Summary and key points: The US Navy’s Seawolf-class submarines are among the most modern underwater vehicles. Designed to counter Soviet threats, they are equipped with powerful Mark 48 torpedoes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and Tomahawk cruise missiles. However, due to their high cost, only three of them were built, as the Navy preferred aircraft carriers instead.

-Critics say this was a short-sighted decision, especially given China and Russia’s growing anti-access/area denial capabilities, which could undermine the effectiveness of network operators.

– Since the United States currently has only two operational Seawolf submarines at its disposal, it could be at a strategic disadvantage in future conflicts.

Seawolf-class submarines: America’s missed naval revolution?

The US Navy’s Seawolf-class submarines are widely regarded as the best “silent and deep” ships ever built. These underwater demons cost $3.5 billion per submarine and are giving Russian and Chinese war planners sleepless nights.

Seawolf-class submarines are typically equipped with powerful, heavy 533mm Mark 48 torpedoes. They are also armed with Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and the platform can fire Tomahawk cruise missiles at targets on land. Seawolf-class submarines can travel at an astonishing 35 knots underwater, or 20 knots when equipped for quiet operation.

Developed in 1983 as a response to Soviet attack submarines such as the ubiquitous Akula class, the Seawolf class was intended to replace the aging Los Angeles class of attack submarines. Washington planned to build and deploy about 30 of these technological marvels over the course of a decade.

However, after 41 years of existence, only three Seawolf-class submarines are in service.

The reason for the small number of these deadly submarines is their high unit cost. In the 1990s, the Seawolf class accounted for about 25 percent of the U.S. Navy’s entire construction budget. Of course, given the nightmarish fuel the Seawolf class provides to America’s two biggest geostrategic challengers – Russia and China – it’s hard to imagine Congress or the Pentagon believing the money could have been better spent.

Unfortunately, they thought so.

The Navy’s extravagance is unbelievable

Rather than investing in the dynamic Seawolf class, the U.S. government instead opted for the Navy’s generously funded aircraft carrier program. At an initial cost of $13 billion per ship and an additional $700 million per year, the American Navy chose to build the Ford-class aircraft carrier. For the same cost of $3.5 billion per unit, the Navy could have built four more Seawolf-class submarines.

Given the development and improvement of anti-access/area-denial capabilities of America’s main strategic rivals, any investment in new aircraft carriers is essentially a waste. If China or Russia can pose a serious threat to the security of American aircraft carriers, Washington will keep these facilities far from any war zone, leaving a huge gap in its power projection capabilities.

Had the Navy been smarter and simply invested those funds in the far more useful Seawolf class, it could have afforded to lose some of those assets in combat. As it stands now, with only three units in the fleet and no more planned, the Seawolf class could be virtually wiped out in combat against a rival major power.

Only two operational Seawolf submarines

The USS Connecticut is one of three Seawolf-class submarines in the fleet. In 2021, the submarine patrolled the South China Sea and operated in close proximity to China’s sophisticated submarine base on Hainan Island. During its mission in international waters, the submarine struck an underwater mountain and suffered near-catastrophic damage. It slowly returned to port and is now undergoing an overhaul. The Connecticut is not expected to return to service for another year.

This means that the US fleet currently has only two Seawolf-class submarines.

One of the Seawolf-class submarines, the USS Jimmy Carter, was selected for special operations. She was lengthened to 100 feet in 2005. The capabilities of the Jimmy Carter are remarkable even for a submarine of this class. Should China successfully invade Taiwan, the Jimmy Carter could be secretly used to drop special forces and weapons behind enemy lines in occupied Taiwan, where they would support the inevitable Taiwanese insurgency against the Chinese invaders.

Seawolf-class submarine: wasted assets

But that’s just one submarine. Imagine if the Pentagon had followed through on its plan for at least 30 Seawolf systems. The Seawolf-class submarine is likely far more relevant to a potential war with China or Russia than the entire U.S. aircraft carrier fleet. Building that class of submarine is probably impossible right now – America’s dwindling defense industry can’t keep up with demand. (The poor state of America’s shipyards is one reason the Connecticut is taking so long to repair.)

The Navy missed the Seawolf-class submarine revolution, and now it will pay the ultimate price for its shortsightedness in choosing the interests of large defense contractors and their preference for carrier ships over the national interest in shifting the Navy’s focus to submarines.

Author’s experience and expertise: Brandon J. Weichert

Brandon J. Weichert, a national security analyst for the National Interest, is a former congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor to The Washington Times, The Asia Times, and The Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, will be published by Encounter Books on October 22. Weichert can be followed on Twitter. @WeTheBrandon.

All images are Creative Commons or Shutterstock.

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