DPRK submarine fleet. The Navy is the armed forces of North Korea. DPRK nuclear tests

An alarming emergency action bulletin being discussed today at the Department of Defense says President Putin has ordered the Northern Fleet to be on the highest level of alert. This order came immediately after a report was received of a North Korean submarine in the Pacific Ocean, just off the west coast of the United States. It is assumed that coded messages from Pyongyang radio intercepted by the Pentagon less than 24 hours ago were intended specifically for this submarine.

According to this bulletin, at 00:00 (midnight) (GMT+8:30) local time, Pyongyang Radio began broadcasting a massive series of mysterious random numbers addressed to certain “members of a distance learning university.” Comparing the message for the “distance learning university” with other data, the military immediately noticed that immediately after the end of the transmission, all observed North Korean submarines undertook standard combat evasive maneuvers.

Within 6 hours of this North Korean radio transmission, all American and Canadian anti-submarine warplanes in the area rapidly moved toward the California coast. The Pentagon flatly refused to tell its Russian counterparts what exactly happened.

Several low-flying aircraft have been spotted just off the coast of California, including a Navy EP-3E Aries II used for electronic surveillance, a P-3C Orion used for submarine detection, and a Boeing P-8 Poseidon used for anti-submarine warfare. submarines.

An hour after NATO anti-submarine aircraft were spotted off the California coast, China's People's Liberation Army began an emergency deployment of 150,000 troops to its shared border with North Korea. Two hours later, at least ten North Korean cargo ships received orders from China to immediately leave Chinese territorial waters and return to their port of residence.

This is an extremely important point, since China appears to be making good on its February 24th threat to stop all coal purchases from North Korea. They provide about one-third of North Korea's total export income.

Almost immediately after all these strange events, the North Korean Foreign Ministry published a military statement addressed to the Americans: “From now on, Americans alone bear full responsibility for the catastrophic consequences that US aggressive actions may entail.”

At present, war seems inevitable. The darkest thoughts arise around the new North Korean Sinpo-class submarines. Since at least 2014, these submarines have been capable of launching ballistic missiles.

Close-up of North Korea's new 67-meter Sinpo series submarine, July 24, 2014

The DPRK's military doctrine takes into account the country's technical backwardness, so North Korea's goal is not a tactical victory, but rather inflicting the maximum possible losses on its enemy, which it considers the South Koreans, Japanese and Americans.

The DPRK protects its political and military leaders with one of the deepest underground tunnel systems in the world. The total length of the tunnels is believed to be thousands of miles and they stretch across the entire peninsula. Within a few hours after the start of hostilities, the DPRK is able to transfer at least 30,000 of its soldiers to Seoul.

US Defense Secretary James Mattis, nicknamed "Mad Dog", said weeks ago that if North Korea used its nuclear weapons, it would face an "effective and overwhelming" military response from America and its allies. However, the West apparently does not take into account two things. Firstly, in all scenarios of major military events there will be millions of civilian casualties. Secondly, China will never allow US and allied forces to move north of the 38th parallel.

Finally, the West is losing sight of Syria, where several Russian soldiers were killed just a few hours ago. So far it is believed to be caused by Islamic State terrorist fire. But if it suddenly turns out that all this is somehow connected with the United States, the Americans will have more reasons to worry than North Korea has now.

I present to your attention an overview of the MODERN fleet of the DPRK.

It is unique in many ways. See for yourself what engineers from a poor country that does not have access, even general access, to any technical innovations can develop. Unfortunately, due to the absolute closedness of the country, there are virtually no photographs of this unique phenomenon, so you have to be content with rare pictures.
Let's start with the "large" surface ships.
North Korea has 9 ships, which they proudly call corvettes and frigates.
The newest and most technologically advanced frigate of the Soho class. 1 piece.

Built in 1983
Length 73.8m; width 15.5m; displacement 1845t
Weapons:
4 P-21/22 missiles (export version of "Termite") Don't be surprised that this is hello from the 50s, things will be even more interesting later.
1 x 100mm gun. Not sure if it's automatic.
2x30mm AK-230
2x37mm
2x25mm
4 RBU-1200 bombs
As we can see, the ship has a helipad, but the hangar is missing or removed below deck.
Speed ​​according to various sources is from 23 to 27 knots.
Frigate "Najin" 2 units.

In the 70s, when the ships turned into platforms studded with missile launchers, the DPRK received from the USSR drawings of the long-outdated Project 42 Falcon patrol ship. Having installed rocket launchers in addition to the provided artillery armament, we got a strange ship. A hybrid of a World War II destroyer and a missile boat.
Length 102m; width 10m; Displacement 1500t
Weapons:
2 P-21/22 missiles
2x100mm guns with manual reloading
2x57mm
2x30mm
2x25mm
Depth charges. (Rails at the stern)
Speed ​​24 knots
Then there are 6 ships, for some reason called artillery corvettes. The purpose of these ships is not even guessable, because the speed is not enough even to catch up with a poacher or smuggler, and the weapons will not allow them to fight with anyone else. Unless you shell the undefended shore.
Sarivon class artillery corvette 4 units.

Built in the 60s, small ships that look like aliens from the 20s and 30s.
Length 62m; Width 7.3m; Displacement about 500t
Weapons:
1x85mm
1x57mm
4x37mm (according to other sources 4x14.5mm)
Speed: 18 knots (according to other sources 16)
Tral class artillery corvette 2 units

Who do you think this is? That's right, this is a pre-war Soviet minesweeper of the Tral type. The old man is still working diligently for the glory of the Juche ideas, and apparently has no intention of retiring yet.
Length 62m, width 7.3m, displacement 500t
Weapons:
1x85mm
2x57mm
4x37mm
Speed ​​18 knots.
We're done with the big ships. Let's move on to the mosquito fleet.
The DPRK has a number of ancient missile boats, purchased a long time ago in the USSR and China, of which a dozen or two are on the move, but it is not interesting to consider them, these are the well-known large-scale projects 183R “Komar”, 205 “Moskit”, 206 “Storm” and others.
Much more interesting are their special-purpose boats. The most interesting thing is that they even export them. North Korean boats are in service with the navies of Iran and Syria.
So, welcome!
Type-A A boat disguised as a fishing boat for transporting scouts and saboteurs, developed in the 90s.

Length 11m; Width 3m
Speed ​​up to 50 knots.
Length 9.3m, Width 2.54m.
Type-B Semi-submersible high-speed landing craft.

Immerses to the add-on in stealth mode. It becomes almost invisible visually and barely noticeable on radar.
Length 9.3m; Width 2.54; displacement 5t
Crew 2 people + 3 paratroopers.
Speed ​​30-40 knots on the surface and up to 12 knots semi-submerged.
Type-C

An improved version of model B, for 4 paratroopers.
Type-D

The same one, but sold to Iran:

A full-fledged planing submarine.
Length 12.8m; width 2.95m, displacement 10.5t
Capable of diving up to 3 meters under a snorkel and up to 20m under electric motors (?)
On the surface the speed is up to 50 knots, while underwater up to 6.
Naturally, the autonomy of these boats is not high, so North Korean engineers found a solution - dock landing ships converted from fishing trawlers. Pay attention to the gate at the stern.

Of course, in the event of war, these carrier vessels will be useless, but otherwise, for example, for landing scouts or saboteurs on the territory of South Korea or Russia, such a trawler with a submarine boat is ideal.
North Korea also has a fleet of real submarines. But about them next time.

PS Designers in the DPRK are what they need, but God forbid any other country gets to the point of commissioning ships from the early 20th century, much less considers, as the North Koreans believe, that their fleet is one of the strongest in the world.

She sent (this became known today) 20 combat boats to the Yellow Sea, let's look at what she has...

1. Of course, the main strength of the DPRK army is the number of personnel. In percentage terms, North Korea's army is the largest in the world. With a population of 24.5 million people, the country's armed forces number 1.1 million (4.5% of the population). The DPRK army is recruited by conscription, the service life is 5-10 years.

2. In 2015, the leadership of the DPRK decided that the North Korean army should sharply increase in size. To achieve this, the country introduced compulsory military service for women who had previously served on a voluntary basis. From now on, all girls over 17 years of age are required to serve in the army. Women were nevertheless given some relief: the service life of Korean women will be “only” 3 years. As an incentive not to evade service, the country's leadership decided that only girls who have served in the army will now be accepted into universities.

3. As of 2008, the strength of the DPRK Navy was 46,000 people, in 2012 - 60,000. The conscription service life is 5-10 years. The majority of the Navy consists of Coast Guard forces. Due to the unbalanced composition of the fleet, it has limited capabilities to control sea spaces. The main task of the Navy is to support the combat operations of ground forces against the South Korean army. The Navy is capable of conducting missile and artillery attacks on coastal targets.

4. The DPRK fleet includes 3 guided missile frigates (2 Najin, 1 Soho), 2 destroyers, 18 small anti-submarine ships, 4 Soviet submarines of Project 613, 23 Chinese and domestic submarines of Project 033.

5. In addition, 29 small submarines of the Sang-O project, more than 20 midget submarines, 34 missile boats.

6. The DPRK is armed with fire support boats, 56 large and more than 100 small patrol boats, 10 Hante small landing ships (capable of carrying 3-4 light tanks), up to 120 landing boats (including about 100 Nampo) , created on the basis of the Soviet torpedo boat P-6) and about 130 hovercraft.

7. The DPRK Rocket Forces were created in the image of the Chinese Rocket Forces. In fact, the missile forces are not even a separate branch of the military, but an independent branch of the DPRK’s armed forces, which in the foreseeable future should become the basis of the country’s military power. The main missiles of the DPRK are designed on the basis of secular models: Hwasong-5 (analogue of the Soviet R-17), Hwasong-6 (modernized Hwasong-5 with an increased range), Nodong, Musudan (a number of sources are considered based on the design of the Soviet R-27 SLBM, in mainly due to external resemblance), Taepodong.

8. North Korea's main missile can be called the Nodon-B, which was developed on the basis of a Soviet prototype - the R-27 single-stage submarine-launched ballistic missile, adopted by the USSR Navy in 1968. The Nodon-B's firing range (estimated at 2750-4000 km) exceeds that of the R-27 (2500 km), which was achieved by increasing the length and diameter of the body - this made it possible to use more capacious fuel and oxidizer tanks on the rocket, although it worsened its flight characteristics.

9. “Nodon-B” can hit American military targets in Okinawa and even (if the range estimate of 4000 km is correct) in Guam, that is, on American territory itself. And after the DPRK successfully tested underwater missile launches (according to local media), the entire US territory is under attack.

10. In addition, North Korea has developed a ballistic missile, as well as a launch vehicle capable of launching artificial satellites into low-Earth orbit. The first Taepodong rockets were capable of delivering a payload weighing 750 kg over a distance of up to 2000 km. In 2006, 25-30 of them were created in the DPRK. The missiles were constantly being improved. As a result, the flight range was increased to 6,700 km. And today, US experts believe that the DPRK is developing the Taepodong-3 missile, which has a flight range of 10-12 thousand km. According to media reports, the DPRK army may already have 12-23 nuclear warheads.

11. According to South Korean media, the DPRK army has more than 21 thousand artillery pieces.

12. The main striking force of the DPRK artillery is, perhaps, the M1985 multiple launch rocket system, 240mm caliber. The system has 12 guides, and the firing range apparently reaches 35 km.

13. The M1911 multiple launch rocket system has similar characteristics. Caliber – 240 mm. Number of guides – 12. Firing range around 35 km. The DPRK has at least 500 M1985 and M1991.

14. Much more is known about the M-1978 Koksan self-propelled gun, since it is exported and was captured by American troops in Iraq.

15. Self-propelled gun M-1978 “Koksan” was created on the T-55 chassis. Caliber – 170 mm. Firing range – 40-60 km. Rate of fire 1-2 shots/5 minutes. Speed ​​on the highway is 40 km/h. Power reserve 300 km. The M1989 vehicle, on the same chassis, is used as an ammunition carrier.

16. Artillery in the DPRK is also represented by self-propelled guns of the Juche-Po series. Unites a whole family of vehicles with weapons from 122 to 152 mm. Unfortunately, there is almost no information on this machine, but it is known for certain that Kim Yer Sung directly took part in its development.

17. The DPRK army has at least 200 Pokphunho tanks. This is the most secret North Korean tank; there is almost no information on its performance characteristics on the Internet. Created on the basis of the T-72 Armament – ​​125 mm smoothbore gun.

18. Also in service are a number of towed Soviet guns from the 30s to the 60s.

19. The DPRK is armed with 200 Soviet BMP-1, 32 BTR80A, at least 1000 BTR-60 (hardly on the move), 350 completely antique BTR-40. But the main transport of the North Korean infantry is their own vehicles: VTT-323 - created on the basis of the Chinese YW531 transporter. It transports 10 infantrymen in full gear, they are also equipped with 82-mm mortars and are used as mobile mortar batteries, as part of a motorized battalion.

20. The DPRK Air Force is one of the most numerous in the world and is armed with about 1,600 aircraft. Official statistics on the DPRK Air Force are not available, so estimates of the number of aircraft in service are approximate. The main striking force of the DPRK Air Force is the Soviet MIG-29 and SU-25 fighters. According to experts, the DPRK army has 523 fighters and 80 bombers in service.

1

The article presents the history of the development and current state of the submarine forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Information was given to submarines purchased and delivered abroad.

Submarine

small submarine

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

1. The Military Balance in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia. Report of the CSIS Burke Chair in Strategy. June 2013 p. 216.

2. Mc William. V.Bollman Joint Vision 2010 and Anti-Submarine Warfare. The Mission Doctrinal Link. 19 may 1997 25 p.

3. Military and Security Developments Involving the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 2012 A Report to Congress Pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012.

4. The Fortnightly e-News Brief of the National Maritime Foundation. Volume 8, Number 11.2 30 November 2013. P.47

5. Weiss K.G. The Enemy Below – The Global Diffusion of Submarines and Related Technology. Preprint UCRL- JC-149877 This article was submitted to the Center for Global Security Research in Cooperation with the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA May 30,2002 – May 31,2002 September 5,2002 Approved p.21.

6. Romanov A.D., Chernyshov E.A., Romanova E.A. Modern small submarines // Modern high technology – 2014. – No. 3. – pp. 68-72.

7. Carlyle A. Thayer Vietnam People’s Army: Development and Modernization Research Monograph April 30, 2009 p. 42.

Submarines of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) belong to 3 classes: Diesel submarine (Patrol), Diesel submarine (Coastal), Midget submarine. Currently, North Korea has about 70 submarines of the following projects in service: 613, 633/033, Yugo (Yono and P-4), Sang-O. Also in 2005, an extended version of the Sang-O was discovered, which is called Sang-O II or K-300 in various sources. Small submarines make up the majority of the DPRK navy, with about 50 units produced in total. They are used for crew training, reconnaissance and sabotage operations. About 80% of North Korea's submarine fleet is located on the east coast at the Chaho and Mayanto bases. The latter is also a technical center for the maintenance of submarines, anti-submarine aircraft and patrol ships. The location of the DPRK Navy bases is shown in the work; in fact, the fleet is divided into two parts and inter-theater maneuver is limited.

The submarines of the DPRK are interesting because they are being created in a country in which Western countries have blocked access to modern technologies, but the DPRK not only produces submarines for its own Navy, but also exports them. DPRK submarines are not publicly displayed, except for the Sang-O captured by the Republic of Korea (South Korea) in 1997. Information on the design, tactics, features of crew training, etc. is limited and often contradictory. It is mainly known from the testimony of captured crew member Lee Kwang Soo (Yi Kwang-su).

Rice. 1. Coaxial propeller and stern tail of the DPRK submarine. Photo from the site http://forums.airbase.ru

Rice. 2. Submarine in the Gangneung Unification Park Museum (South Korea) Bow rudders are visible
according to type pr. 205

Rice. 3. From top to bottom: submarine pr. R-4, Yono and Sang-O

The first submarines in the DPRK appeared in 1955-1956, 4 submarines of Project 613 were delivered from the USSR. Subsequently, design documentation for the construction of submarine Project 633 was transferred, about 20 units were built, some are still in operation today. The DPRK's own submarine developments come from the mini-submarines Project Uno developed by the Yugoslav company Brodogradilište specijalnih objekata (BSO Split). Therefore, in Western publications they are all designated “Yogo class,” although this is a collective designation, since the DPRK submarines, built on the basis of the Uno and having a displacement of up to 190 tons, have large differences in design.

Yugoslav submarines were designed to operate in the Adriatic Sea. These included the Heroj-class submarines, which entered service in the 1960s, at least six Una-class submarines (the model that was sold to North Korea), and the more modern Sava-class boats, launched in the 70s. Sava had a displacement of over 950 tons, a length of 65 meters and carried six 533 mm torpedo tubes.

However, the bow rudders and stern empennage of the DPRK submarine are closer to those used on the German submarines pr. 205/206. The Yugoslav Uno project used an X-shaped tail and “classic” nose rudders. And in general, Yono and R-4 are closer to the submarine pr. 202 than to Uno. To reduce noise, the DPRK submarine propeller has a characteristic feature: an unusual co-axle twin propeller, consisting of a large and much smaller propeller on the same axis (Fig. 1).

One of the features of DPRK submarines is that within one type of submarine they were and are manufactured in different versions, for example:

1) with two internal torpedo tubes, caliber 533 mm;

2) without torpedo tubes, but equipped with an airlock chamber for disembarking divers;

3) with external torpedo tubes or a mine-release complex.

A number of sources mention that the third option can be used to increase the striking force on submarines of the first two types. However, for this they must have a system of transit connections “carrier - weapon” in the form of diagnostic systems, data entry, remote control, etc. and requires appropriate energy supply from the ship (aircraft, hydraulics, power supply). Which takes up space inside the ship, and accordingly reduces the free space for accommodating divers.

Table 1

Characteristics of the DPRK submarine

		Displacement, surface/underwater, i.e.	Power plant *
Una (Yugoslavia)			ED Speed ​​up to 6 knots. ICE on Velebit submarine	Mines, tugs, swimmers
Etc. 202 (Germany)			2x330 Mercedes-Benz diesels surface 6 knots, range 450 miles, submerged 12 knots, range 150 miles at 4 knots.	2x533 mm torpedo tubes
			ICE + ED surface speed 10 knots, underwater bond
MS-29 Yono (Yeoneo)			ICE + ED surface speed 10 knots, range 550 miles, underwater 8 knots, range 50 miles.	2x533 mm torpedo tubes, mines or swimmers or external torpedo tubes, mines
			ICE + ED, surface speed 7.2 knots, underwater speed 8.8 knots. Range 1500 miles	4x533 mm torpedo tubes, mines, swimmers.

* ICE - internal combustion engine, ED - electric motor

The P-4 type SSM is the smallest submarine of the Yogo class, an older model currently probably used for training purposes only. In 1997, Vietnam purchased two P-4s from North Korea, and the agreement included the supply of torpedoes, batteries and mines. Subsequently, the submarines were refitted in cooperation with India, including training of submariners. Then in 2008, Vietnam tried to purchase used submarines from Serbia. This opportunity arose when Serbia and Montenegro separated in 2006 and Serbia lost access to the coastline. Currently, Vietnam has concluded an agreement with Russia for the supply of 6 submarines of Project 636.1 and the construction of related infrastructure and a coastal base.

MS-29 Yono class SSM (sometimes transliterated as Yeono), a larger displacement Yogo class submarine. It uses serial commercial German diesel engines, not specifically designed for underwater use. Japanese civilian radar and other commercial electronics are also installed. Since late 2010, at least ten of these submarines have been in service with the North Korean Navy. Presumably the submarines were built by the Yukdaeso-ri shipyard and are part of the Western Fleet. Several submarines of this project were delivered to Iran and served as a prototype for the creation of the Ghadir submarine.

Rice. 4. Photo of Cuban submarine

Rice. 5. Above Sang-O,
below K 300 SSC/ Sang-O II

These submarines are relatively small, which allows them to operate successfully against South Korea, but for more distant actions, for example against Japan, they require transportation and launch from a carrier ship. For example, they are delivered over long distances by tow behind a converted trawler (mothership). According to some reports, 2 submarines of the Yono Ave. were sold to Myanmar.

Presumably, the Cuban submarine Delfin was built based on the revised Yono project. This submarine can be built entirely in Cuba.

In the early 1980s, North Korea developed a much larger coastal submarine known as the PR. 41 m".

Etc. By 300 SSC, the further development of the submarine pr. Sang-O in some sources is called Sang-O II. Discovered in October 2005 by the Digital Globe satellite in the dry dock of Chunghung-msn Navy Base in Mayang-do next to 2 submarines of Sang-O Ave. The length is about 39 m. Perhaps this is a further development of the 41 m project.

Conclusion

As demonstrated by the Yellow Sea incident in March 2010, when a torpedo fired by a North Korean submarine sank a South Korean Pohang-class corvette equipped with anti-submarine weapons, the potential of small submarines has not been exhausted. Small, quickly built and economical to operate submarines make it possible for even a small navy to destroy an anti-submarine ship and invade national waters.

This incident was the first documented use of torpedo weapons in a submarine combat situation in the 21st century.

Bibliographic link

Romanov A.D., Chernyshov E.A., Romanova E.A. SUBMARINES OF THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC // Modern high technology. – 2014. – No. 6. – P. 25-28;
URL: http://top-technologies.ru/ru/article/view?id=34643 (access date: 12/17/2019). We bring to your attention magazines published by the publishing house "Academy of Natural Sciences"

The North Korean authorities have seriously begun modernizing their submarine fleet, designing submarines capable of carrying ballistic missiles. Against the backdrop of successes in testing nuclear weapons and space technology, Pyongyang can create a full-fledged triad of nuclear forces. This is stated in the analytical review of the military publication Jane's Defense .

The DPRK launched its first ballistic missile in its history on November 28, 2015 from an experimental Sinpo-class submarine. Apparently the test was unsuccessful,

as South Korean authorities later found debris on the surface of the sea.

Less than a month later, North Korea conducted a repeat test. According to experts, it was produced not from a submarine, but from a barge test bench submerged in water. North Korean television released footage of the missile test in early January, showing the country's leader Kim Jong-un, smiling, watching the missile take off from under the water and go beyond the clouds.

The DPRK began designing, assembling and operating various types of submarines - patrol, coastal and miniature - in the mid-1960s.

According to experts, the DPRK's submarine fleet is currently one of the largest in the world: about 70 submarines.

For example, Britain and India each have 15 submarines, and the United States, according to open sources, has 72.

Information about the development of the submarine fleet in the DPRK remained under seal for a long time, and the emerging data often turned out to be contradictory and unreliable. However, some incidents with North Korean submarines since the mid-1990s have shed light on the level of technology and types of ships used.

Shinpo class submarine

One such case was the accident and subsequent capture by the southerners of a North Korean submarine on September 18, 1996 near the city of Gangneung on the coast of the Sea of ​​Japan. The 34 m long San-O class diesel submarine is designed to support special operations and reconnaissance, and has two versions: a standard version equipped with torpedoes, and its reconnaissance version, in which the torpedo compartment is replaced by a chamber for divers to escape. On September 15, the boat landed three scouts on the South Korean coast to collect data on the military installations of the southerners. While trying to pick up the spies three days later, the boat ran aground, after which the crew decided to destroy all valuable equipment and flee towards the DPRK.

However, the sailors were noticed; during the operation to seize the boat, one was captured, the rest were killed in a shootout or shot by fellow soldiers for the failure of the operation.

Today, this boat, lost by the DPRK due to the backwardness of the technical base and lack of competent coordination of actions, is installed in a park in the city of Gangneung.

According to intelligence data, since the 2000s, the DPRK Navy began to carry out a number of programs to modernize its submarine fleet. With the coming to power, the country's submarines began to be often used in propaganda videos on local TV.

In July 2014, an experimental ballistic missile submarine was launched at the Sinpo shipyard of the DPRK. Its length is almost 67 m, its width is 6.7 m, its displacement is 900-1500 tons, its wheelhouse is located in the middle.

The central part of the cabin is a 4.25 by 2.25 m rectangular section that hides one or two ballistic missile chambers.

Outwardly, it resembles the Russian Project 677 submarines, although it does not have horizontal rudders on the wheelhouse, like the Russian ship. In addition, experts saw similarities between the boat and a series of Yugoslav diesel-electric submarines of the Sava and Hero type, which were in service from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Submersible test stand

The influence of Yugoslav engineering on the achievements of North Korean designers does not surprise experts due to the close military contacts between the two countries until the early 1990s.

“The decision to create a third base for a nuclear triad at sea is based on the fact that, given their size and invulnerability in the ocean, such submarines would be difficult to find and destroy in the event of a nuclear attack,” said experts Joseph Bermudez and Carl Dewey. “A key component of the theory of nuclear deterrence is the possibility of a guaranteed nuclear response, regardless of the size of the territory already affected.”