In February of 1999, the Dutch diesel-electric submarine HNLMS Walrus (S802) executed what could be considered one of the most impressive feats of naval strategy and stealth: ‘sinking’ the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, along with several of its escorts during the Joint Task Force Exercise/Theatre Missile Defence Initiative 1999 (JTFEX/TMDI99). This event has become a part of naval lore, highlighting the potential of submarines to change the tide in maritime warfare, regardless of their size or the technological prowess of their adversaries.
The exercise, involving a massive concentration of naval power, was the largest since the 1990 Gulf War and stretched from Norfolk, Virginia, to Puerto Rico, including 24,000 personnel, with 15,000 of them at sea. The Dutch submarine HNLMS Walrus, known for its silence and stealth, was pitted against a formidable opponent: a Carrier Battle Group led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt, defended by ships, submarines, and aircraft from multiple nations, including the U.S., Canada, and Germany.
The Walrus-class submarines have significant internal upgrades compared to the previous Zwaardvis-class, with more powerful machinery. They are equipped with three diesel generators with SEMT-Pielstick PA4V200 12-cylinder engines that produce 4,700 kW (6,300 hp). Additionally, an electric motor supplies 5,150 kW (6,910 hp) to a single shaft. These submarines can achieve a maximum speed of 13 knots on the surface and 9 knots when submerged. Weighing 2,490 tonnes (2,450 tons), each submarine is 222 feet (67.5 meters) long, 27 feet, seven inches (8.4 meters) wide, and has a draught of 21 feet, eight inches (6.6 meters). The double-deck hull design of the submarines features a “teardrop” shape, constructed from high-tensile steel with minimal apertures and welded joints.
The then 35-year-old Lieutenant Commander Jan Hubert Hulsker, commanding the Walrus, recounted the exercise as a challenge to overcome the ‘largest concentration of power’ since 1990. Despite initial skepticism about their odds against the superior firepower of a carrier group, Hulsker’s crew was determined to make the most of the opportunity.“On the day of departure, we were provided with a few sheets of information. That was it – no briefing or presentation. But everything I wanted to know was on there: it was just a free exercise. We were in a large area, we were the bad guys and the carrier was the good guy.”“The man who handed me the package – I will never forget it – added: ‘You are going to lose. Don’t be disappointed, but now you already know. Because of course, the carrier has to win.’”
Undaunted, the Walrus initiated the hunt, relying on the stealth characteristics that the Walrus-class was renowned for. One by one, the ‘bad guys’ – the term used for the Walrus and its team in the exercise – picked off their targets. A crucial aspect of their success was the effective use of Electronic Warfare (EW), which allowed them to intercept the radar signals of the opposing ships without revealing their position.
The moment of triumph came when Hulsker, peering through the periscope, spotted the USS Theodore Roosevelt and its escorting vessels. Skillfully, he maneuvered the Walrus into an optimal attack position, and at a range of 4,000 yards, simulated the launch of torpedoes against the carrier. The subsequent firing of a green smoke grenade marked a successful ‘kill’ of the colossal ship during the exercise.
The Walrus wasn’t finished yet. Hulsker daringly brought his vessel even closer, firing another green grenade at 1,500 yards, eliciting a frenzied response from the carrier group as they realized the proximity of the threat. The Walrus then audaciously sailed beneath the carrier, an 88,000-ton leviathan, causing a stir among the crew as the submarine shook from the massive vessel’s displacement.
As the exercise wound down, the Walrus quietly slipped away from the chaos it had created, its mission accomplished. In total, the HNLMS Walrus had ‘sunk’ eight ships, including the Roosevelt, showcasing the submarine’s capabilities against larger and technologically advanced adversaries.
Relevant articles:
– How Dutch submarine Walrus ‘torpedoed’ a US aircraft carrier, Navies Worldwide, Feb 16, 2023
– Walrus-Class: The Submarine That Sank Two Navy Aircraft Carriers in a Simulation, The National Interest, Nov 23, 2023