Australia’s 12 new Shortfin Barracuda Submarines described as ‘most lethal weapon’ the nation has

news.com.au ^ | 15th December 2016

[naturalman1975]

AUSTRALIA’S 12 new submarines will be the most “potent weapon” the nation has ever known featuring lethal technology designed to assert the nation’s space in the world.

That’s according to Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne who said the addition of 12 Shortfin Barracuda submarines to Australia’s arsenal will reassure President-elect Donald Trump the country is not shirking its military duties by being “strategic bludgers”.

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The 4500 tonne vessel will be 97 metres long and fit 60 crew. It will be conventionally powered unlike its nuclear-powered French equivalent, and has been chosen for its stealth capability, size and jet-propulsion technology.

While much of the specific details regarding range, depth and intelligence gathering capacity remain classified, DCNS claims it will have the most powerful sonar ever produced for a conventional submarine.

Lockheed Martin will be responsible for adding a US-style weapons system including sensors, radar and navigation with construction due to begin in the next three years.

“We need 12 submarines so that we have the most potent weapon in our armaments to replacing the Collins Class submarines,” Mr Pyne said at a visit to the highly secure base of French company DCNS in Cherbourg.

“So we’ll go from six submarines to 12 submarines giving us the kind of capacity to project power in our region that is important for a country of our size and our commitment to freedom and to liberty, to a rules-based international order.

[rlmorel]

I read that the Japanese soldiers thought the Aussies were the most formidable opponent if it was infantry. But they feared the firepower and sheer volume that the Americans could bring to bear if air and sea power was factored in, not to mention the volume of ground fire the Americans could bring to bear, and had no problem doing it because supplies were generally unrestricted for them, whereas the Japanese supply lines were non-existent later in the war.