The U.S. Navy is having more submarine
problems, this time with the 65 foot long ASDS (Advanced Seal Delivery
Systems) submarine being built for SOCOM (Special Operations Command).
After nine years of development, the first production boat has been
training and undergoing tests in Hawaii for the last two years. It was
expected to officially enter service this right about now, after
spending some time in the Persian Gulf for testing and training. But
more problems were discovered. So far, over half a billion dollars has
been spent on the program, and Congress is getting antsy about all that
money being devoted to one little boat.

The
ASDS are 65 foot long, 60 ton mini-submarines. Battery powered and with
a crew of two, the ASDS can carry up to 14 passengers (fewer if a lot
of equipment is being brought along, the usual number of passengers is
expected to be eight.) With a max range of 200 kilometers, top speed of
14 kilometers an hour and max diving depth of 200 feet, the ASDS
operates from a nuclear submarine equipped to carry it on its deck. The
ASDS is equipped with passive and active SONAR, radar and an electronic
periscope (that uses a video camera, not the traditional optics.)

While
a nice piece of engineering, each additional ASDS will cost over $300
million. The original cost per boat was supposed to be $80 million.
Fortunately for the navy, SOCOM (Special Operations Command) is paying
for the ASDS boats. That means that army rangers and marine recon
troops will also train to use ASDS. Delta Force will probably get to
try them out as well. Little is said publicly about how often, and
where, ASDS will be used. The types of missions ASDS was designed for
are often kept secret for a long time. 

Reliability
problems with a new system are nothing new, but the extent of the money
and time overruns on this project, plus the problems the navy is having
with the manufacturers of its standard size submarines, are adding fuel
to growing anger in the navy over the poor performance of American
warship builders.