Bobby. wrote on Oct 4
th, 2018 at 7:16am:
Brian Ross wrote on Oct 3
rd, 2018 at 9:34pm:
Bobby. wrote on Oct 3
rd, 2018 at 5:59pm:
Brian Ross wrote on Oct 3
rd, 2018 at 3:26pm:
Bobby. wrote on Oct 2
nd, 2018 at 6:09pm:
How many fully working Collins subs are actually on patrol out in the deep sea?
If I told you that, Bobby, I'd have to kill you afterwards.
In theory, we should have two on patrol, two in training and two in refit. AIUI we actually have about 1.5 on patrol, 1.5 in training and 3 in refit (and please don't ask me what .5 of a submarine looks like.
)
Only 1.5 actually out there in the deep blue sea?
That's an embarrassment.
Why?
I expected at least 5 to be at sea, protecting our nation.
Nope. Never going to happen, Bobby. The limiting factor is crew. You cannot expect the crew to spend all their lives at sea.
In modern logistical terms, you invariably aim for about one third of your vessels (of any type) to be at sea, operating with the fleet, during peacetime. You expect another third to be training to go to sea, for operations with the fleet. You expect the last third to be in refit - having repairs made, batteries replaced, etc. When we have fifteen submarines and no mining boom, you can expect approximately five to be on operations in peacetime, Bobby.
In wartime, you can expect a surge BTW, with approximately an additional sixth of your force going to sea on operations, with another sixth in training and another third undergoing refits.
Refitting submarines takes years BTW. Nuclear submarines take longer of course but we don't have any of them nor expect to have any in the foreseeable future. We lack the nuclear industry to support them. We do not have the nuclear technicians to maintain them and we lack the nuclear fuel to run them. We would need to create a whole new nuclear training and support industry. It would significantly skew our Defence budget.