Could the French go nuclear for us?

·        A proposal could be made to the French to allow some of our submariners to train on existing or soon to be launched nuclear Barracudas,

·        We could ask the French if they would be willing to allow one of their Barracuda boats that is now being built, be an early delivery to Australia; that boat could be part of regional defense that would include the French Pacific Territories, and

·        So be nice to the French and heal the gaffe.

Perhaps there is time to ‘reopen bidding’ on who will design/modify, build and commission such boats with short delivery time being an imperative.

The Chinese have reacted strongly to the news that Australia is going to get nuclear powered submarines. They have assiduously confused the concepts of nuclear powered and nuclear armed boats. They know that their nuclear attack submarines, presently twelve with more in production, and their surface navy can remove the threat posed by the present Collins Class submarines and the previously ordered diesel-electric Barracuda Short-fin submarines. On the contrary, deep diving, fast and weapons versatile nuclear powered submarines are a threat to Chinese naval units and ports.

According to published material the Collins Class submarines have endurance of 70 days; that being sailing to operational area, patrolling and getting back to home port. The endurance will be determined by, diesel inventory, the balance between diesel (surface) and battery (underwater) operation, the state of the diesel engines and electric motors (essentially time since most recent overhaul) and food and other supplies for the crew. Air (oxygen) must come in from the snorkel or vents when fully surfaced, and fresh water can be at a premium. The fuel held in tanks will be used through the voyage and be replaced by seawater to maintain buoyancy.

Nuclear submarines will have a lot longer endurance. Oxygen will be produced from electrolysis of water, carbon dioxide will be kept in balance and surplus will be rejected, electricity will be plentiful, and the fuel/ nuclear reactor will be in an encased section. The propulsion system will likely be an electric engine system. Batteries will be part of the system; these having been lead-acid in the past but now could be bromine-zinc, a battery that is being developed in Australia. N.B. Lithium-ion batteries are not suitable due to the fire risk. Nuclear fuel replacement will only be required every ten or more years.

The Collins Class always had a difficulty with manning. At times the effective fleet was reduced because of the lack of a crew. In nuclear powered units, with much longer endurance, the crew will be away from, family, seaside coffee bars and pubs for extended periods. Will the navy have to resort to press-gangs grabbing potential sub-mariners out of Woolloomooloo pubs? That may not be a joke.

The endurance will be very much governed by the number of crew, and the supply of, food, Band-aids, medicines (including aspirin and valium if it all becomes too much), soap, (cologne to quell the stench) and tampons for lady submariners. Will there be enough beer for the on-board daily captain’s 4pm drinks?

It can be noted that both the Coalition and Labor have got themselves into thinking realistically about defending Australia. If we are to have an offensive military capacity we had better get the submarines as soon as possible; the third world war may be done and dusted by 2030.

The alternative is we reduce our military effectiveness to what China dictates.

We have got ourselves into what is a terrible stuff-up.