>>/45016/ I just don't like the idea of it, accidents happen and I don't like the idea of being near something so contaminating. > our interest is in the balance of larger powers so neither can keep us under their thumb (too much) Many in this country advocate for that too, and indeed even I do even though I was just arguing for why these events happened. That is why they did it and it does make sense but there are other ways too. Paul Keating, our former PM was known for advocating for an independent foreighn policy and came out with this in response. > “The announced agreement between the United States, Britain and Australia for Australia to move to a fleet of US-supplied nuclear submarines, will amount to a lock-in of Australian military equipment and thereby forces, with those of the United States with only one underlying objective: the ability to act collectively in any military engagement by the United States against China,” Mr Keating said. > “This arrangement would witness a further dramatic loss of Australian sovereignty, as matériel dependency on the United States robbed Australia of any freedom or choice in any engagement Australia may deem appropriate. > “And all this at a time when United States reliability and resolution around its strategic commitments and military engagements are under question.” I think what we should have done is worked more with our neighbours to create an Australian led block, a block that can pose a united front that is strong enough to give China pause but that also is not outright backing the US(and of course it could be used to further our own agenda). >>/45018/ Australia is an island nation and much of our trade travels through the Indo-Pacific. We have just as much incentive to secure that than the others do, if not more. That's if these nuclear subs will actually deliver that much more performance than a conventional one, it seems that range and the ability to stay underwater without having to come up to charge batteries are the big advantages. The Shortfin Barracuda was supposed to have a range of 33,000 KM when surfaced, it's 6,900km from Adelaide to the Taiwan straight, so they could easily get there and back but only if surfaced, I looked up the ranges of the Collins class that are supposed to be similar. > Range > 11,500 nautical miles (21,300 km; 13,200 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced > 9,000 nmi (17,000 km; 10,000 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph) periscope > 480 nmi (890 km; 550 mi) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged So it seems that they can get 890km before they have to recharge. But that is still a fairly large distance but clearly not the whole trip.