19 July, 2002

Gary L Garnett Vice Admiral (ret'd)
VP Maritime Affairs,
Navy League of Canada

Sovereignty of Canada demands the capability to know what is happening in the air, on and below the surface of the sea along Canada's ocean approaches. Since Sep 11, the terrorist threat has been magnified, but sovereignty also includes broader threats like drug importation, illegal over-fishing and illegal immigration. Sovereignty is not something you depend on other nations to do for you. Only submarines will give below the surface capability on both the East and West coasts. How well they can be modified to extend their operations into the Arctic will depend on several factors and won't be determined for a few years yet.

A blue water, combat capable Navy requires submarines to operate and train alongside the surface ships and shipborne helicopters. The fact that Canadian frigates can fully integrate and assume various roles within the US Navy and Coalition Battle Groups is in part due to their high level of training which includes being fully interoperable with submarines.

The fact that the US Navy fully supports the Canadian acquisition of the UK Upholder class submarines is again a clear indication of the close operating capabilities of the two North American navies. Each navy will be able to train with each other's platforms, including the conventional Canadian Victoria class submarines, a capability that the US Navy does not have, but one that is very much a threat to them around the globe.

The UK decision to remove an essentially brand new conventional submarine fleet from service in the early 1990s was solely due to meeting budgetary reductions, when it was no longer viable to maintain both conventional and nuclear submarines. The notion that in the many negotiations leading the Canada's acquisition, the UK would sell them to other countries for less can only have been due to having less in the package sale. In Canada's case the purchase includes the 4 boats, real life simulators, many spares, training support for Canadian crews and the return to service of the 4 boats including Safe to Dive Certification.

The fact that returning the submarines into service is taking longer than expected is not surprising when one looks at previous purchases of ships and submarines by all western navies including those of our close allies. The good news for Canada is that most of the problems will be rectified, largely at UK cost, before delivery to Canada. In the case of the Victoria class, Canada is replacing several of the combat systems for those that were essentially brand new from the former Oberon fleet including modern US navy weapons that were purchased in the 1990s. Of course, the communications suite needs to be changed to meet the demands of operating with North American navies and not European. Again not surprisingly this is taking longer than expected.

Experience has and is showing that Canada's Navy will return the Victoria Class submarines to service in a safe and efficient manner. It would be nice to have more sea time during the rehabilitation phase. However, we can all be confident that the Canadian Navy will react to the changing circumstances in a sound and professional manner. "Safety first" will be the watchword and at the end of the day Canada will have a fleet of 4 Victoria class submarines that will meet our country's needs.

Due to budgetary circumstances new submarines were never an option. Canada has had the good fortune of acquiring four submarines for the price of one new one. Maintaining the submarine capability for the safety and security of all Canadians is the overriding objective.

© Copyright NOAC 2002