First published June 16, 2017 but still relevant. Large SSK diesels, already in use, including as backups in nuclear subs, are less risky than new diesels for Australian use only.
Australia's inexperience (and trust in Kockums in the 1980s-90s) was readily apparent. ASC and the RAN no longer had Vickers or the UK RN (Parents of the Oberons) to protect Australia in the Collins project. GI-H's were one submarine class ORPHAN diesels which would have been good for the cold, short distance, Baltic, but remain a constant problem for Australia's warm wide ocean requirements. Tried, tested common-in-submarine-use MANs or MTUs should have been selected for the Collins instead.
Australia's inexperience (and trust in Kockums in the 1980s-90s) was readily apparent. ASC and the RAN no longer had Vickers or the UK RN (Parents of the Oberons) to protect Australia in the Collins project. GI-H's were one submarine class ORPHAN diesels which would have been good for the cold, short distance, Baltic, but remain a constant problem for Australia's warm wide ocean requirements. Tried, tested common-in-submarine-use MANs or MTUs should have been selected for the Collins instead.
I think regular tried and tested submarine Kawasaki, MAN or MTU diesels would be better for Shortfin rather than again specially developing "new orphan" engines like the Garden Island-Hedemoras (GI-H).
The bottom of this site http://www.fairbanksmorse.com/marine/ indeed points to Fairbanks-Morse diesels being used for backup on Ohio, Seawolf and Los Angeles class nuclear subs. The specific diesel is a slightly modified version - Fairbanks-Morse 38ND 8-1/8. This is noting the Fairbanks-Morse 38 8-1/8 was used extensively in US diesel electric submarines of the 1940s and 1950s.
Current and Still being fitted for large submarine use are the Caterpillar 3512B V-12 Twin-turbo charged diesels . The US Viginia class SSN use these diesels as backup (bottom of another site) described in 2004. Closely related 3512C on Caterpillar site. Also here , here and here).
All this recognises characteristics of backup diesels for nuclear subs might be different than for continuous long range use on conventional subs (SSKs). I'd be happier if F-M was still supplying diesels to SSKs rather leaving this market years ago.
Pete