First, thanks to Neil for this interesting submarine photo.
Second, @ Eric: your points of view of American, Russian, and German submarines need some serious technical substantiation in case you want to be taken seriously on this issue.
As an example: "...the German U boat of the second World War was also a a superior boat than the American submarine". Which submarine classes are you talking about here? In case of the German Type XXI (Elektroboote) class, this was actually the first submarines designed to operate primarily submerged, and - on paper - the most advanced design at that time. However, due to construction and quality problems only four of the 118 completed units were fit for cambat before the war ended in Europe. Not much superiority on the bottom (!) line.
Niels

@ Eric
interesting,,I am not a sub guy,,but I think history says that the germans lost pretty much after all and the Russian communist empire crumble down to zero too ........I wonder who survived and happy dived :-)))

American submarines are rubbish , Russian submarines are far more superior, the German U boat of the second World war was also a superior boat than the American submarine .

Neither the aility to dive deep nor run (very)fast is a prime quality of a sub. Why? Because any weapon fired at you will be able to run much faster, say 60-70 knots, than your boat anyway. A deep dive might save you beacause any weapon relying on an engine giving out exhausts will run slower with the higher back pressure with increasing depth. That's why the US Navy developed the Mk48 ADCAP to counter the Soviet Alfa diving to approx 1000 m at 45 knots.
No matter how fast you run or deep you dive, the weapon chasing you can do better. No give me a boat with better quieting, better sensors and a better trained crew any day so I can get of the first weapon launch anytime.
Regards
/Göran

Nice photo..But I have to say I am not a fan of these Virginia Class boats..They can't dive as deep as the Russian subs..They are also slower...Maybe...just maybe they may have better electronics and maybe a tad quieter than the some other subs out there..
But all I say is Meh...And the fact that the USA have committed to this design for decades to come..Is I think a mistake.
Other countries will now be in a postion to design newr boats over the timeframe that these will be in Production will which be superior to these craft.
In fact imho..The Russian Yasen class is already a superior boat..Deeper diving and faster..Without a doubt.

I got this one just seconds before Powerful spoiled the party.

Neil

Wot, no tugs and QHM launch, nice one Neil

Allan