Submarines are exceptionally capable weapons because concealment lets them threaten an opponent without revealing their position. That same concealment makes them less straightforward instruments of visible peacetime presence. A surface cruiser can arrive in a port or operating area and make national commitment obvious, while a submarine's effectiveness often depends on remaining unseen. The comparison separates battlefield deterrence through uncertainty from diplomatic signaling through a visible naval presence.
Notable Point · 1:06:32-1:07:07
Submarine strength is difficult to display in peacetime
The move from cruisers to submarines highlights a tension between exceptional hidden warfighting power and the need to signal presence visibly in peacetime.