Named after the New Jersey university's athletic teams and officially designated RU-27 in a long line of related devices, this one was always known simply as "Scarlet." Like Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, or perhaps Columbus's Pinta and Niña, it seemed more a living thing than a mechanical conveyance. But unlike them, Scarlet crossed the Atlantic without a single passenger.Great, just fucking great. Some assholes built a torpedo capable of transiting an ocean. Nothing like making an underwater cruise missile with a range of a few thousand miles. With GPS, the thing could cross an ocean, go into a harbor mouth and then - blammo!
The only two warheads that would be workable would be a bottom-dwelling mine to sink a large ship or a nuke. So don't be surprised if the old technology of antisubmarine nets makes a comeback.
Dear Miss Fit:
ReplyDeleteUmmm...I don't think GPS will work. Radio waves and water and all that. Back when we were needing to be sure the Polaris boats know where they were, it was all about inertial nav (triple redundant) periodically updated by ye olde Type XI Optical Star Tracker (i.e., periscope)(until SatNav got better).
Regards,
Frank
Frank, if the gizmo comes up to the surface from time to time, then it could update itself by GPS.
ReplyDeleteDear Miss Fit:
ReplyDeleteI am somewhat embarrassed to admit that I placed my previous comment before I RTFA. Mea culpa. However, I am moved to suggest that if it has to surface it becomes vulnerable. Our boomer guys HATED sticking that mast up.
Of course, first you have to be looking for it. 'Tis a bit worrisome.
Regards,
Frank