THE TRADE

A View of the
‘Submarine Enterprise’
from a Submarine Crew
FROM THE BOATS
It’s mid afternoon and 1 st watch is on.
HMAS Waller has recently emerged from
an extensive refit and is now at depth in
the WAXA conducting equipment trials. A
number of systems have already been tested
extensively and are performing as expected.
A defect had already been identified on one
key system during the refit and the current
trial is putting the components to the test.
Several parameters are being monitored
however it is already clear that one parameter
in particular is not meeting its specification.
It’s March 2016 and there is a lot more that
Waller needs to achieve before leaving the
Australian station and heading east to Hawaii
to represent the RAN and the Submarine
Force at RIMPAC.
In the weeks that followed some tough
decisions were made which ultimately
resulted in Waller heading as far east as
Adelaide for an emergency docking at ASC’s
dockyard at Outer Harbour to address
the system defects indentified during the
licensing process.
The nature of the task to be undertaken
was complex and not normally performed
outside of Full Cycle Docking periods.
Before Waller arrived the ASC workforce
was already committed to HMA Ships Collins
(just commencing FCD) and Farncomb,
just completing FCD that was preparing
to proceed to sea. From April until June
Waller was on the hardstand at ASC-N
with shift workers supporting the Defect
Rectification Period (DRP) nearly around the
clock. Waller emerged from the DRP ahead
of the challenging schedule not as a matter
of course, but as a result of a clear and
common goal combined with a considerable
time investment and a coordinated effort
from the Enterprise. As of mid August,
Waller is preparing to sail from FBW for
a revised program. It is now that we can
look back on Waller’s time in Adelaide with
some objectivity and appreciation for what
occurred.
If there is one factor not to be overlooked it is
the importance of the personal relationships
that were formed early in the DRP and
maintained throughout. ASC SA proved not
to be a faceless organisation, instead a team
of motivated people. And the crew of Waller
the same. Relationships were developed at
every level, and at every level were equally
important to the success of the DRP: from
the spirited conversations between CMDR
Richard Lindsey (CO) and Mr Andy Cann (GM
CCSM Delivery), to the questionable banter
between ABMTSM Joshua Day and Mr Andy
Curtis (ASC Engineer).
The immediate benefit of these relationships
was communication – a free flow of
information, ideas and expectations. There
was a common goal, a shared raison d’être,
and the effect was palpable. This was perhaps
most evident in the day to day working
relationships between Waller’s engineers,
LCDR William McDougall, LEUT Wes North
and LEUT Matt Tabulo, and the ASC Boat
Manager Mr Shannon Dainait. ASC also
noted that beyond this, the contribution of
Waller’s Engineering team was instrumental
in assessing technical and schedule risk
which assisted in decision making throughout
the DRP. The goal was clear: get Waller
back to sea in a seaworthy condition and
everything that was done was done with a
view to achieving this goal. Simply put: as
perceived or otherwise, the schedule was
never delayed unnecessarily and work was
conducted safely and efficiently. And as a
result, the ATP-DRP concluded two weeks
ahead of a realistic schedule.
It was not just ASC that supported Waller
during the ATP-DRP. Other Enterprise
organisations were also on hand and for
the most part brought their full resources
to bear on the problem of getting Waller
back to sea in minimal time. Waller’s Naval
Representative (NR), Mr Wayne Gilligan,
spent considerable time in Adelaide, away
from his desk at the Collins SPO at HMAS
Stirling, and his support and facilitation
of the repairs and subsequent emergent
work, including some challenging URDEFs
on unrelated systems, was appreciated by
all. Submarine Certification Group (SCG)
also proved critical to the DRP assisting
in SUBSAFE Re-Entry Controls (RECs)
and system and equipment isolations.
Waller’s crew commented favourably on
SCG’s ability to act as a sounding board
and as a liaison between Navy and ASC,
aiding in communication and translating
Navy’s requirements to ‘ASC speak’.
Finally, with Farncomb alongside preparing
to sail, their assistance was appreciated
and commendable. Farncomb provided
both stores and personnel to aid in defect
investigation and rectification.
Getting Waller to sea and proving her as
a Seaworthy mission system was a clear
priority, however it was important not to
ignore the morale of our Ship’s Company.
While in Adelaide, the majority of the crew was
accommodated in transit accommodation
at RAAF Base Edinburgh – an hour from
Outer Harbour and Adelaide city. Despite
the isolated living conditions, the uncertain
and changing program, and the dwindling
expectation of deploying to RIMPAC or
other exercises out of Hawaii, the crew
maintained an exceptional level of morale.
This was due in no small part to leadership
within the ranks. The positive effect that a
number of influential Junior Sailors had on the
attitude and outlook of the crew can not be
understated or underappreciated. A number
of personnel remarked that in many ways it
would have been easier to be at sea. Having
daily contact with home without being able
to provide physical support – being so close,
but so far – proved challenging. Working
hours were long and days off were few and
far between, and so every effort was made to
provide respite where possible and a number
of group activities were organised. The DRP
was challenging, and while some challenges
are enjoyable, the crew is happy to put the
DRP behind them and progress Waller’s
program for the remainder of 2016.
Waller emerged from the unscheduled
docking ready to proceed to sea and fulfil
any tasking or commitments required of her.
Of course if there was a choice, none of
this would have happened – however what
has been shown during the ATP-DRP is the
ability of the Enterprise to support, adapt and
deliver, and most importantly, bounce back
to achieve the aim.•
THE TRADE
60 THE TRADE
61
EDITION 2, 2016 EDITION 2, 2016