Attack class submarines

Vincent J. Curtis

16 Aug 22

On 16 September, 2021, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a trilateral security pact with the UK and the US, called AUKUS, (or NOTCANNZ in some circles) The UK and US would help Australia acquire nuclear powered submarines.  An hour before the announcement, the Aussies informed the French government that it was cancelling the contract to acquire the French designed Shortfin-Barracuda class submarine, a conventional diesel-electric, which the Aussies were going to dub the Attack class.  The French explosion and cries of maudit-anglais, were heard around the world.  (Roughly translated, the French complained of an Anglo-Saxon condominium.)

On 11 June 2022, Australia’s new Labour government made financial settlement with the French to the tune of US$584 million, which is a lot to pay for blueprints you’re not going to use.

Australia’s strategic requirements ask of her submarines an unusually long operational range, a manifestation of the ‘tyranny of distance’ in the Pacific theatre.  Australia’s current Collins class submarines, conventional diesel-electrics, are on the big side.

A Collins class sub displaces 3100 tons (surface), is 77.4 m in length, 7.8 m beam, 11,500 nmi range, 50 days endurance, and a complement of 58.

The Attack class subs would have displaced 4500 tons (surface) be of 97 m length, 8.8 m beam, 18,000 nmi in range, 80 days endurance, and a complement of 80.  The rising threat of China, and a desire to operate closely with the United States in respect of China, accounts for the greater capability of the newer class.  By granting Australia access to U.S. nuclear technology, the U.S. gives the RAN much greater operational capability in terms of range and endurance.

Australia replaced its Oberon class subs with the Collins class.  Canada replaced hers with the Lemon class of subs. (HMCS Lemon, Cumquat, Pomegranate, and Pumpkin.  What’s that?  The Victoria, Chicoutimi, Windsor, and Corner Brook?  Hokay.)

The Upholder/Victoria/Lemon class displace 2455 tons (surface), are 70.3 m in length, 7.2 m beam, 8,000 nmi range, an endurance of 30 days, and a complement of 53.  Though acquired by Canada in 1998, the class did not become fully operational until 2016.  Under the Trudeau government’s defence white paper, Weak, Anxious, Distracted these subs are to undergo life-extending refits for another life-cycle of eight years.  This will take the service of the class into the early 2030s.  These babies are already pushing forty years old, and by the middle 2030s will be at the half-century mark in age.  They’ll have definitely hit CRA.  Even if the steel can hold up to the pressures of 200 m depth, the electronics in them will be as obsolete as vacuum tubes.

Replacing the Lemons (er Victorias – can’t help myself!) with Attack class subs seems to present itself.  Attacks may offer more capability than Canada needs – if you’re focussed on the North Atlantic.  But after the Ukraine, the US and UK can likely handle the Russian Atlantic threat without Canadian help.  In the Pacific, however, where China continues to sabre-rattle vigorously over Taiwan, and extends her reach farther south in the Pacific and into the Indian Ocean, the RCN might find usefulness in the North Pacific, home not only to the Chinese fleet, but to the port of Vladivostok.

Alternatively, Canada could opt for the nuclear-powered version of the French sub, giving her fleet under-ice capability.  Bu the Trudeau government doesn’t want that.  Perhaps fearing the adverse perception of ‘nuclear’ as beset the Mulroney government’s acquisition plans, or perhaps it doesn’t want to know, and therefore have to confront, Russian and American presumptions upon Canada’s claimed territorial waters in the High Arctic.  Ignorance being bliss.

The Attack class won’t come cheap.  The Aussies were budgeting A$90 billion to acquire a dozen.  That translates into C$28 billion for four.  Canada is already committing C$77 billion for 15 frigates.  Will the RCN get another C$30 billion for 4 new subs or will that capability lapse?  Decisions need to be made before 2025 to avoid lapse.

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