al-AP:wrong and wronger

Gaius of Blue Crab Boulevard makes an interesting observation about an AP story that talks about Israel’s purchase of two German Dolphin class subs which feature an advanced fuel cell powered propulsion unit.  Which are also capable of carrying nuclear tipped missiles. From the report by AP as captured by Gaius:

Michael Karpin, an expert on Israel’s nuclear capabilities who published a book on the issue in the United States, said nuclear submarines (bold by Gaius)provide better second-strike capabilities than missiles launched from airplanes.

To which Gaius observes:

These are diesel-electric or ‘conventional’ submarines. Nuclear submarines use nuclear propulsion systems. 

It seems al-AP Arms Expert Karpin has conflated the benefits of nuclear subs…they stay deeper and quiter longer than “conventional” subs….with nuclear weapons.

Now it seems that some bright light at al-AP noticed this error.  Perhaps because of the web-fu power of BCB. Regardless, the AP has edited this story:

“Planes are vulnerable, unlike nuclear (armed) submarines that can operate for an almost unlimited amount of time without being struck,” Karpin said.

So conventionally armed submarines can’t operate for an almost unlimited amount of time without being struck? The dolts at al-Ap have edited the story in attempts to correct it and instead made their “expert” look like even more of an ass.

Perhaps one of those bright lights should have looked up the very slightest iota of information about the Dolphin and then understood that it gets longer range and submersed operational times via it’s Air Independendent Propulsion system.  These fuel cells produce far less power than a diesel, but often release oxygen in the process of making power.  Such as used on spacecraft. Thus increasing it’s loiter time, albeit at the cost of speed.  It can use a diesel plant when on the surface for more power and speed

Fact checking?  We doan need no stinkin’ fact checking!

The MSM…always good for a laugh.