Monday, May 04, 2009

Mystery Question for Submariners

Background:

UPDATED May 4, 2009: The [RAN] navy can barely muster enough hands to put two of its six Collins-class boats to sea. - source

Royal Australian Navy has admitted its submarine crew retention and recruiting problem for the past 2-1/2 years, at least:
March 02, 2009 - Admirals Carefully Stepping Over the Obvious. Aussie Subs Must Revive Elite Team Spirit
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March 1, 2009 - Automation Kills Submariner Spirit
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January 29, 2009 - The Crikey news: The "going down club"
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September 11, 2008 - Updating Submarine Retention and Recruiting in a Job That Females Now Do
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September 06, 2006 - Curious: Aussie Admiral Pushes Nuclear Sub Fleet
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Well, we now know that Australia's current fleet of six Collins-class submarines will be replaced by 12 longer-range Australian-manufactured subs. Also, the Australian government, which bans atomic energy in Australia, has ruled out nuclear propulsion. That is no surprise either, is it?
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What will be the surprise is the answer to the current submarine Mystery Question of the Year:

Exactly how does a navy that cannot currently crew its fleet of 6 Collins class subs propose to crew twice as many new subs?
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Hint: We can apparently rule out an even more automated design than the present Collins class.
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The answer, which Vigilis does not as yet know, should prove fairly interesting. Standby.

Submarines are always silent and strange.

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