Early days of the HMAS Waller

Also from 2001.

That these achievements were recorded by Waller, reinforces the claims for the inherently good stealth characteristics of the design. Waller is one of the class which has not yet been modified to overcome the shortcomings noted in the McIntosh/Prescott report. By exploiting these characteristics, Waller was able to perform well under exercise conditions and 'was able to operate in a way that did not expose her faults.' This mode of operation was classical submarine warfare, covert patrolling of a designated area at 3-4 kts, until unwary adversaries strayed in her way.

What Waller could not do was demonstrate the unusual degree of mobility her propulsion system allows, because of noise generated by the hull. Nor could she demonstrate the ability to use long range anti-shipping weapons, because of the failure of the combat system. In fact, Waller came close to being able to demonstrate very little in the exercise. In May the crew had to call for assistance from a Brisbane suburban IT repair company to fix 'scanners', so that the submarine could continue its deployment to the exercise area. Nor was she herself invulnerable. Waller was detected and 'sunk' during Tandem Thrust, a reminder, at least, that submarines are no more invulnerable than any other weapon of war and that a great number of submariners have died in combat.

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