Since the other sub thread got locked, i'd just like to say we have the best diesel subs in the world these days :D

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: dxkj

Originally posted by: Specop 007

Originally posted by: preslove

Originally posted by: dug777
Anyway, to drag the thread back on topic, we do have the best diesel subs going these days, and there is a view in the US military establishment that they erred in letting their diesel program die, diesel subs bring a lot to the ball game

Could someone explain the advantages of diesel propulsion? Is it that it allows for a smaller/faster sub?

Quieter systems. You can turn off EVERYTHING and just be a hole in the ocean. Nuke subs require a minimum of machinery to be running, namely the coolant pumps.

Each system has its positives and negatives. Nukes can leave harbor, go underwater and stay there for 3 months, 6 months, however long you want. They can travel anywhere on the globe until the crew runs out of food and starves.

Deisel electrics require air to run the diesels to charge the batteries, which means they have to occasionally come up for air. They need diesel fuel to keep the engines running as well, which means your range is limited by your fuel supply. But in electric mode, its the quietest thing in the water aside from a fish.

So why dont we design some nuclear/electrics? Or is it that even if we charge up enough juice, we can never shut the nuke stuff down (not a nuke person)

The US naval nuke community doesn't want to release its stranglehold on submarines by introducing anything new. It's the same reason why the Air Force is fighting tooth and nail to prevent the replacement, even in small part, of manned fighters or bombers with armed UAVs (that can drop JDAMs and the like, not Hellfires). In the Air Force, it's called the Fighter Mafia, and I imagine there's a similar term in the Navy.

 

[Stumps]

Originally posted by: dug777
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collins_class_submarine

This always makes for nice reading too;

In a 2003 joint naval exercise, three Collins-class submarines reportedly "sank" two American Los Angeles class attack submarines and a US aircraft carrier, supporting the claims of defect resolution and combat effectiveness

Now that they finally ironed out the teething issues anyway

you're joking right...the collins Class sub is a pathetic joke and an embarrasment to the Royal Australian Navy, I have friends in the Navy from Nowra and they reckon even their commanding officers make jokes about the Collins class.