RAN and South Africa Navy Sub woes

[CougarKing]

Submarine-manning woes for the RAN and the SAN. This article speaks for itself.

http://www.defensetech.org/archives/003934.html?wh=wh

South Africa Has Subs, Needs Submariners

The South African Navy's submarine force is unable to operate all of its new Manthatisi-class submarines because of funding and people problems. The Navy has taken delivery of two submarines of this class with a third scheduled for delivery in May 2008.

The Navy is, reportedly, able to keep only one of the Manthatisis-class boats in service at this time. Because of this, some government officials have called for cancellation of the third submarine. However, at this stage of the program the refusal to accept the third unit could lead to very high cancellation costs.

The Navy has launched a recruitment drive to replenish its ranks, according to senior naval officers.

The South African problem is similar to that being faced by the Australian Navy, which in 2007 reportedly had only two of its six Collins-class submarines ready for sea. The lack of available crews for the other submarines is part of a hemorrhage of trained personnel from the Australian Navy, which has a nominal strength of just under 13,000 men and women. The loss of highly trained submariners has been especially difficult for the Navy, which is losing trained personnel to high-paying civilian jobs.

(The Australian Navy procured six diesel-electric submarines of the Collins class between 1996 and 2003, although their entry into service was delayed several years because of software integration and systems problems. Those submarines are armed with U.S. Mark 48 torpedoes and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.)

The Manthatisis-class submarines are German designed and built Type 209/1400 undersea craft with a submerged displacement of about 1,600 tons. Each submarine is armed with 8 21-inch bow torpedo tubes and can carry 14 torpedoes. At this time there are no provisions for the submarines to launch anti-ship missiles, which are being provided to numerous Third World submarines.

Last fall the Manthatisis participated in a NATO exercise. Reportedly, she escaped a task group of six ships hunting the submarine while (theoretically) sinking all of the "hunters."

The new South African submarines are intended to replace the Navy's French-built Daphne-class submarines. Three of these 1,040-ton submarines -- the first South African undersea craft -- were delivered in 1970-1971. One of the trio has been laid up in reserve to compensate for the first deliveries of the Manthatisis-class submarines.

South Africa, with some 4,700 active naval personnel, also has four modern, German-built missile/anti-submarine frigates, seven Israeli-built missile craft, and a large number of mine, patrol, and auxiliary units.

 

[tomahawk6]

Another socialist/marxist success story.

 

[54/102 CEF]

I once knew a Signals Sgt Maj from the SAS who had an MA from London School of Economics. He described South Africa as Eternal Spring. I bet that has a lot to do with not wanting to sail the Seven Seas.

ANY force that needs highly trained operators has one route - big pay and bonuses - maybe a contractor corps within the Career Force. Failing that the door swings wide open for drone craft. Take out the man, his training costs, his career development costs, his cubicle costs, his base housing costs and keep up with the mission - seems to be the model of the Predator Surveillance Mission.

Of course keep the Army at a 2% annual pay increase - as DND Finance Oxygen Thieves say - Its Good Business.

 

[cobbler]

The South African problem is similar to that being faced by the Australian Navy, which in 2007 reportedly had only two of its six Collins-class submarines ready for sea. The lack of available crews for the other submarines is part of a hemorrhage of trained personnel from the Australian Navy, which has a nominal strength of just under 13,000 men and women. The loss of highly trained submariners has been especially difficult for the Navy, which is losing trained personnel to high-paying civilian jobs.

(The Australian Navy procured six diesel-electric submarines of the Collins class between 1996 and 2003, although their entry into service was delayed several years because of software integration and systems problems. Those submarines are armed with U.S. Mark 48 torpedoes and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.)

Yeah sadly there is alot of truth to that, but its a pretty complicated issue.
But as for only 2 subs ready for sea, i think the author has taken up a liberal dose of poetic license there.
The RAN Submarine fleet is undergoing a big upgrade, includes the latest USN-RAN developed Mk48 ADCAP, and alot of other gucci stuff. So for the moment at any one time a couple will be out of routine. On top of that there are personnel problems which might effect the other subs, but I don't know the specifics of what effect they have so I'll try not to speculate too much.

The personnel shortages stem from a number of things
- a general skilled workers shortage in the country
- a mining boom (submariners are being offered up to 5 times what the navy pays to go work in the mines)
- a defence/navy wide shortage of people, in almost every category and PQ
- the downward spiral that a shortage creates on those who are left in terms of workload, time at sea, number of duties per week, etc

I think some of the short term fixes to stop the bleeding and impact have been
- cash bonuses for those coming up on a new contract
- bringing in 4 US enlisted sonar operators on loan to plug the gaps in shortages we have of AWAs
- recruiting folks from the RN, USN, and Canadian Navy
- having one or two of the subs at a reduced level of activity

Longer term fixes implemented include
- A return of direct recruitment to subs from the civvy world after 10 years of purely lateral transfers from the surface fleet http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/submariners/
- Short courses for navy members considering a transfer to the sub group to see the subs/facilities/life/conditions
- New graded pay scales for both Sailors and Officers, which will reward such things as being a qualified submariner (in addition to submarine allowance)
- A year or so ago they made a 6 part documentary series, onboard HMAS RANKIN during a pacific deployment (including RIMPAC) which was shown on national television

Though the Submarine group is hurting in some sailor job categories more than in others.
Techos (both marine and electrical) and Acoustic Warfare Analysts seem to be the hardest hit.
Surprisingly the subs aren't that bad for numbers of Warfare officers, when i was up north on patrol boats there were a couple of qualified submarine officers serving on Armidales because there weren't any billets for them on subs at that time.