Maintenance work begins on US N-sub in Perth

Royal Australian Navy and Australian industry staff are set to begin maintenance work on the first US nuclear powered submarine to be docked in Perth as part of the AUKUS partnership.

They will work on US Virginia class submarine USS Hawaii alongside US counterparts in a Submarine Tendered Maintenance Period (STMP) at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia (pictured).

USS Hawaii has joined the USS Emory S. Lan, a US service ship with equipment and crew dedicated to providing significant maintenance work for US submarines.

Thirty Australian staff embedded on the USS Emory S. Lan to learn how to maintain nuclear powered vessels have also returned to Perth on the ship.

In addition one of the Royal Australian Navy officers to graduate from the Submarine Officer Basic Course and naval nuclear training in the US, is part of the crew of USS Hawaii.

Workers from the government’s sovereign sustainment partner ASC Pty Ltd will be involved providing support services, also learning about SSN maintenance.

The first cohort of ASC workers commenced direct training on the maintenance of Virginia class submarines in the United States in June and will provide maintenance work in the future.

The Director-General Australian Submarine Agency Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead said: “The unique training Australian industry and Defence personnel are receiving at US and UK naval bases, shipyards, training facilities, and submarines is a great strength of the AUKUS partnership, and we are already seeing the training being applied right here in Australia.

“This submarine maintenance activity is another significant step forward in building Australia’s skills to safely operate and maintain our own sovereign conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines from the early 2030s.”

During World War II, the US Navy routinely conducted maintenance on US, UK, and Dutch submarines in Fremantle.

Under AUKUS one UK Astute class and up to four US Virginia class submarines will be rotated through HMAS Stirling.

USS Hawaii is armed with vertically launched Tomahawk cruise missiles and Mark 48 advanced capability torpedoes.

Picture: Defence/HMAS Stirling