Just What We Need - Cheap, Compact Submarines

I've argued that New Zealand should buy three or four conventional submarines, to operate as a deterrent and in a sea denial role.

The reason? For small maritime nations, submarines are a powerful way of evening the odds with powerful potential enemies. Even the best equipped adversary, with sophisticated anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, will think long and hard before sending expensive surface ships against a nation with a small submarine force. The US Office of Naval Intelligence recently noted that: 

"Operating near busy shipping channels or maritime chokepoints, submarines can covertly lay minefields or attack and disrupt commercial shipping. In this way, even a nation having a few relatively unsophisticated submarines can conduct sea denial and exert regional influence.

Fitted with improved quieting sensors, weapons and propulsion systems readily available in today's market, submarines can operate undetected near a regional adversary's coast, covertly conduct surveillance, engage enemy naval forces and expand their nation's regional impact still further."

Recently I was debating this point with an old friend of mine who is an army officer. "I know what you're saying, Kotare", he said, "but it'll never fly with the politicians". He suggested that one of the big drawbacks is cost.

Sure, but what if someone was making submarines that are small, affordable, and technologically advanced, designed for small countries that want but can't afford bigger boats? According to Richard Scott, writing in the International Defence Review on 9 May 2008:

"four of Europe's leading submarine design houses have now all sought to craft compact, highly automated 'entry-level' submarine concepts specifically engineered to reduce capital cost and support overhead and manning requirements."

Scott examines several of the new compact designs, including the German Type U210Mod. This is based on the existing U210 design but also incorporates features from other successful boats like the U209 and U212A. Scott describes the U210Mod as a "versatile multimission compact submarine able to offer a broad range of capabilities - intelligence gathering, anti-surface warfare, ASW and special forces operations".

In other words, just the ticket for New Zealand and a navy which should be ugly, lean, resourceful and adaptable.

Note

Thanks to Exkiwiforces for the heads-up on Scott's article. I can't find a link to it, but if anyone wants to read the article, drop me a line (see sidebar for email address).

Earlier posts in this series

1. "The Lonely Sea and Sky"
2. "Poser or Player?"
3. "Another Naval Balls Up?"
4. "Rethinking New Zealand's Maritime Forces"
5. "Ugly, Lean, Resourceful and Adaptable"
6. "Rule the Waves"

Comments

[Quentin]

I agree with the sub idea- and it will be neat to get some politicans' views on this. I think I replied once or twice on this subject so am pleased to see it again.