Virtual War in the Ice Jungle: ‘We don't know how to do this'

Author: Weir, Gary

Source: Journal of Strategic Studies, Volume 28, Number 2, April 2005 , pp. 411-427(17)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

The Cold War at sea expanded in many realms, including the frigid and treacherous waters of the Arctic Ocean. The US Navy pioneered these efforts with the visit of USS Nautilus to the North Pole in 1958. During the latter stages of the Cold War, however, Soviet naval strategists began to conceptualize the polar ice cap as a strategic asset for cloaking the operations of its nuclear missile submarines. As under-ice operations afforded the Soviet submarine fleet advantages of stealth, proximity to target and tighter lines of communications, both navies were forced to try to develop tactics for combat under these extremely complex and arduous conditions.

Keywords: ASW; Submarine Warfare; Artic; Climate change; undersea warfare; submarine tactics

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01402390500088635

Affiliations: 1: Contemporary History Branch U.S. Naval History Center

Publication date: 2005-04-01