Letter

In response to Hugh White dismantles the AUKUS project By Nick Deane

Those nuclear submarines

Roughly, the Virginia Class Submarines appear to have a cruise depth of about 50m. This gives them a maximum of 10m clearance across the Gulf of Carpentaria and Bass Strait. The Gulf also has a tidal range of 3m so on a bad day, the clearance would be 7m. The platform and barrier reefs also need to be factored in. There are also shallow waters between Broome and Darwin as well as those associated with the Great Barrier Reef. So, unless these submarines are fitted with wheels, they are useless for patrolling around Australia. The conclusion must be that they are not for defence but for offence. Do we see Australia as taking on that role?

— John Davies from Mullumbimby NSW 2482