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Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch
First off on the Submarines. I'm a proponent of the Navy having an under sea service. first and foremost they're the best option for intelligence gathering within our coastal waters. They're also one of the few pure offensive platforms that we have in our navy. Our Frigates for example aren't really offensive platforms, they're more designed for escort duty and task force anti-submarine taskings. While they do have some offensive capabilities in terms of the ability to launch Surface to Surface missiles range wise they don't project power and their offensive bubble is tiny.
With a sub, even the rumor of a sub being in the area can cause a change in posture by someone that's hostile.
In terms of how the government procures for the Military, its a complete balls up hash job, and we're standing on the verge another boondoogle like the Helicopter procurement with the next generation fighter procurement.
With the exception of Peter McKay who was actually a good Minister of National Defense Canada has put the National Defense Strategy in the hands of a massive collection of bumblers and career opportunitists since about the late 50's.
It used to be that you would want a former Military Man in that portfolio, but a great or even good soldier doesn't make a good Minister of National Defense as our current one is showing.
At the end of the day, the only guy outside of McKay who had to try to head off rust off and did a good job of improving Canada's heavy Airlift Capability. Replace aging equipment and try to make sure that our troops in Afghanistan were properly kitted out in a short period of time and create a cohesive future procurement strategy was crazy Paul "UFO" Hellyer who had the right idea of consolidating the Forces Supply and Logistics and procurement strategy but took it waaaaay to far in consolidating the entire military. He basically had the idea that a leading seaman working engineering on a ship could be reassigned as a mechanic with a tank battalion for example.
I think that the problem is that the upper tier of the DND is incredibly bloated. We have too many bureaucrats and too many generals and admirals for a military of our size and they can't agree.
What we need is a MND who will fight tooth and nail for funds, and a committee of non partisan non governmental military personal and civilian experts who can dope out the long terms requirements of the military and work to find the best equipment to fill it and then live within the budget.
We have way to many vested government workers on the file right now who are merely punching their ministry tickets.
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Totally agree the forces need submarine capability, just not these boats. On my phone right now, will write longer post later.