U.S. Submarine Related - Australia to get nuclear subs from US

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Australia to get nuclear subs from US

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Topic: Australia to get nuclear subs from US

Posted By: Smokeboat Dave
Subject: Australia to get nuclear subs from US
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2021 at 7:09pm

It is reported in the news that Australia is purchasing new nuclear powered submarines from the U.S. and U.K.

How are we (U.S.) going to build submarines for another country when our shipyards are backed up while maintaining our own boats. Some have been parked by the pier for years waiting for their turn in the yard.

Inquiring minds want to know.

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SS-339, SS-377, SSBN-658B, SSN-575, Holland Club, Catfish Base, USSVI Life Member

Replies:

Posted By: gerry
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2021 at 8:23pm

Have been following this story, looks like there are a couple of leading theories on how this will work. The most plausible one seems to be that the submarines will be based on the Astute class, with a subsidiary of BAE, based in Australia, manufacturing the hulls. This seems to be pretty important for the AU shipbuilding industry which has been in decline for a while. There are various permutations of this plan being offered, depending on the news source. All seem to agree that the RC and reactor will be US-made, perhaps based on S9G. A few other news sources suggest the reactor will be a new generation of UK-built reactors, based on the reactor the brits use on Astute (a Rolls-Royce PWR2). For what its worth, Rolls-Royce is in prototype stages on a new PWR3, so that might be the target.

Anyway, the big flick seems to be either the US builds the hulls in sections and ships the sections to AU for assembly, with the UK providing the reactors, OR the UK ships sections to AU for assembly with a US reactor... OR AU builds the hulls in Perth, with either a US or UK provided plant. All we really know for sure is the French are pissed off that their deal with AU is falling through (after years of delay and billions in cost overruns).

I'd suggest keeping an eye on this site: http://www.hisutton.com/" rel="nofollow - http://www.hisutton.com/ This fellow is almost never wrong about the things he writes.

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MT2/SS
USS Simon Bolivar - SSBN 641 (B)
USS Henry M. Jackson - SSBN 730 (B)
USSVI - Wyoming Base

Posted By: gerry
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2021 at 8:36pm

The above should have suggested Adelaide as the ship-building location rather than Perth (where the submarine base is).

The below articles (from a generally good site) suggest that the subs will be home-built by AU, probably based on Astute design. They also mention that the US maybe running Virginia-class boats out of Perth until the Aussies have their new boats at sea. And lastly, there seems to be a deal between AU and the US on giving the Aussie's Tomahawk TLAM weapons, initially for their destroyers, and perhaps later to arm the new subs.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42390/australian-navy-goes-nuclear-with-future-submarine-force" rel="nofollow - https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42390/australian-navy-goes-nuclear-with-future-submarine-force

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42408/australia-to-buy-tomahawk-cruise-missiles-will-get-at-least-eight-nuclear-submarines" rel="nofollow - https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42408/australia-to-buy-tomahawk-cruise-missiles-will-get-at-least-eight-nuclear-submarines

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MT2/SS
USS Simon Bolivar - SSBN 641 (B)
USS Henry M. Jackson - SSBN 730 (B)
USSVI - Wyoming Base

Posted By: Runner485
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2021 at 8:58am

"They also mention that the US maybe running Virginia-class boats out of Perth until the Aussies have their new boats at sea."

I wonder if somewhere down the line a Virginia class may make Australia it's home port??

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DBF
Joe
SS485,CVA42
Holland Club
Mid-Atlantic Base

Posted By: SaltiDawg
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2021 at 9:52am

Reading above, I'm confused.

Posted By: gerry
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2021 at 2:11pm

It is confusing, to be sure. All we really know at this point is that Australia wants to join the nuclear sub club, and that the US and UK have pledged to help make that happen. In so doing, AU is cancelling the contracts it had with France to build a class of AIP (I think) subs, a contract that is several years behind and way over-budget. France is not happy.

The details of what design the new AU boats will have and what exact material (and materiel) assistance US/UK will provide is still unknown. The above rambling posts I made are "guesses" or theories I have seen presented as "news".

Since any such program would be years in the making and things are getting more tense in the South China Sea, one of the articles suggested that we (the US) will base some Virginia-class boats out of Perth as a stop-gap.

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MT2/SS
USS Simon Bolivar - SSBN 641 (B)
USS Henry M. Jackson - SSBN 730 (B)
USSVI - Wyoming Base

Posted By: SaltiDawg
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2021 at 2:32pm

There is no plan to "get nuclear subs from US".

Technology from US and UK yes.
Indubitably equipments from US and/or UK, yes.