Arrrghh Killarney

Please be excusing my Freudian slip. Many a submariner be joken about the shape of their sub https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsurvincity.com%2F2013%2F07%2Fnuclear-submarines-a-comparison-of-projects%2F&ei=1GvTVJGoNYOZ8QXig4GIDg&psig=AFQjCNFRKgInBN-R5LH-_JWYKSBsVI_Rrg&ust=1423228109965153

Don't even mention the torpedo men sliding their torpedos into tight tubes. Heres a torpedo snug inside https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRke2Kl4R_ZQMbcwu0CFQgSOTgyZmMy9YJiqDS-CbjUZTif9okyyw

Size matters https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTC6ToGzLYmdJsh8Y-Xpx092yukHcBg5YUAcn_drnA-YAozzs00r

Planta

US Admiral Thomas (mentioned in the article) might be right that the Soryu might be the closest approximation of of what the Australian Government thinks it wants. However Serving US military men should not get involved in what are key political issues between other countries (Australia and Japan).

The main problem with the Soryu is that selection of that submarine brings grave political risks for Australia. That risk is being drawn into Japan's battles involving Australia's main trading partner (China). Such Japanese battles may not even relate to Japan's national survival but to sometimes slender Japanese claims to undersea oil resources.

Japan appears unwilling to nurture peaceful precedent solutions like "North Sea Oil" agreements between the countries of Northern Europe from the 1950s.

Now I have to admit that politics encouraged Australia from the 1960s to choose then operate the British built Oberon submarine. But Britain by then was not expecting Australia to get involved in Britain's battles. Britain like the US was a long term friend and mentor of Australia - Japan isn't.

Life would be so much easier if the US had conventional submarines to sell to Australia or if Australia took up the US offer of buying Virginia SSNs.

That some or most of the submarine build take place in Australia is a political and economic necessity.

All things for Abbott to ponder in his relations with his backbenchers and some front-benchers from Australia's submarine states of Victoria, NSW, Western Australia and South Australia.

Pete

On OLO you read it first (in the OLO article). That is concerning Abbott's possible demise threatening an "Australia buying Japan's Soryu" deal. That OLO article was on Thursday 5 Feb.

Now today - 7 Feb - The Australian has published an article most probably triggered by the OLO article. See http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/defence/japan-fears-25bn-submarine-deal-at-risk-in-tony-abbott-crisis/story-e6frg8yo-1227211135322

"JAPANESE officials have met to discuss whether Tony Abbott’s leadership crisis could threaten a potential $25 billion deal to sell submarines to Australia...There is concern in Tokyo that if Mr Abbott is deposed as Prime Minister, the Coalition’s enthusiasm to buy submarines from Japan will wane, reviving the hopes of Germany, France and Sweden, which want an open competition for the project."

Basically voting for Abbott in the Party Room on Tuesday will be a vote against Australia - submarine-wise anyway. Voting for Turnbull may mean out-sourcing Australia's biggest defence project to Japan. Under Turnbull its more likely the $25 Billion future submarine project will stay in Australia - where Australia's money is sorely needed.

Roll on the German, French and Swedish "Build in Australia" bids OR at least a "Build Soryus in Australia" bid.

Pete
also see a much earlier article at http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/australian-prime-ministers-mistake.html

I wouldn't care if Turnbull was going to donate 25 billion to buy/build the subs out of his own pocket, nothing could ever get me to vote for a party with him as leader.

I would trust Turnbull about as far as I would trust Rudd. That is about as far as I could throw a sub, Ozzy or Jap built.

Hi Hasbeen

I reckon its not a serious expectation that Turnbull will be a mover-and-shaker. Its mainly about removal of two likely election losers - Abbott and also Hockey.

After http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utegate - how Turnbull shot himself in the foot - I have few misconceptions Turnbill will do much better. Its all about appearances.

Turnbull offers hope, by venturing nothing these past weeks, and thereby not making Abbott mistakes.

Regards

Pete

I reckon the way to get the best subs at an affordable price and keep everyone happy is to build them in Japan and pay the ASC union workers to stay at home.