Publication:Sea Talk Winter 2007/WALLER update
By LEUT Bradley Francis
The crew of HMAS Waller continue with seagoing preparations after taking material control of the submarine on April 10 ending a three year full cycle docking at ASC’s Osborne facility in South Australia.
Waller will return to RAN operational service after receiving several platform improvements including new trim pumps and upgrades to the sewage system and fire suppression system.
The submarine’s most significant change is a replacement combat system (RCS), the AN/BYG-1(V)8, which was developed as part of collaborative efforts between the USN and RAN. Along with significant improvements to navigation, sonar and target motion analysis functions, this combat system will allow Waller to employ the RAN’s newest naval weapon, the MK 48 advanced capability (ADCAP) common broadband advanced sonar system (CBASS) heavyweight torpedo.
On the morning of April 3, Prime Minister John Howard, accompanied by the Defence Minister Dr. Brendan Nelson conducted a visit to Waller to review the state of the RCS.
Following a brief, ship’s company conducted a simulated CBASS attack drill on a hostile warship for the benefit of the PM complete with a watershot firing. On conclusion of the drill, the PM and Defence Minister met the combat system operators and tried their hand on Waller’s attack periscope. During the subsequent media doorstop, Mr Howard outlined the Commonwealth’s substantial financial investment into the combat system and heavyweight torpedo projects with a combined cost of $921million dollars as well as Australia’s close cooperation with the United States Navy in completing both projects.
Having completed extensive RCS courses and pre-workup training at the Submarine Systems Training Centre at HMAS Stirling, the crew are now focussed on conducting trials, licensing and a safety workup in the waters off Adelaide.
The boat will be formally welcomed back into the RAN Fleet in July at a rededication ceremony at Fleet Base West. Waller will then commit to extensive RCS and CBASS trials in the Western Australian Exercise Areas as well as supporting ongoing Fleet exercises.
