Australia has a lack of submarine sailors?

baggygreen · 03-05-09, 05:34 AM

Common problem, brought about in part by almost all teachers indoctrinating kids into thinking that any form of military service is bad.

What we need to do is look at how the US, the UK, as well as say Sweden and Germany attract and then retain their submariners. We have a lot to learn.

There is a lot to be said for conscription into the navy in some respects, too, but I fully understand why it won't happen there.

bookworm_020 · 03-05-09, 05:57 AM

They need more crews than subs, so that there can be a good amount of time between sailing times. The fact they spent so much time out there was a big drain on them. The US does two crews per sub, I don't know if that's possible here in Australia, but 1.5 is a good goal to go for!

Frame57 · 03-05-09, 05:57 PM

Geesh! They are having trouble manning 6 boats? I wonder if they will take a 47 year old. Would I have to give up my citizenship?

bookworm_020 · 03-06-09, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frame57

Geesh! They are having trouble manning 6 boats? I wonder if they will take a 47 year old. Would I have to give up my citizenship?

I don't think so, as a documentary showed that there were American and British serving on the sub, and I don't think they were transfers.

fatty · 03-05-09, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baggygreen

Common problem, brought about in part by almost all teachers indoctrinating kids into thinking that any form of military service is bad.

I question this. The ratios of navy personnel to total armed forces personnel to total population are almost identical in both America and Australia. In other words, accounting for the size difference of the two countries, just as many people are signing up for naval service.

My guess would be either that six subs are too many for the ADF to manage (not something to be ashamed of, we Canucks only have 3 subs but we have 10,000 more active duty personnel) or that the Collins have a bad rep because of the weld problems or whatever and people are hesitant to volunteer for sub service.

Falkirion · 03-05-09, 09:57 PM

They probably dont like the idea of being on a boat that can submerge itself. That and maybe they're afraid of the claustrophobia that goes with subs.

If I ever joined the navy I'd sign up for sub service. It'd be a very interesting challenge I think.

rubenandthejets · 03-06-09, 12:08 AM

I had some mates who left the RAN for the merchnat navy. The pay was better, the hours were better and the union looked after them-the same three reasons all of them gave.

The navy is not seen as a career, it's seen as a stepping stone, a way to get qualifications and experience to be more profitably employed elsewhere.

Back in the days when my dad joined up, he was running away from home, hadn't finnished high school and was underage (forged his birth certificate). He stayed in for more than 20 years, but his options were pretty limited and the only training he got wasn't readily transferable to a civvy street gig.

Filling twelve subs is a huge ask-I'd have thought more small to mid sized patrol boats would have been more relevant-is that white papaer open to the public yet?

nikimcbee · 03-06-09, 12:30 AM

I'll sign up

. I'll even bring my own insulin

. What kind of safety record do they have?

Frame57 · 03-06-09, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

I'll sign up

. I'll even bring my own insulin

. What kind of safety record do they have?

Better than the Russians. Just think Nik, all the Fosters ale and kangaroo jerky you can stomach.

d@rk51d3 · 03-06-09, 12:47 AM

I didn't know we could actually get Fosters over here. Haven't seen it anywhere............. not that I'd buy any.

nikimcbee · 03-06-09, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frame57

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

I'll sign up

. I'll even bring my own insulin

. What kind of safety record do they have?

Better than the Russians. Just think Nik, all the Fosters ale and kangaroo jerky you can stomach.

[/whispers] I'm interested in the Aussie girls, I hear they like americans [/whispers]

rubenandthejets · 03-06-09, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frame57

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

I'll sign up

. I'll even bring my own insulin

. What kind of safety record do they have?

Better than the Russians. Just think Nik, all the Fosters ale and kangaroo jerky you can stomach.

Strewth!

Last person to actually drink Fosters was Bazza McKenzie. Get a XXXX up ya!

03-05-09, 05:57 AM	#2
bookworm_020 Navy Seal Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sinking ships off the Australian coast Posts: 5,966 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	They need more crews than subs, so that there can be a good amount of time between sailing times. The fact they spent so much time out there was a big drain on them. The US does two crews per sub, I don't know if that's possible here in Australia, but 1.5 is a good goal to go for! __________________ "There is always one person in any organization who knows whats going on, That person must be fired"

03-05-09, 05:57 PM	#3
Frame57 Sea Lord Join Date: May 2008 Location: 1300 feet on the crapper Posts: 1,860 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Geesh! They are having trouble manning 6 boats? I wonder if they will take a 47 year old. Would I have to give up my citizenship? __________________ "My Religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble minds." Albert Einstein

03-06-09, 12:08 AM	#7
rubenandthejets 中国水兵 Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 279 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	I had some mates who left the RAN for the merchnat navy. The pay was better, the hours were better and the union looked after them-the same three reasons all of them gave. The navy is not seen as a career, it's seen as a stepping stone, a way to get qualifications and experience to be more profitably employed elsewhere. Back in the days when my dad joined up, he was running away from home, hadn't finnished high school and was underage (forged his birth certificate). He stayed in for more than 20 years, but his options were pretty limited and the only training he got wasn't readily transferable to a civvy street gig. Filling twelve subs is a huge ask-I'd have thought more small to mid sized patrol boats would have been more relevant-is that white papaer open to the public yet? __________________ HMAS Sydney III "Thorough and Ready"

03-06-09, 12:30 AM	#8
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	I'll sign up . I'll even bring my own insulin . What kind of safety record do they have? __________________

03-05-09, 05:34 AM	#1
baggygreen Sea Lord Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canberra, ACT, Down Under (really On Top) Posts: 1,880 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	Common problem, brought about in part by almost all teachers indoctrinating kids into thinking that any form of military service is bad. What we need to do is look at how the US, the UK, as well as say Sweden and Germany attract and then retain their submariners. We have a lot to learn. There is a lot to be said for conscription into the navy in some respects, too, but I fully understand why it won't happen there.

03-05-09, 09:57 PM	#6
Falkirion Ace of the Deep Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Melbourne, AUS Posts: 1,043 Downloads: 34 Uploads: 0	They probably dont like the idea of being on a boat that can submerge itself. That and maybe they're afraid of the claustrophobia that goes with subs. If I ever joined the navy I'd sign up for sub service. It'd be a very interesting challenge I think.

03-06-09, 12:47 AM	#10
d@rk51d3 Sea Lord Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 1,952 Downloads: 207 Uploads: 0	I didn't know we could actually get Fosters over here. Haven't seen it anywhere............. not that I'd buy any.