US submariners train over here
7 May 2007
As the popular WWI song Over There goes, "the Yanks are coming!"
In fact, four of them are already here to train with the RAN's Collins Class submarines, which the US Navy considers to be the best diesel-electric boat in the world.
The four sailors, PO Even Butler, PO Kris Davis, PO Corey Rothrock and PO Vincent Campo recently posted in from nuclear-powered Los Angeles Class submarines based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The four Submarine Sonar Technicians, here on a two-year posting, will join either HMA Submarines Waller or Rankin as AB Acoustic Warfare Analysts when they complete the seven week introduction training to the Collins class.
WO Martin Holzberger, Manager Sailor's Training, Submarine Training and Systems Centre, said this was part of a program developed jointly by the RAN and USN to expand the experience base of submariners from both navies.
"By exposing sailors at every level to conventional submarining, the US Submarine Force hopes to better relate to the challenges associated with operating with and against conventional submarines," he said.
Conversely, the RAN will take advantage of the experience and knowledge base with operating with the US Navy's latest sonar systems, combat systems, and torpedoes.
WO Holzberger said the US submariners bring several years of experience with the US Navy's AN/BYG-1 combat system. "This is the same combat system that forms the core of the RAN's and Waller's new Replacement Combat System."
The US submariners said the training was going well and they were settling into the Aussie way of life. Two of the submariners, PO Campo and PO Rothrock, have been here before when USS Columbia visited in December 2005.
PO Rothrock said "we're all very excited to be here as part of this training program".
He joked that the other two US submariners, PO Butler and PO Davis, who hadn't been to Australia before, required interpreters to understand 'Aussie speak'.
"We're settling in fine, in fact we've got a bet going for the first one of us who gets married to an Aussie girl and settles here," he laughed.
PO Campo said the major difference between Collins and LA class submarines, apart from their power plant, was that, unlike in the RAN, there were no female submariners in the US Navy. "It's certainly a difference but gender is not an issue as long as everyone does their job."
In addition to the requirement that they complete the Collins Class Conversion Training, the sailors will be required to complete the qualifications for and all of the requirements of the billets on board their respective submarines.
As a result, the sailors will be permitted to earn Australian Submarine Qualification and to wear their duly earned Australian Dolphins. They will also be permitted to wear the Dolphins on their uniform when they return to the US.
