Submarine Staffing: Retired Admiral Calls for 3,000 Personnel

Retired Admiral Peter Briggs has called for a massive expansion of Australia's naval personnel to support the new nuclear submarine fleet. Speaking as the Virginia-class submarine USS Colorado arrived at HMAS Stirling near Perth, Briggs stated that the country faces a major hurdle in recruiting and training enough sailors. He estimated that the submarine arm will eventually need approximately 3,000 personnel to function effectively.

The Aukus defense agreement, valued at $368 billion, commits Australia to buying three to five Virginia-class vessels from the United States. These boats will replace the five aging Collins-class diesel-electric submarines. The new nuclear vessels are much larger than the current fleet and require up to 134 crew members each. This staffing level is nearly three times higher than what the Collins class requires.

The Royal Australian Navy currently has 230 personnel in the US nuclear submarine training pipeline. A navy spokesperson said that about 145 of these individuals have completed nuclear power training and are gaining experience on US Navy vessels. The service projects that 400 officers and sailors will be trained and ready for duty by 2030. Briggs argued that these numbers are not enough and that a more intensive recruitment strategy is required.

Australia currently has about 850 qualified submariners operating the Collins-class fleet. The Virginia-class boats serve as a bridge to the future SSN-AUKUS design, a larger vessel being developed jointly with the United Kingdom. Briggs noted that maintaining two distinct submarine types adds complexity to training, logistics, maintenance, and spare parts management. He emphasized the need for specialized nuclear skills to handle the transition.

The recruitment process is complicated by the need for over a dozen different trades. These roles range from sonar and radio operators to cooks and electricians. The Australian government did not provide specific responses regarding recruitment targets or the status of workforce development programs in response to the warning.

The USS Colorado will remain in Perth for a month of routine maintenance. The visit is intended to help Australian personnel practice and test procedures across various nuclear-related operational scenarios. Officials confirmed that no radiological material would be transferred and that related exercises would be simulated. The vessel, built in 2018, arrived carrying four torpedoes and four payload tubes.

The journey from Pearl Harbor in Hawaii took two weeks and was made by a crew of 160 men. Captain Justin Reeves noted that the submarine is built for combat rather than comfort, with sleeping arrangements that can involve stacked bunks or sharing beds through rotating schedules. Reeves highlighted that the vessel does not require refueling, noting that endurance limits are determined by food and toilet paper. The USS Colorado is scheduled to return to Australian waters in late 2027 as part of a rotational force program.