Collins-class submarine

Collins-class submarine
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman James R. Evans · Public domain · source
Name	Collins class
Caption	HMAS Collins underway in 2015
Builders	Australian Submarine Corporation
Operators	Royal Australian Navy
Built range	1990–2003
In commission	1996–present
Type	Diesel-electric submarine
Displacement	3,051 tonnes (surfaced), 3,353 tonnes (submerged)
Length	77.8 m
Beam	7.8 m
Draught	7 m
Propulsion	3 × Garden Island-Hedemora HV V18b/15Ub (VB210) diesel engines, 3 × Jeumont-Schneider generators, 1 × ASEA main motor, 1 shaft
Speed	10.5 knots (surfaced), 21 knots (submerged)
Range	11,500 nautical miles at 10 knots (snorkel), 9,000 nautical miles at 10 knots (surfaced)
Endurance	70 days
Test depth	Over 180 m
Complement	42 (standard), 58 (maximum)
Sensors	Thales Scylla bow sonar, Thales Karriwarra towed array sonar, Raytheon AR-740 ESM, Atlas Elektronik DBQS-40 sonar suite
Armament	6 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes, Mk 48 Mod 7 CBASS torpedoes, UGM-84C Harpoon Block 1C anti-ship missiles, 44 weapons total

Collins-class submarine. The Collins class is a series of six diesel-electric submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy. Designed in the late 1980s and constructed in Adelaide during the 1990s, they were the first submarines built in Australia since the Second World War. The class was intended to replace the aging Oberon-class boats and provide a potent, long-range submarine warfare capability for the defense of Australia and its maritime approaches.

Development and design

The program to replace the Royal Australian Navy's Oberon-class fleet began in the early 1980s, culminating in the selection of the Kockums Type 471 design from Sweden in 1987. The design was heavily modified for Australian conditions, leading to a significantly larger hull than the original Västergötland-class parent design. Key requirements included long endurance, substantial weapons payload, and advanced sonar systems suitable for operations in the demanding acoustic environment of the Pacific Ocean. The project was managed by the Australian Submarine Corporation, a consortium established specifically for the build, with major design input from Kockums and Rockwell International.

Construction and specifications

Construction of the lead boat, HMAS ''Collins'', began at the Australian Submarine Corporation yard in Adelaide in 1990. The class was built in modular sections, with some components, including the Garden Island-Hedemora diesel engines, manufactured overseas. Each submarine displaces over 3,000 tonnes submerged, measures 77.8 meters in length, and is powered by a combination of three diesel engines and a single ASEA electric motor driving a seven-bladed propeller. The combat system, initially the Rockwell International Submarine Tactical Information and Combat Control System, integrates the Thales sonar suites and Raytheon electronic warfare systems. Armament consists of six torpedo tubes capable of firing Mk 48 torpedoes and UGM-84C Harpoon missiles.

Service history

HMAS ''Collins'' was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy in 1996, with the remaining five boats entering service by 2003. Initial service was marred by significant technical and performance issues, including excessive noise from the propeller, unreliable Rockwell International combat systems, and problems with the Garden Island-Hedemora diesel engines. These early difficulties were the subject of intense scrutiny by the Parliament and media, notably covered in the Moore-era defence reviews. Despite the rocky start, the class achieved operational certification and has since participated in major exercises like RIMPAC and Operation SLIPPER, conducting patrols throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Upgrades and modernization

A major program, the Collins Replacement Program, was initially considered but later abandoned in favor of extensive modernization. The most significant upgrade was the Collins Combat System replacement, which saw the troubled Rockwell International system replaced with the Raytheon AN/BYG-1 system, common with the United States Navy. Other improvements under the Collins Reliability and Sustainability program included new Thales sonar arrays, upgraded Atlas Elektronik flank arrays, and enhancements to the Garden Island-Hedemora engines. These upgrades, conducted at the Australian Submarine Corporation facility, have substantially improved the class's reliability and combat effectiveness, extending their service life.

Operators

The sole operator of the Collins class is the Royal Australian Navy. All six submarines are based at HMAS Stirling naval base, near Perth, Western Australia, which serves as home port for the Australian Submarine Service. The boats are assigned to the Fleet Base West and form the entirety of Australia's conventional submarine force. The class is scheduled to remain in service until the late 2030s, when it will be replaced by the nuclear-powered AUKUS submarines developed in partnership with the United Kingdom and the United States.

Category:Submarine classes Category:Cold War submarines of Australia Category:Collins-class submarines