Image source: topwar.ru
Swedish Defense Minister Paul Johnson pointed out that his country has been using the submarine fleet since 1904.
- the minister noted.
In the salty Atlantic, at depth, the sensors used to detect enemy submarines do not work well. The temperature difference creates layers in the sea column that hide submarines from active sonars. The situation is different in the Baltic Sea, which is shallow and has a low salt content, which makes it a suitable site for small submarines.
- said Commander Peter Ostbring, Chief of Staff of the 1st flotilla of submarines of the Swedish Navy, whose words are quoted in the publication USNI News.
The Swedish submarine fleet consists of four submarines: three 1600-ton Gotland class attack submarines built in the 1990s, and one older 1,500-ton submarine of the Södermanland project. All of them are equipped with a VNEU, which allows the boats to work underwater for a long time.
Image source: topwar.ru
Project A-26
The shallow Baltic has an average depth of about 70 meters, which requires a special approach to the actions of submarines. Ostbring revealed information about this, explaining that the Swedish Navy intends to achieve superiority over the enemy by switching to a new combat strategy:
To wage a "war on the seabed", the Swedish Navy is building submarines of the new A-26 Blekinge class, which will be able to work for weeks at shallow depths of the Baltic and will be equipped with a large lock in the bow to accommodate divers or unmanned underwater vehicles.