Submarine Service

The Joint Planning Committee

On Tuesday 13th and the following Saturday 17th October 1959 the Defence Joint Planning Committee met in Canberra and recommended the “introduction of a Submarine Service into the Royal Australian Navy”.

The members of the committee were:

• Rear Admiral A.W.R. McNicoll CBE, GM – Deputy Secretary (Military)
• Air Commodore C.T.Hannah CB, CBE – Director General Plans and Policy
• Brigadier C.E.Long – Director of Military Operations and Plans
• Captain D.C.Wells – Director of Plans
• G.E. Blakers Esq. – Assistant Secretary (Defence Planning)

Considerations

In their deliberations, the committee considered:

• The Threat - which they saw as the capable and increasing numbers of Chinese submarines together with the significant surface capability of Indonesia.
• The roles of Australian submarines, including:
  • Anti-Submarine - the employment of submarines to counter enemy submarines is an important role as underwater detection methods become increasingly important.
  • Anti-Shipping - in a war in which Australia is threatened the employment of its submarines to sink surface ships, particularly amphibious assault best, is a major contribution to our defence.
  • Other roles, including minelaying, clandestine operations and support for the training of other Australian antisubmarine forces.
• The minimum number of submarines in Australia would need – which the committee advised was at least eight.
• Whether the submarines should be nuclear powered – the committee concluded that the cost of nuclear submarines was not in proportion to their benefit and should not be acquired:
  • Unless the threat became greater, or
  • Until the cost of nuclear submarines has reduced.

Conclusion

The committee concluded its report as follows:

“We have concluded, the R.A.A.F. member dissenting, that excluding program considerations and interservice priorities, the institution of a submarine service would be a valuable addition to balanced Australian Defence Forces.”