Q&A · 1:42:03-1:42:17

Fleet tactics with hydrophones but no active sonar

Ships would spend more time drifting and listening, while towed passive arrays would likely mature earlier.

Anti-Submarine Warfare Hydrophones Submarines Towed Array Sonar

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Question

How would fleets fight submarines if they had hydrophones but no active sonar?

Short answer

Ships would drift and listen more often, and the need for better passive detection would bring towed arrays forward.

Notes

Without active sonar, anti-submarine tactics would depend much more heavily on passive listening. Ships would stop or drift more often so their hydrophones could hear submarines. The same pressure would probably accelerate the development of towed passive arrays.