Summary and Key Points You Need to Know: In a 2013 NATO anti-submarine exercise in the Arabian Sea, the U.S. Navy's USS Dallas, a Los Angeles-class submarine, successfully "sank" the British aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious by breaching its defenses undetected.

-Despite the carrier deploying sonar buoys, helicopters, and onboard systems, Dallas’ stealth capabilities allowed it to simulate a successful attack.

-This exercise highlighted the strategic advantages submarines, like the Los Angeles-class, bring to modern naval warfare.

-Designed for versatility, these fast-attack submarines excel in surface warfare, undersea combat, and reconnaissance, remaining a vital asset to the U.S. Navy even today.

2013 NATO Drill: How a U.S. Sub Breached British Carrier Defenses

A 2013 NATO anti-submarine exercise in the Arabian Sea resulted in the “sinking” of a British aircraft carrier. 

During the exercise, the U.S. Navy’s USS Dallas evaded detection and simulated an attack on the British Navy’s HMS Illustrious. Dallas used its stealth features to breach the aircraft carrier’s defenses. 

Aircraft carriers may be large and frightful vessels, but Dallas’ win highlighted the strategic advantage submarines can contribute to a war effort.

Introducing the U.S. Navy’s Los Angeles-Class Submarines

The Cold War arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union resulted in major submarine innovations. The Soviets made significant strides in submarine technology, and the U.S. prioritized staying ahead of Moscow’s pace in this key naval category.

The Soviets had created fast-attack submarines capable of sailing alongside carrier groups. In response, American engineers conceptualized Los Angeles-class vessels. The class incorporated many qualities featured on the earlier Sturgeon-class submarines. However, Los Angeles-class vessels were nearly 50 percent larger than their predecessors. They were also faster and stealthier. 

These ships were designed to carry out surface warfare, undersea warfare, reconnaissance, mining operations, special forces delivery, intelligence, and carrier battle group support. 

So important are they to the service that these submarines have earned the nickname “First and Finest.” Even today, the Los Angeles class still has some of the most sophisticated stealth technology of any submarine. Each vessel in the class can carry roughly twenty-five tube-launched torpedos while also equipping Mark 67 and Mark 60 CAPTOR mines. The submarines carry an array of advanced sensors and sonars, including the AN/BQQ-5.

The USS Dallas

When the USS Dallas was commissioned, it became the Navy’s thirteenth Los Angeles-class attack submarine. Like her sister ships, Dallas could reach speeds of more than twenty-eight miles per hour, powered by the General Electric S6G pressurized water reactor.

While the submarine was retired in 2018, Dallas’ simulated success five years prior against a British aircraft carrier is still remembered. According to reports, HMS Illustrious turned to its onboard systems, sonar buoys, and helicopters to locate the American submarine during the drills. But the Dallas was able to penetrate through all of these defenses stealthily. Dallas positioned itself within shooting range of the British ship—it would have been able to attack the carrier successfully if the exercise had been real.

As detailed by the UK’s Ministry of Defense, the 2013 war exercise was conducted in three phases. First, the HMS Illustrious, RFA Fort Victoria, RFA Fort Austin, USS Bulkeley, and USS Dallas tested acoustic and non-acoustic sensor performance. Next, the ships were tasked with escorting the carrier through a passage while avoiding detection. Torpedo attacks were simulated at the same time. 

Analyst Peter Suciu detailed the last portion of the exercise in a previous article: “In the final phase, the U.S. Navy’s Los Angeles-class submarine attempted to locate and destroy RFA Fort Austin as the MEU, in a holding box that simulated an anchorage, while the Royal Navy and U.S. Navy surface vessels provided protection. Additional helicopter support to the ships was ably provided by the Anti-Submarine sonar dipping Merlins embarked in HMS Illustrious along with a Seahawk ASW helicopter from USS Bulkeley providing additional surface search and weapon carrying capability.”

Neither the U.S. Navy nor the Royal Navy has officially published the results of this 2013 exercise.  

About the Author: Maya Carlin

Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. 

Images: Creative Commons.