'Silent Hammer' Will Test SSGN as Clandestine Sea Base

Sea Power, Jul 2004 by Johnson, Stephen E

The Navy will conduct a critical sea trial, called "Silent Hammer," scheduled for this fall off the coast of San Diego, to evaluate the capability improvements offered by a clandestine sea base of networked undersea, surface, air and ground forces in a coordinated operation. Using that network, the joint forces involved in "Silent Hammer" will conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and strike operations against an "enemy" force on land and in the littoral battlespace.

This is part of the continuing series of rapid concept and technology developments being conducted by the Navy to swiftly deliver enhanced capabilities to the fleet. This process is in keeping with the service's Sea Trial initiative, a central element of its Sea Power 21 strategy. A key Navy goal is to operate in a joint network centric environment by connecting multiservice systems and platforms under the operational control of a joint warfare commander.

The heart of the "Silent Hammer" exercise will be a ballistic-missile submarine (SSBN) as a surrogate for an SSGN, an Ohio-class SSBN being converted to fire Tomahawk missiles and transport and deliver Special Operations Forces (SOF). Other platforms and forces presently scheduled to participate in the exercise include SOF, two attack submarines, a Predator unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surrogate, the High Speed Vessel Swift, plus Marine Corps and Air Force assets. Other forces and platforms will likely be added before the experiment begins.

The SSGN will be "Silent Hammer's" clandestine sea base platform. Sea Basing serves as the foundation from which offensive operations are conducted. The SSGN will provide the SOF with their logistics and command-and-control requirements while also deploying manned and unmanned sea vehicles, and conducting ISR and strike missions.

"Silent Hammer" will continue to evaluate universal encapsulation, which entails the development of methods to enable subs to affordably launch a variety of weapons and organic unmanned off-board systems. During "Silent Hammer," a Flexible Payload Module installed in a D-5 missile tube will launch a Stealthy Affordable Capsule containing an inert test shape simulating a real UAV.

Additionally, the SSGN will have a Battle Management Center installed prior to the experiment. This will provide the embarked Joint Commander access to real-time intelligence and Command and Control capabilities.

Many advanced technologies and capabilities are included in "Silent Hammer" and each will be carefully evaluated as required by Sea Trial. These include the SSGN Battle Management Center; Encapsulation Spiral Development; simulated SSGN satellite communication and SOF capabilities; an advanced radio for long-range, high-data-rate communications; direct UAV and ISR down-linking to the SSGN; hardware and software needed to enable time-critical targeting of Tactical Tomahawks; UAV and aircraft ISR, and Unattended Ground Sensors (UGSs) and an associated land network. Negotiations are ongoing to incorporate more technologies into "Silent Hammer."

SOF ground forces will play a major role in "Silent Hammer" by conducting clandestine intelligence-gathering and tactical missions. While some ground forces will be based aboard the SSGN, other SOFs will launch from an attack submarine equipped with the Swimmer Delivery Vehicle - these will act as surrogates for a SSGN submarine and an Advanced SEAL Delivery System.

Once ashore, the ground forces will emplace sensors, a communications network, conduct surveillance and direct action missions. The information they gather will be passed back to the Joint Commander, allowing for continuous real-time situational awareness and time-critical strike support while staying connected to the global grid for higher command interaction.

During "Silent Hammer's" overt phase, the SSGN will play a role in the Navy's "Trident Warrior" Sea Trial experiment. Here, the joint commander aboard SSGN will change roles from the supported commander to the supporting commander for USS Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group's (ESG) emulated joint commander. The SSGN will identify threats, conduct ISR and provide strike for the ESG.

"Silent Hammer" will provide real data for improved capabilities offered by the SOF and SSGN team with access to a plethora of off-board assets (joint and organic) to conduct and support extended littoral, terrestrial and strike operations. A carefully conceived data collection and analysis plan will ensure that the contributions provided by new capabilities and technologies are thoroughly evaluated, providing the Navy with information needed to support investment decisions in the future.

Rear Adm. Stephen E. Johnson is commander of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center and director for undersea technology at Naval Sea Systems Command.