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Wouldn't a bunch of smaller diesel attack subs be a better tool for controlling our coasts and northern waters?
We deploy our subs for blue water not just littoral use. They patrol up as far as the South China Sea. Nukes allow us the stay on station for much longer than DEs.
The South China Sea is shallow, a poor operating environment for nuclear subs.
Containment of China to the South China Sea is a US strategy and one which Australia is subsiding, while materially hurting its ability to defend Australia’s coastline.
A nuke sub operating there for a couple of months is still better than a DE that leaves after a week (presuming it can reach that far at all).
If we're so concerned about the South China Sea, we can give Taiwan or Japan diesel subs. It's not like the nuclear subs would be of much use to us anyway if they're on the other side of Indonesia.
Although I can't imagine an Internal Combusion Engine sub being at all stealthy, so I'd hope there's some kind of third option.
Although I can’t imagine an Internal Combusion Engine sub being at all stealthy
Diesel electrics can be very stealthy, with the potential to be even more so than nuclear subs when trying to hide (given equivalent level of technology elsewhere in the design). What they can't do is continue being stealthy for anywhere near the time a nuclear sub can as eventually you need to come near the surface and run the diesel to recharge the batteries. Diesel electrics are also comparatively range limited - while they can travel a considerable distance nuclear subs are effectively only limited by their ability to supply the crew.
It's 386 billion over 30 years. Peanuts for a nuclear sub program and the capabilities of provides. Shit headline.