Off-hand, you're going to need lots of $$$$$: not just for purchase but for
up-keep and operation. Even subs are not designed to be economical in
civilian terms. I'm not at all sure a Chinese boat could be had (have they
ever decommissioned one?), and I'd bet you'll have trouble meeting Coast
Guard regs with either a Russian or a Chinese boat. As for troubles, you're
not going to have the extensive infrastructure to support you that a sub
requires. Being so specialized, they ship a lot of equipment you couldn't
buy off the shelf. Try to get LOTS of spares included in the purchase.
Also, remember that ASW operations against Diesel subs are very much on the
minds of western navies at the moment as the threat of a lone operator or
terrorist-sponsered operation is being seriously considered. Unless you are
very up-front about your operations, you may well discover this too late as
someone drops a Mk 50 torpedo in the water near you.
Nevertheless, I wish you luck, and envy you the muscle and the chutzpah that
even contemplating this takes. I've long wanted my own guided-missle
frigate. If I win a couple of lotteries and succeed, do you want to go out
and re-enact "The Enemy Below"? Talk about an event!
Steve Allen
===
To unsubscribe from the mil-veh mailing list, send the single word
UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of a message to <mil-veh-request@skylee.com>.