National Interest

Not so long ago it looked like the decision to build six, high-tech navy submarines in Australia had been a multi-billion dollar mistake. The media reported the Collins class subs were as noisy as a rock concert, they couldn't fire a torpedo and raising the periscope made the vessel vibrate as if it were being shaken by the hand of God. But a decade on the six Collins class subs are in service and performing so well that there are those who argue their eventual replacements - the next class of submarine for the Royal Australian Navy - might also be home made. Why is the once maligned dud-sub now gaining respect?

Guests

Professor Peter Yule
University of Melbourne

Derek Woolner
Australian National University

Further Information

1998 Australian National Audit Office report on the Collins subs:

Publications

Title: The Collins Class Submarine Story: steel, spies and spin
Author: Peter Yule and Derek Woolner
Publisher: Cambridge University Press ISBN 13 978-0-521-86894-5

Presenter

Peter Mares

Producer

James Panichi

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