Checkmate for power projection from the sea?

By Roger Jeffries

Checkmate if deployed in the ocean choke points, the littorals, and/or sensitive waters, can provide precise information on the location and movement of a targeted vessels, (particularly submarines) capital ships and even drug running or terrorist high speed vessels. It could be used for surveillance, overt or covert, pre positioned mining, offensive or defensive, or even as the bedrock for a tsunami warning system. In an offensive role it can interdict sea movement.

Checkmate is a patented canister capable of self burying in the seabed. Its use is dictated by the role to which it is allocated and the content will vary accordingly. Positioned in the seabed it provides a stable platform with a two way communication system and is capable of fulfilling many naval maritime roles.

For many years the Checkmate concept has been neglected by the MoD, even though the MoD has written, with masterly understatement as recently as 2005, "we would not like to speculate on the effect of the wider use of Checkmate"!

It has been carefully evaluated and is supported by a distinguished panel of Admirals from a variety of national navies - all of whom are bemused at its laggardly adoption.

Prototypes have been sold to the Royal Australian Navy for sea trials after which they reported that "the concept was proven".

Due to the nation's current fiscal situation it cannot afford the "kit" the forces badly need, especially the Royal Navy, which is sacrificing both surface escorts and submarines to stay in the aircraft carrier and deterrent businesses. Checkmate is a low cost option capable of extending a limited budget so that expanding navies, especially in the far east, are potentially contained without UK forces going in harm's way. Failure to explore it is both incomprehnsible and reprehensible.

Please view my blog at: http://checkmate-roger.blogspot.com & http://www.underwaterstorage.com/