Battle Lines I hunted Russian submarines: this is how to beat Putin's navy
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Oct 17, 2025 Tom Sharpe, a former Royal Navy commander with expertise in hunting submarines, shares his insights on the Russian submarine Novorossiysk and NATO's response. He explains the routine of diesel-electric subs surfacing for recharging, dispelling myths about their distress. Tom discusses the reliability of Russian reports and the overall state of their navy, emphasizing the growing threat posed by modern Russian submarines. He also touches on the implications of drone warfare and the need for naval adaptation in this evolving landscape.
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Surfacing Is Normal For Diesel Subs
- Diesel-electric subs routinely surface to recharge batteries, so a surfaced Novorossiysk isn't necessarily crippled.
- A nearby tug or being escorted does not automatically indicate the submarine was under tow or disabled.
Conflation Drove The 'Broken Sub' Story
- Media and officials conflated escorting, a tug nearby, and surfacing into a narrative of a broken boat.
- Tom Sharpe warns that without photos of a tow, claims of a disabled submarine are speculative.
Prioritise Anti-Submarine Resources
- Prioritise limited ASW resources when multiple threats appear simultaneously.
- Recognise resource flow problems because NATO lacks enough ships, aircraft, and sensors for large-scale simultaneous tasks.
