that the missile was actually launched from the submerged platform. Edited May 13, 2015 by M48A5K
RETAC21 Posted May 13, 2015 Posted May 13, 2015 Despite the "success": http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/13/north-korean-defence-minister-executed-by-anti-aircaft-gun-report
crazyinsane105 Posted May 13, 2015 Posted May 13, 2015 I highly doubt it was a SCUD. Land based missiles are designed to only fly through one medium (which is air). SLBM's need to go through two mediums (water and air). It would be quite difficult to launch any land based missiles through water as it would very likely fall apart. Now if the submarine completely surfaces and fires the missile, that's a different story. Now this is assuming it was an underwater launch. If the submarine had to completely surface to fire the missile, then you can very well just use a SCUD or any land based missile.
DB Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 An alternative is a surfacing container, or as noted a fin mounted tube, where only the fin needs to broach the surface. However, the image appears to not show any fin, which leaves the options being a "proper" sub-surface launch or a missile container launch.
Yalmuk Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 Good article about this SLBM launch. http://lewis.armscontrolwonk.com/archive/7631/dprk-slbm-test
Chris Werb Posted May 15, 2015 Posted May 15, 2015 What's the point of putting an SLBM on a sub that's as noisy as two skeletons wanking in a biscuit tin?
Marcello Posted May 15, 2015 Posted May 15, 2015 What's the point of putting an SLBM on a sub that's as noisy as two skeletons wanking in a biscuit tin? While in principle I would still take a road TEL with multiple cave based shelters and maybe some decoy a SSB might perhaps still make some sense, provided it does not have to march a lot. IOW sending it across the Pacific to target the USA à la GOLF in the 50-60's is suicide. Lurking around near North Korea minimizing diesel time and using the SS-N-6 range against regional targets might still have the odd chance or two of working.
a77 Posted May 16, 2015 Posted May 16, 2015 What's the point of putting an SLBM on a sub that's as noisy as two skeletons wanking in a biscuit tin? Because the noisy sub will be very hard to detect in shallow water and if they drift/keep the speed down + Kim Jong-un want to brag that in theory he have the power to nuke something more impotent the Alaska in US. That the sub will probably sink in the Pacific, make the US sonar operators deaf, the rocket will explode at launching and the nuke will be a dud is irrelevant, because US can disregard the the potential threat and hence it strengthens Kim Jong-un bargaining position.
Gavin-Phillips Posted May 16, 2015 Author Posted May 16, 2015 What's the point of putting an SLBM on a sub that's as noisy as two skeletons wanking in a biscuit tin? If that isn't the quote of the year, I don't know what is!
Gavin-Phillips Posted May 16, 2015 Author Posted May 16, 2015 Good article about this SLBM launch. http://lewis.armscontrolwonk.com/archive/7631/dprk-slbm-test Thank you for posting that. I'd almost taken it as a given that the missile was launched by submarine (surfaced or not is another matter) but a submersible barge never entered my mind even though I've seen these being used on my own local river (for carrying cargo that is, not being used as a missile platform!). The same website also mentions a Sinpo-class submarine which, according to some sites, is possibly a re-worked "Golf-II" but this is still of much debate so perhaps not... Its already been mentioned that North Korea acquired some Golf-class submarines but they weren't in great condition anyway, I cannot imagine they'd be bought just for scrap value.
Archie Pellagio Posted May 16, 2015 Posted May 16, 2015 Reminds me of that German plan for a followup to Op Teardrop with a uboot towing three cylinders with V2's
rmgill Posted May 16, 2015 Posted May 16, 2015 What's the point of putting an SLBM on a sub that's as noisy as two skeletons wanking in a biscuit tin?It's North Korea. The first Hereditary Communist Kingdom. Dear leader wants it so he gets it.
Chris Werb Posted May 16, 2015 Posted May 16, 2015 What's the point of putting an SLBM on a sub that's as noisy as two skeletons wanking in a biscuit tin? If that isn't the quote of the year, I don't know what is! It's not original - I got it off the Citroen C1 forum.
Marcello Posted May 16, 2015 Posted May 16, 2015 Reminds me of that German plan for a followup to Op Teardrop with a uboot towing three cylinders with V2's I have always wondered if whoever came up with that scheme (and IIRC steel was cut so it was not just a paper exercise) had spent more than five minutes thinking about the dynamics of an underwater towing operation.
M48A5K Posted May 27, 2015 Posted May 27, 2015 (edited) https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&persist_app=1&v=g_cw5irT1Kg http://m.news.naver.com/read.nhn?mode=LSD&sid1=100&sid2=269&oid=001&aid=0007622123 NK released a propaganda which contains footage of SLBM test. However the part which shows the SLBM being launched from the sub is identical to Trident I video which is uploaded on youtube. Edited May 27, 2015 by M48A5K
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