WELCOME TO THE WEST

Friday, 14th December 2000 saw the arrival of DECHAINEUX and SHEEAN at Fleet Base West, HMAS STIRLING. After stopping at Fremantle to pick up the Minister for Defence and VIPs for the short ceremonial journey to their new home port, south of Perth, the submarines arrived to a reception not given to the previous arrivals of the Collins class submarines. The Maritime Commander Australia, Rear Admiral DF Smith, hosted a reception that was attended by the Minister for Defence Mr Moore, the Chief of the Navy Vice-Admiral David Shackleton, Rear Admiral PJ Briggs, Rear Admiral K Scarce, the Squadron Commander Commodore P Clarke, Commodore P Greenfield and all members of the SM Fleet Element Group (SMFEG). The arrival of the DECHAINEUX and SHEEAN takes to five the number of RAN submarines available for service. All six Collins-class boats are due to be fully operational by 2006.

DECHAINEUX and SHEEAN have been "fast-tracked" to have extensive upgrades to rectify deficiencies found in the lead submarine HMAS COLLINS. Problems with the Collins-class have included excessive noise, a malfunctioning combat system, blurred periscopes, communications faults and mechanical unreliability. Defence Minister John Moore and the Chief of the Navy, Vice-Admiral David Shackleton, both praised the US Navy's role in the Collins-class "fast track" program. "There was a large degree of scepticism that these things really could be made to work," Mr Moore said. "I can't say too much about the role of the US Navy." Mr Moore said that in hindsight, it would may been better to go with a non-nuclear US-design submarine than a European-based boat (although to my knowledge there are very few Guppies available - NormW) . The Collins-class is based on a Swedish design. DECHAINEUX arrives at FBW A proudSquadron Commander - COMAUSNAVSUBGRP Commodore Peter Clarke RAN NUSHIPSHEEAN comes alongside Collins Class submarines have been purpose designed and built for Australia's unique strategic requirements. No other nation that operates submarines has the same enduring strategic circumstances. We are typically faced with long ocean transits to our principal operating areas. This gives rise to a requirement for larger submarines capable of sustained, independent operations at great distances from any base support. Australia has built a technical and operational expertise in the warm and shallow environment which doesn't exist anywhere else in the world. This is due to our geographical situation. We are in an area of the world that has many small islands with shallow, tropical waters.   HMAS COLLINS, NUSHIPs DECHAINEUX and SHEEAN Rear Admiral PJ Briggs AO CSC RAN (rtd) Former Head of Submarine Capability Team Responsible for the Collins Class Fastrack program A gathering of gold........ NUSHIP DECHAINEUX coming alongside HMAS COLLINS The Minister leads the way (or is it Napoleon ?)

NUSHIP SHEEAN coming alongside