Let Marines Fight Submarines

Following the end of the Cold War, the U.S. Navy’s antisubmarine warfare (ASW) capability declined because of the lack of threat once posed by the Soviet Navy. Since then, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) submarine force has steadily grown in quality and quantity over the past three decades and is now fielding modern submarines with more capabilities. The PLAN will soon have more submarines than the U.S. Navy. While many of China’s older submarines are less capable than their U.S. counterparts, the Navy must maintain a global presence while the PLAN can keep its focus closer to home. To counter the PLAN threat, the Navy must revitalize its ASW capabilities by leveraging new capabilities currently undergoing testing and development by the Marine Corps.