Submarines must make visible movements when entering and leaving their base. Photographs of those departures and returns can help observers estimate how many boats are away, even when their patrol locations remain unknown. Announcing a guaranteed minimum number on patrol can make that strength part of normal deterrence policy. The disagreement is whether such an announcement should be reserved for a particular signal or treated as a continuing guarantee.
Notable Point · 1:28:04-1:28:57
Public patrol numbers and nuclear deterrence
Visible base movements limit secrecy about the number of boats away, while a stated patrol minimum can support deterrence.