Key Points and Summary – In a now-legendary 2005 war game, a small, ultra-quiet Swedish diesel-electric submarine, the HSwMS Gotland, repeatedly “sank” the $6 billion American supercarrier USS Ronald Reagan.
-Leveraging its revolutionary Stirling Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system, the Gotland was able to evade the carrier strike group’s extensive anti-submarine defenses and score multiple simulated torpedo hits.
(June 18, 2021) As seen from the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67), the Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) transits the Strait of Malacca with the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97). The ships are part of Task Force 70/Carrier Strike Group 5, conducting underway operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Rawad Madanat)
-The embarrassing defeat was a major wake-up call for the U.S. Navy, which then leased the submarine for two years to study its stealth capabilities and develop countermeasures, especially as China now operates submarines with similar AIP technology.
The Day a Tiny Swedish Submarine ‘Sank’ a US Supercarrier
Are aircraft carriers obsolete?
This question has many online pundits spitting digital ink about the future demise of the aircraft carrier.
We know that a carrier air wing is lethal, and these nuclear-powered floating air bases can project power anywhere, anytime.
But there are problems.
New carrier-killing anti-ship missiles can do a number on a flattop.
Plus, a group of kamikaze loitering munitions could cause the demise of a carrier. But sometimes we forget submarines can break the “impenetrable” screen of a modern strike group that has advanced undersea warfare capabilities.
How the Supercarrier USS Ronald Reagan Went “Down” In Defeat
This is the story of a Swedish submarine – a member of the Gotland-class of tiny, maneuverable, and quick boats.
This little guy “sank” a giant American super carrier in battle drills. The David versus Goliath naval exercise happened in 2005.
The USS Ronald Reagan was seen as the dominant and untouchable foe during the encounter with the HMSM Gotland…and it lost.
The Gotland Was an Underdog
The Ronald Reagan is a $6 billion Nimitz-class carrier that can bring the combat noise to bear against foes large and small. It appeared at first that the Gotland would never have a chance.
The Reagan had a strike group filled with destroyers and frigates to conduct anti-submarine warfare. The carrier had many aircraft dedicated to this mission, too.
The Gotland needed to sneak past this gauntlet and maneuver around all of the ships to have a shot at the Ronald Reagan.
The Gotland had a skillful crew that was not going to be intimidated.
More Details About the Gotland-class Submarine
Gotland-class boats are about 200 feet long. They are capable of reaching a top speed of 20 knots.
There are four 533mm and two 400mm torpedo tubes that can also deploy sea mines.
Only 32 officers and enlisted personnel are aboard the small subs.
(September 24, 2021). The navy’s only forward deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) transits the South China Sea. Reagan is attached to Commander, Task Force 70/Carrier Strike Group 5 conducting underway operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Rawad Madanat)
The Gotland is not a new boat, having entered Swedish service in 1996.
The Gotland-class has two other submarines that were introduced in 1997 – the Uppland and Halland. Gotland-class boats can also deploy special operations units on shore.
The subs can also conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
Gotland-Class: Are They Really Quiet as They Say?
The Gotland had another trick up its sleeve. It comes standard with a Stirling Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system that is quiet.
And these subs are cheap, being built at the time for around $100 million per boat.
The AIP is powered by liquid oxygen or conventional diesel fuel. The amount of fuel determines their ability to remain submerged.
Then seawater cools the AIP down as the heat is diminished from the liquid oxygen and diesel fuel.
The AIP also enables the Gotland to remain submerged for long periods as it doesn’t need the older diesel engines to charge batteries.
Less advanced diesel-electrics put out more noise and vibrations. All Swedish subs in the water today use the AIP system. To add to their stealth capabilities, Gotland-class boats have hydrodynamic hulls. This made the Gotland stealthy enough to sneak close to the Ronald Reagan.
‘Virtual’ Torpedoes Surprise the American Supercarrier
The American carrier was no slouch. Steaming at around 30 knots and flying its submarine hunter-killer aircraft, the Reagan would not be an easy target.
Still, the Gotland snuck close to the carrier despite all of the adversarial ships, sonar systems, and helicopters searching for it.
An HH-60H Seahawk, from the “Eightballers” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 8, flies past Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) during flight operations. Stennis is on a scheduled deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability.
The Swedish sub fired “virtual torpedoes” successfully at the Ronald Reagan and was declared the winner in the contest.
In fact, the Gotland was so good during the Reagan “sinking” that the U.S. Navy leased the boat from 2005 until 2007 to study why it had so much success.
The Swedish crew, based in San Diego, assisted the Americans with their anti-submarine tactics.
China Is Studying This
This was a significant development, as the Chinese now have their own Stirling AIP-propelled submarines.
The Yuan-class Type 039 A/B/C boats are just as quiet with their anechoic stealth coatings and China’s navy is aware that the Gotland experienced a notional victory against the Ronald Reagan.
We don’t know how well-trained the Chinese sailors are aboard the Yuan-class, but the AIP systems are certainly quiet and would give the Americans a run for their money.
The name of the game then, is how well a carrier strike group can defend itself from diesel-electric submarines equipped with Stirling AIPs. This boils down to the skill and experience of U.S. Navy sailors. Anti-submarine warfare is challenging and painstaking work. It requires multiple hours of concentration during missions and a wealth of experience learned over several years. This is a difficult job in the Navy, and if carriers are to survive, a loss like the Reagan’s is unacceptable – even in training operations.
So, it may be a good thing that one of America’s best aircraft carriers failed a test 20 years ago. The Navy knows how high the stakes are and, with the leasing of the Gotland, had ample time to pick apart the AIP and determine why the Gotland was so stealthy.
This means the Chinese will have to dig deep into their playbook to replicate the feat of the Swedish boat. The carrier strike group must protect itself against the stealthy Yuan-class and make sure a “virtual” sinking doesn’t become real someday.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
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