Kotare (aka “the strategist”) discusses a potential conventional submarine fleet for New Zealand using the new “entry-level” compact sub models coming out of Europe. This might be good news for Canada, which is losing millions on its sad submarine fleet. Only one of the four used diesel powered submarines we purchased from the UK is operational — the others are in dry dock.
Submarines are an important piece of kit for Canada’s interests in the Arctic. Rob Huebert of the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies — where I have previously spoken on sealane security — calls submarines “valid” and “necessary” technology. Mr Huebert also points to Asia Pacific as a region with growing submarine procurement.1 I have compared the submarine fleets of Northeast Asia before, and they do indeed put Canada to shame. Cheap, compact submarines is the direction Canada should go to replace its current shoddy fleet, especially in an era of disintegrating equipment and tight budgets due to the war in the ‘Ghan.
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COMMENTS / 5 COMMENTS
Ralph Hitchens added these pithy words on 10 Jun 08 at 3:33 pmGotta ask, why submarines, you Kiwis? You Canucks? Whose sea lanes are you going to interdict in the foreseeable future? Why not invest instead in, say, amphibs that could be useful in peacekeeping & humanitarian operations?
To be fair, it’s wrong to pick on you low-budget Commonwealth nations—there’s a lot of high-end military hardware being procured in the US that was justifiable during the Cold War but not so much these days. Swords into plowshares, guys!
ramjet added these pithy words on 10 Jun 08 at 10:35 pmThe matter is not to deny sea lanes but to protect your own and deny others to interdict them.
To do this subs are the most effective way. Nations that can’t afford to have a big surface fleet, due to the sublte nature of submarine vessels, could deter an enemy and help to exert sovereignty over their waters.
I don’t think that protect your economic interests is a cold war affair. Expecially now that Canada and NZ underwater areas of interest are going to extend.
Kotare added these pithy words on 12 Jun 08 at 8:32 amRamjet’s point is precisely what I’ve been arguing in a series of posts at my blog, one of which YH kindly linked to. Ralph, the thing is that we Kiwis have been turning our swords, such as they are, into plowshares for the last 30 years or so, and focusing our defence force, in particular the army on peacekeeping and humanitarian roles. The result is that our country and its sovereignty are now vulnerable to a range of threats.
Ralph Hitchens added these pithy words on 12 Jun 08 at 2:32 pm“...now vulnerable to a range of threats” ... what, exactly, is this range of threats? Expansionist Aussies? Rogue New Caledonians? What is the threat to New Zealand’s sea lanes? What might a couple of subs materially add to the protection of Canada’s sea lanes provided by the US Navy? I’m seeing a world where the big problems include failing states and global terrorism, against which submarines in small navies count for less than nothing. What am I missing here?
Michael added these pithy words on 12 Jun 08 at 11:32 pmRalph, Kiwis and Canucks may not face threats from other states in the forseeable future, but maintaining a cheap defence force against UNforseen threats still makes sense. If nothing else, having the ability to make attackers suffer increases the likelihood that attackers will look for other ways of getting what they want.
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