SUBMARINES
www.vanguardcanada.com AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 17
tically (low data rate) or by satellite link
by coming to the surface in a polynya.
The latter allows for re-tasking the UUV
whilst deployed but is subject to prevail-
ing ice conditions.
• Endurance/Communications – these
two limiting factors of the UUV could
be mitigated by pre-deployed sub-
merged docking stations which would
extend the UUV endurance by charging
the UUV battery, as well as, acting as a
communications relay station via a buoy
or shore station for large data dumps to
supported units.
20
In addition to submarine launched and
controlled UUVs, larger unmanned sub-
marines are being developed to act as a
"mother ship" for smaller UUVs. Known
as Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehi-
cles (XLUUV), such as Lockheed Martin's
ORCA, these are being developed to com-
pliment submarine operations by allowing
for greater undersea operational aware-
ness, endurance measured in months and
the ability to support various operations
with different re-configurable payloads.
21
In conclusion, the optimal submarine
propulsion solution for the covert transit
of large distances and protracted under
ice operations remains with nuclear power
for the foreseeable future. However, if
Canada wishes to maximize the effective-
ness of current and future non-nuclear
powered submarines, then the answer
will be a combination of evolving power
generation and storage technology while
maximizing existing UUV capabilities. In
short, if Canada wants to go beyond ice-
edge operations and conduct prolonged
operations under the ice, it must either go
nuclear or unmanned.
References:
1. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-
defence/corporate/reports-publications/canada-defence-
policy.html accessed 18 June 2020.
2. https://www.forbes.com/sites/hisutton/2020/01/05/
the-2020s-will-change-the-world-submarine-
balance/#6fa61a695249 accessed 6 July 2020.
3. "Submarines are fundamentally important to our defence
strategy. They are a unique – and powerful deterrent
to any adversary, and they are critical to protecting our
national security interests. Submarines secure Australia's
strategic advantage – through leading-edge surveillance
and the protection of our maritime approaches". https://
www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/lreynolds/speech-
es/speech-australian-strategic-policy-institute 6 July 2020.
4. https://submarinesforaustralia.com.au/sea/wp-content/
uploads/Australias-Future-Submarine-Insight-Economics-
report-11-March-2020.pdf accessed 11 June 2020.
5. "AIP is often described as Air-Independent Propul-
sion, however the term has become outdated. As well as
propelling the submarine, AIP provides electrical power
for ship systems including domestic needs, hence the term
Air Independent Power. See http://www.hisutton.com/
World%20survey%20of%20AIP%20submarines.html ac-
cessed 11 June 2020.
6. Almost all naval nuclear reactors are Pressurized Water
Reactors (PWR) using water as a coolant, however, there
were some Soviet and one US submarine fitted with liquid
metal cooled reactors which were problematic to operate
and discontinued - see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Liquid_metal_cooled_reactor accessed 11 June 2020.
7. https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/navy-
ships/a19681544/how-a-submarine-surfaces-through-
ice/ accessed 11 June 2020.
8. Gimblett, Richard H., ed. (2009). The Naval Service
of Canada 1910–2010: The Centennial Story. Toronto:
Dundurn Press, pgs 179-181 and https://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Canada-class_submarine accessed 11 June 2020.
9. The US Navy's formidable nuclear safety record demanded
an equal investment by Canada and was a major reason
why the US was initially not supportive of Canada's SSN
programme. See: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamescon-
ca/2019/12/23/americas-nuclear-navy-still-the-masters-
of-nuclear-power/#4f97dd666bcd accessed 11 June 2020.
10. A CANDU reactor is a very large reactor which uses un-
enriched uranium as a fuel with heavy water as a moderator
whereas a submarine PWR is a very small reactor which
uses enriched uranium as a fuel and ordinary water under
pressure as a moderator see: https://cna.ca/technology/
energy/candu-technology/ and https://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Pressurized_water_reactor accessed 11 June
2020.
11. For example, the transit distance from Halifax NS to
Churchill MB is the same distance as a trans-Atlantic
crossing from Halifax NS to the UK, which at an aver-
age transit speed of 8 knots would take 15 days. Note,
AIP systems are designed for slower speeds (typically
5 knots) for covert patrolling. http://ports.com/sea-
route/#/?a=1559&b=155&c=Port%20of%20Halifax,%20
Canada&d=Port%20of%20Plymouth,%20United%20King-
dom Accessed 8 July 2020
12. Routine ice edge operations would demand a bigger
hull, that is strengthened, to surface through ice in an
emergency, as well as enhanced navigation and life support
systems. Moreover, operating in the Arctic requires total
self-sufficiency as shore-based support is not available and
the submarine must be large enough to carry sufficient fuel
and stores, as well as being able to meet environmental
regulations which preclude any discharge (e.g. large holding
tanks).
13. https://www.thyssenkrupp-marinesystems.com/en/hdw-
fuel-cell-aip-system.html accessed 11 June 2020.
14. https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2019/07/naval-
group-achieves-breakthrough-with-its-fc2g-aip-system/
accessed 6 July 2020.
15. https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-attack-class-
submarine-battery-debate-science-fiction-or-engineering/
accessed 6 July 2020.
16. "Route Survey is a Mine Counter Measure (MCM) technique
that uses side scan sonars to determine optimal shipping
route selection (in terms of ease of mine detection) through
the pre-survey of all objects along these routes, and in times
of conflict, the re-survey of these routes to find differences".
See: https://mosaichydro.com/sites/default/files/papers/
MBES_in_Route_Survey.pdf accessed 11 June 2020.
17. https://gdmissionsystems.com/products/underwater-
vehicles/bluefin-12-unmanned-underwater-vehicle accessed
11 June 2020.
18. https://ise.bc.ca/product/theseus-auv/ accessed 11 June
2020.
19. https://www.researchgate.net/publica-
tion/224239582_12_days_under_ice_-_an_historic_AUV_
deployment_in_the_Canadian_High_Arctic accessed 11
June 2020.
20. https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a531594.pdf
accessed 11 June 2020.
21. https://www.militaryaerospace.com/computers/arti-
cle/16722145/navy-starts-rampingup-production-of-large-
unmanned-submarines-for-reconnaissance-and-special-ops
accessed 8 July 2020.
Captain Norman Jolin, RCN (Ret'd) is an
Associate Consultant with CFN Consultants
specializing in naval and maritime issues.
Prior to joining CFN, he provided advice on
Canadian defence procurement in the pri-
vate sector, following a 37-year career in the
Royal Canadian Navy.
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