8/23/2023 0 Comments Ultimate submarine pitchers![]() ![]() It says that’s a critical operational parameter, which would appear to exclude Brisbane where submarines would have to transit across Moreton Bay. There are some redactions from the 2011 report, for example, data on transit distances from various ports to different water depths. The PM mentioned $10 billion for future submarines infrastructure so cash isn’t a constraint. Whatever port was chosen would need extensive facilities. This report had little to say about nukes but canvasses in great detail about other factors. Navy has seemingly endlessly reviewed its East Coast basing options, in 1988 with the advent of the Collins boats and in a very long report released in 2011. It will form part of the work underway now by the Nuclear Submarine Taskforce. ![]() Morrison said there will be consultations with the NSW and Queensland governments, with initial work completed by end of 2023. On the other hand, bases can’t be in the middle of nowhere, which is not conducive to recruiting and retaining the large numbers of personnel who will be needed for the new subs. The problem seems to be with placing nukes right next to suburbia. So why not stick with Sydney? After all much of the required infrastructure is in place. Out of 19 potential locations, three have been short-listed: Brisbane, Newcastle and Port Kembla, said to be Defence’s preferred site. Fleet Base East is centred on HMAS Kuttabul in Sydney Harbour.įleet Base West will remain home to current and future (nuclear) submarines but the government has decided to establish a new Future Submarine Base on the east coast. That established Fleet Base West at HMAS Stirling, WA, as home port of the six Collins class subs and around half the surface fleet. In a speech earlier this week, PM Morrison opened with the conflict in Ukraine and regional instability then moved to the two oceans basing policy, initially adopted in 1987 by the Hawke Labor government. As is to be expected at this early stage, the PM’s announcement of a new east coast nuclear submarines base is light on details.
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