Collins not so classy

With five of Australia's six Collins Class submarines in dry dock, engineers are currently considering the possibility the problem-plagued engines may need to be replaced.

The problematic diesel engines were expected to last until around 2025, when next generation subs are planned to enter service.

But with only one Collins Class submarine operational and crippling maintenance issues, there is a real possibility Australia will need to spend millions of dollars getting the Collins Class back in the water.

With this degree of fiasco, from procurement to deployment it's difficult to reason the Australian people should place their trust in an identical governmental process for our new millennium submarines. But of course, that's exactly what's happening.

And they say history never repeats.

Michael Melville Kirwan has been an active officer in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve, within the Naval Intelligence Division.
He retains a keen interest in Navy Intelligence and has added his voice to informed debate on Australia's new submarines.