My best mate on HMAS Stalwart used to ask me to 'look after' his girl friend while he was at sea, he thought it wouldn't be right for her to be playing up with someone he didn't know..
On a more serious note, our surface ships in the 80's had battle lives measured in single digit minutes. When it gets hot you want/need subs on the front foot.
I knew you wouldn't be able to resist that one, although I thought you'd somehow work "a wet tube full of seamen" into the conversation.
I’d say false It probably could be done by the old Oberon Class subs but the risk associated with navigating that entrance channel when not on the surface plus the unpredictable reaction of the USN would not outweigh the f-you impact that surfacing in Pearl Harbour would generate Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
The FFGs were designed to be a relatively cheap and expendable picket defence ship that would be positioned at the outer edge of the task group The FFG’s role was to take out incoming aircraft and missiles before being taken out itself. The biggest risk to any task group was and still is submarines. The fly boys look good and it would be great fun to be paid to do that job, but their effectiveness in attacking a well organised task group is questionable Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
It has definitely been the policy of the RAN that all submariners were volunteers for the submarine branch. There are certainly occasions when qualified crew members would rather stay at home and deal with personal issues instead of deploying with their boat but that is just life and people need to suck it up I recall being all set to be alongside in Sydney for the 2000 olympics with my wife expecting our second child shortly thereafter Our ship was required to deploy overseas to deal with an emerging issue. Various members of my team came to my desk to plead their case about why they should be allowed to stay in port instead of deploying with the ship. I don’t recall leaving anyone back in Australia. We ended up being on station for 29 days, thus falling one day short of qualifying for an Australian Service Medal, but we made it home safely and in time for my daughter’s birth so I was happy. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
The submariners are a very professional and dedicated bunch of people The ability to attract and retain good staff is the same as in many industries, and is greatly influenced by the employment opportunities in the real world. Certainly there is an issue with filling all the billets for crew in all navy assets from time to time, and at the moment disgruntled members have plenty of options for being a trained baby killer in the broader civilian community. In a few years when the economic cycle has moved on and job opportunities dry up, some people will return to the navy to fill the vacant sea-going roles and enjoy the finest traditions of the navy - rum, sodomy and the lash Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
Yeah,I was tempted o ask which was his favourite bit, but I think I can guess! On a serious note, I reckon the chance if having any young Australians volunteer fir submariner service when these new subs are built will be around zero... I mean, do you even HAVE an internet connection down there?
Agree, I have 2 mates who got out as Chiefs who went back after about 5 years. Both got their ranks back and had genuinely missed the navy and its traditions.
I think you might be surprised. My 17 year old has a couple of school mates that are planning on a career in the armed forces and these are girls educated at an elite private school. I can only imagine that all that technology in the new subs will pique the interest in certain individuals. I'm betting positions will be oversubscribed
I'm concerned that these decisions are made with too much lead time. Technology moves so fast, I wouldn't be surprised to find sub-surface drones could be developed that will be effective, cheap(er), and no risk of life.
Time may prove you to be correct The Japanese mini-subs were launched from a mother ship off the coast of Sydney I wonder what could be used as the mothership to launch the next generation of small cost effective drones JM - it won’t be an F111 Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
You guys have all the fun .............. we just played with girls, I'd have liked a go at the lash and I adore Bundy So you were a submariner based in Sydney ? Explains a lot Don't suppose you know a guy called Des Petty , tallish, blonde hair, cheeky wit ?
So if you're a Victorian. Your share of the State debt is $26,000 and for the Subs $25,000 Let us just round it down to 50K for us VICs