Collins Replacement project announced

[Slats]

An interest read. Shame its going to tak some 15 odd years or so.
Est cost around $2bn a boat.

These are expected to be larger than the Collins (still non-nuclear) and a combination of AIP / battery / diesel.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/jobs-boost-from-new-15b-submarine-fleet-20090219-8cq1.html?page=-1

We still have a tiny Navy for the coastline we have and the waters we patrol.

J

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Seems like only yesterday I was building models for one of the COLLINS contractors. Time flies.

David,

[Slats]

David, what scale were these?

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

David, what scale were these?

The table-top ones were 1/192, the trade-show pieces were 1/96, and a large control room diorama was, I think, 1/24th.

David,

[Slats]

Wow, how did those boats compare with the final Collins design?

J

[Slats]

Just announced the new replacement for Collins could see 12 boats delivered.
Key arguments are economies of scale and growing need to keep in check our Northern neighbours. For our own coastline - we have one of the smallest Navies globally. IMO its an appropriate step. If I had my youth again I'd give my left nut to join up.

Given a key problem we currently having is manning - the new boats are planned to be highly automated - like 30 on board.

Total cost is expected to be $20bn - no doubt that could kill it off before its even in the tender phase.

John