Download - Royal Australian Navy

VICTORIA VS JULIETT
By LCDR Lawrie Pappin
During my time in Canada I was fortunate to gain exposure to a number of submarine platforms.
During the early part of my tenure I rubbed shoulders with the trusted Oberon, including an
Intermediate Docking in Marystown, Newfoundland. The arrival of HMCS VICTORIA in late 2000
was my next experience and equally interesting. The Victoria Class boats are the ex-Upholders and are
to be phased into service with the Canadians at a rate of about one submarine a year. Each platform
received a ‘Canadianisation’ package that included a new communications suite, ESM and SFCS.
Despite being a very capable platform, there were the natural problems that occur during
introduction, many reminiscent of our own program. Availability of spares, OQE for spares and a
maintenance system that needed some streamlining were recurring engineering themes.
Notwithstanding these challenges, the Canadians did get some valuable sea time out of HMCS
WINDSOR before her Canadianisation work period, and HMCS VICTORIA will be off the dock by the
time this article goes to print. HMCS VICTORIA will soon be home based in Esquimalt on the West
Coast and I am sure it is only a matter of time before we see her at a RIMPAC.
My final experience was a tour with the production crew for the movie K-19 on a Soviet ‘Juliett’ Class.
The Juliett was built during the 60’s as a missile launch platform, and after completing service with
the Russian Navy was used for a time as a floating restaurant in the USA. The battery compartment
had been stripped out and replaced with intimately arranged dining tables (as if they could be
described in any other way). I marvelled that some people would pay to have a meal in a battery
compartment. Other interesting features were the design that included ‘T’ frames on the outside of the
pressure hull and torpedoes that must have been loaded through the tubes. (Whilst looking to refresh
my memory on the Juliett, I discovered you can still buy a Juliett Class submarine over the Internet).
On a more personal note, I am still an advocate for Canada as a place to live or visit, and encourage
personnel to apply for the available exchange postings, or the 3 week ADAC course for AWA’s.
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