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Comment by hangonhn | Hacker News Reader

This is tangentially related: I came across this Reddit post a while back that I found very insightful. In the area of submarine design, the Soviets/Russians are actually much more innovative than Americans. They seem much more willing to try new ideas whereas Americans stuck to a more conservative try and true design.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3bzekv/what_...

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That is an interesting post. it relates to the KISS philosophy, which apparently originated in the US military (at least, that name for it).

Also the reformers of the 70s and 80s, the group around John Boyd, Pierre Sprey etc., really pushed for simpler equipment, in opposition to high-tech complexity. It's a recurring theme, and it's definitely a kind of conservatism since it always keeps a (more or less) skilled man in the loop. In a way it creates the conditions for human excellence in the old sense, which automation does away with.

This 2010 book on cultural differences in military innovation may also be relevant:

The Culture of Military Innovation The Impact of Cultural Factors on the Revolution in Military Affairs in Russia, the US, and Israel. DIMA ADAMSKY

https://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=18104

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sunken_nuclear_subma... the list of sunken Soviet submarines is much longer than the list of sunken US submarines, how is that explained?

They're more innovative. Move fast and break things, right?

Early on they rushed poorly designed submarines out with poorly trained crews and poor leadership. There was also a blame culture eg welding rescue bouys to the hull because if they came loose accidentally then the factory would be punished!

This is well described eg in Nat Geo book on K19.

"Move fast and break things" doesn't sound right, when "things" are your own citizens.

But it's only my opinion, probably.

That’s exactly the way it’s been done over Russian history. Except for the long periods of moving slow and killing citizens.

There was a profound disregard for safety in most branches of the Red Army.

People were the cheapest resource in Russia since about forever.

Is it better if they are not your own citizens?

Apparently they also designed heavily for survivability, more so than the American subs.

So sounds more like calculated risks.

no doubt, the caterpillar drive was revolutionary and big source of fear in the West.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_October_(fictional_submari...

Science fiction for working submarines.

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