Admiral Estimates Aukus Submarine Fleet Requires 3,000 Personnel

The Royal Australian Navy currently fields a submarine force that is one-third the size of what retired Admiral Peter Briggs says is required to operate the nation's future nuclear fleet. As the US Virginia-class submarine USS Colorado docked at HMAS Stirling near Perth on Tuesday, Briggs issued a warning about the scale of recruitment needed to meet the commitments of the Aukus security pact.

The US vessel arrived after a two-week transit from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. It carries four torpedoes and four payload tubes. Captain Justin Reeves, who commands the ship, noted that the crew of 160 men navigates a vessel designed for combat efficiency rather than comfort. Sleeping arrangements often involve stacked bunks or rotating bed schedules. Reeves stated that the nuclear reactor eliminates the need for refueling, meaning mission limits are determined by food and toilet paper supplies that last several months.

Australia plans to buy three to five of these Virginia-class boats under a $368 billion agreement. They will replace the five aging Collins-class diesel-electric submarines. The new nuclear vessels are much larger and require up to 134 crew members each. This staffing level is nearly three times higher than that of the current Collins class.

The navy has 230 personnel in the US nuclear submarine training pipeline. A spokesperson said about 145 of those individuals have completed nuclear power training and are gaining experience on US Navy submarines. The service projects that 400 officers and sailors will be ready for duty by 2030.

Briggs argued that this pace is not enough. He estimated that Australia needs a submarine arm of approximately 3,000 personnel. He described this target as a major hurdle, citing the need for specialized nuclear skills. The current force has about 850 qualified submariners for the Collins class. Briggs noted that maintaining two different submarine types complicates training, logistics, and maintenance.

The Virginia-class boats serve as a bridge to the SSN-AUKUS design, which Australia and the United Kingdom are developing jointly. The recruitment process is complex because it requires more than a dozen different trades, including sonar operators, radio operators, cooks, and electricians. The Australian government did not provide specific responses regarding recruitment targets or workforce development status.

The USS Colorado will stay in Perth for one month of routine maintenance. The visit allows Australian personnel to practice and test nuclear-related operational procedures. Officials confirmed that no radiological material will be transferred and that exercises will be simulated. The vessel is scheduled to return to Australian waters in late 2027 as part of a rotational force program.