Canada's Navy is doing its best to stand on guard for thee, but some days it must seem like the whole world is out to get our sailors.
Canada's ability to prowl the depths of the three oceans it borders have taken a rather serious hit as word gets out that three of our four diesel powered subs won't be anywhere near a patrol for the next year and half.
The fleet of four formerly British owned subs were sold to Canada ten years ago for what was described at the time as a bargain basement price of 900 million. Since that time, there has been nothing but misery and mystery associated with the vessels.
Tragedy struck one, the HMCS Chicoutimi which saw one sailor die and eight others injured during an on board fire in 2004, during the vessels transit back to Canada upon purchase. That sub has never been put into active service and now is not expected to return to active duty until at least 2012.
Other technical problems and mystery difficulties have plagued the other vessels as well, leaving Canada seemingly stuck with the most cursed fleet to ever sail three of the seven seas.
The original purchase of the four subs was made by the Liberal government who tripped over themselves back in the day over how financially savvy they were and what a deal they had procured for Canada.
The Conservatives have continued on with what seems like a less than prudent path, adding more money to the pile in a bid to eventually put a fleet to sea that can stay in the water for more than a few hours.
The Montreal Gazette, through files from Canwest news, provides the path to what seems to be the never reached bottom of an endless pit of money...
Other archived material on the submarine program:
CBC News--Canada's military submarines
BBC News-- Canada defends submarine fleet
Canadian Forces home page -- Navy home page
No comments:
Post a Comment