Posted on 06/06/2008 11:42:49 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Cdn. submarine fleet cut to one until late 2009, minister's note says
Mike Blanchfield , Canwest News Service
Published: Wednesday, June 04, 2008
OTTAWA - For the next year and a half, Canada's Navy will have only one submarine at sea from its small fleet of four troubled, second-hand Victoria Class boats, Canwest News Service has learned.
And the damaged HMCS Chicoutimi might not be seaworthy until as late as 2012 - two years longer than officials said it would take for repairs - meaning it will have been mothballed for eight years, according to documents recently released under the Access to Information Act.
Canada's purchase of four used submarines from Britain for nearly $900 million, 10 years ago, has been dogged by controversy, technical setbacks and one notable tragedy - the 2004 fire that grounded the Chicoutimi after claiming the life of one sailor and injuring eight others.
A briefing note prepared for Defence Minister Peter MacKay advised playing down the availability of submarines, in favour of emphasizing they are "an important strategic asset" to Canada's maritime security.
"If pressed on submarine availability," the note advises, MacKay should disclose that the Defence Department "has put in place a maintenance regime that plans for at least one submarine to be available for operations until steady state is achieved in late 2009, after which two or more submarines will usually be operational and available at all times."
In February, the head of the navy, Vice-Admiral Drew Robertson, told reporters he expected all three submarines other than the Chicoutimi to be sailing by late 2009.
As for the Chicoutimi repairs, the briefing note says that "if pressed" MacKay should explain "the best way ahead would be to focus on the other three submarines and to repair Chicoutimi as part of that submarine's already scheduled maintenance period in 2010-2012."
Military officials have said that they expect maintenance to begin on the Chicoutimi in 2010, which caught fire off the coast of Ireland in October 2004 on its maiden voyage from Scotland to Canada. Once started, the repairs could take two years.
"We have only one submarine for three coasts until the end of 2009," said British Columbia NDP MP Dawn Black, whose office obtained the briefing note. "It just continues this long saga."
The diesel-powered subs, which were mothballed by the Royal Navy after Britain converted to nuclear submarines, are not able to operate under the Arctic ice.
A submarine refurbishment program, which could have addressed that issue, has been plagued by delays.
The 1998 purchase by the then Liberal government has always been controversial.
But the Conservatives show no sign of abandoning the submarine program either.
Late last year, MacKay ruled out cancelling the submarine program.
"The Victoria Class submarines represent an important strategic asset for Canada. There are currently no plans to replace these submarines," says the note.
"They perform a wide array of naval roles, including fisheries patrols; surveillance of Canada's maritime approaches and coastal waters; and deterrence of terrorists, smugglers."
Of the four submarines in the Canadian fleet, only HMCS Corner Brook is believed to be active. It returned to port in Halifax last month after three months at sea.
Asked Wednesday to provide an update on Canada's four subs, a Defence Department spokesman said it could take four days to answer that question.
© Ottawa Citizen 2008
And in other news, Canada has submarines .....
Wow! That must a very fast boat!
>>And in other news, Canada has submarines .....
RROOFFLL!!!! :)
“For six long years the Canadian navy was one of the principal contenders in what was to be known as the Battle of the Atlantic. Beginning the war with a mere 13 vessels and 3,000 men, the Royal Canadian Navy ended it with 373 fighting ships and over 90,000 men.”
http://www.canadaka.net/modules.php?name=content&pa=showpage&pid=72
Sad.
Actually, they have 74 since they long ago outsourced their defense to the United States.
They are saving money to pay for their national helath care.
No more Navy - and they want to defend the NW Passage???
They have raided the defence budget to the point there is nothing left, and they still need more for health care, human rights tribunals and their vast Gov’t bureaucracy.
“troubled, second-hand...”
Pretty much describes Canada.
Militant
How can one of any kind of sea vessel be fleet?
:) - OK - Well they’re down to one now ....
One sub = a fleet???
LOL
That is exactly what Obama, Clinton, Pelosi, Reid, and others in Congress want to do to America.
Iran has two submarines.
At least Canada has more subs than the Republic of the Congo.
Leni
“They are saving money to pay for their national health care.”
Bingo.
And what do you think is going to happen to the U.S. military, once Obama and his comrades come to power?
- John
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.