Cabinet papers 1996-97: ‘satisfied’ with Collins submarine

Cabinet appeared to have little insight into the problems that would soon plague the then new Collins-class submarines.

The first Collins-class submarine, HMAS Collins, in the Port River in South Australia in 1994.

Cabinet appeared to have little insight into the problems that would soon plague the then new Collins-class submarines, government documents reveal.

The submarines — built in Australia at a cost of about $5 billion to replace the Oberon class — have been embroiled in controversy since they were first proposed.

They have had issues with everything from unreliable diesel engines and faulty generators to noisy operations communication systems and ­sustainment.

They were removed from the projects of concern list only in 2017 after improvements in operations and sustainment. The government has committed about $500 million to upgrade systems.

A cabinet briefing document dated March 19, 1997, says slippage and problems relating to the noise signature and the propeller shaft seals had been identified and the manufacturers were thought to be responding well.

Collins was “accepted with a number of design deficiencies to be rectified by the Australian Submarine Corporation”, the document says.

“Some of these, for example the noise signature, require additional input from the submarine and major system designers,” it says.

“Progress with these items has been slower than originally expected. The department is now reasonably satisfied that ASC and the other companies involved are responding appropriately.”

The documents say delivery of the submarines remained on schedule.

The Defence Department has committed to buy a new submarine type to replace the Collins at a cost of more than $50bn.

The boats, called Shortfin Barracudas, will be a new variant of the French-designed nuclear Barracudas and will be powered by a pump jet system.