The Day a U.S. Submarine ‘Sank’ a British Aircraft Carrier
Key Points and Summary: In a 2013 joint naval exercise, the U.S. nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Dallas successfully “sank” the British aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious.
-During the simulated combat, the Los Angeles-class submarine masterfully evaded a multi-layered anti-submarine warfare screen consisting of NATO warships and aircraft.
-Using the ocean’s thermal layers to mask its presence, the Dallas slipped through the defenses undetected and reached a simulated firing position.
-The exercise was a sobering demonstration of the supremacy of stealth in undersea warfare and the profound vulnerability of even well-protected aircraft carriers to modern, quiet submarines.
A Sobering Lesson: How the USS Dallas Humiliated a Royal Navy Carrier Group
In 2013, the U.S. and British navies took part in a joint naval exercise with other NATO members in the Arabian Sea. During the exercise, the joint navies simulated what would happen if a nuclear attack submarine tried to infiltrate a British carrier strike group.
The American submarine USS Dallas (SSN-700) was selected for this exercise and successfully evaded the entire strike group, simulating a successful strike against the Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier, HMS Illustrious. Although it was part of a simulated exercise
One Submarine vs an Entire Carrier Strike Group
The exercise was designed to test the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities of NATO forces. These drills are routine but essential, especially in an era where undersea threats are becoming more sophisticated. The HMS Illustrious, a veteran of the Royal Navy and the last of the Invincible-class carriers, was nearing the end of her service life. She remained a formidable presence, operating helicopters and serving as a command platform. Her role in the exercise was to act as a high-value target, protected by a screen of escort ships and aircraft.
The USS Dallas, a Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, was one of the most capable submarines in the U.S. fleet at the time. Designed for stealth, speed, and lethality, she was equipped with advanced sonar systems and a suite of weapons that made her a deadly adversary. In the context of the exercise, her mission was to simulate an attack on the British carrier group, testing both her own crew’s skills and the defensive capabilities of the surface fleet.
An American Sub “Sinks” A British Carrier
As the exercise began, the Dallas submerged and began her approach. The British-led task force deployed a range of ASW assets, including sonar-equipped helicopters, surface ships with towed array sonar, and maritime patrol aircraft. The goal was to detect and neutralize the submarine before it could reach the carrier. The sea was alive with activity, as ships maneuvered and aircraft scoured the waves for any sign of the lurking threat below.
Port bow view showing US Navy (USN) Sailors manning a topside watch aboard the Los Angeles Class Attack Submarine USS NEWPORT NEWS (SSN 750), as the ship departs the harbor at Souda Bay, Crete, Greece following a port visit.
But Dallas was silent. Her crew used the ocean’s natural thermal layers to mask their presence, slipping beneath the surface undetected. They listened passively, tracking the movements of the surface fleet without revealing their own position. The submarine’s stealth capabilities, combined with the skill of her crew, allowed her to evade the extensive search efforts.
After hours of careful maneuvering, the Dallas reached a position within simulated torpedo range of HMS Illustrious. In a real-world scenario, this would have meant launching heavyweight torpedoes capable of crippling or sinking the carrier.
Instead, the submarine transmitted a simulated firing signal to the exercise controllers. The result was clear: HMS Illustrious had been “sunk.”
Evaluating the Aftermath
The declaration of the simulated kill was a sobering moment for the participants. While no actual damage had occurred, the implications were serious. A single submarine had managed to penetrate a multi-layered defense and eliminate a capital ship. The exercise revealed vulnerabilities in the task force’s ASW posture and also highlighted the threat posed by modern submarines.
How One Submarine Escaped an Entire Carrier Strike Group
In the aftermath of the exercise, naval analysts and commanders carefully reviewed the results (although the official findings were never publicly released). One of the key takeaways was the enduring supremacy of stealth in naval warfare. Despite the presence of advanced sensors and coordinated search efforts, the Dallas had remained undetected until it was too late. This highlighted the insufficiency of contemporary ASW tactics as all the sensors should have on paper, been able to detect Dallas.
Another lesson was the vulnerability of aircraft carriers to submarines, even when surrounded by escorts. Carriers are one of the most important pieces of naval power projection, but they are also large, relatively slow-moving targets. Their survival depends on the effectiveness of their protective screen. The simulated sinking of HMS Illustrious served as a reminder that even the most well-defended ships are not invulnerable.
Lessons Learned
For the Royal Navy, the exercise was something of a humbling experience. HMS Illustrious was not equipped with the most modern defensive systems, and her age may have contributed to the outcome. However, the lessons learned were valuable, especially as the Royal Navy prepared to bring the new Queen Elizabeth-class carriers into service. These new ships would feature more advanced systems and benefit from the insights gained during exercises like this one.
Los Angeles-Class. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
For the U.S. Navy, the success of the Dallas was a testament to the skill of its submarine crews and the effectiveness of its undersea warfare doctrine. It demonstrated that even in a highly contested environment, a well-handled submarine could achieve mission success.
The event reinforced the strategic value of attack submarines and their role in power projection and sea control. However, it was also a reminder that the U.S.’ own carriers could be vulnerable as well, which was later confirmed when a French submarine later managed to “sink” an American carrier in a later exercise.
About the Author: Isaac Seitz
Isaac Seitz, a Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
More Military
5 Ways Aircraft Carriers Could Be Destroyed in a War
Dassault Rafale Fighter: Stealth Made it Obsolete?
Jack Ryan
September 5, 2025 at 10:35 pm
Was this after the Dallas successfully facilitated the defection of the Red October? Pretty sure that was the Dallas too.