The Torch: Good submarine news

One hopes the schedule can be kept--and that they will be fully operational:

Almost 10 years after Canada bought four British submarines [see "VICTORIA CLASS" here], a naval commander says at least three of them should be fully operational within the next 18 months.

Vice-Admiral Drew Robertson said Friday he expects HMCS Victoria, HMCS Cornerbrook and HMCS Windsor to be in service “over the coming year, year and a half … sailing simultaneously.”

Submarines are considered fully operational when they have the capability to fire torpedoes underwater.

The Canadian government bought four subs from Britain in 1998 for about $890-million.

There was a fire aboard HMCS Chicoutimi in October, 2004 as it sailed from Britain to Canada. Lieutenant Chris Saunders of Halifax died as a result of the blaze.

Admiral Robertson indicated the vessel still won't be repaired for another two years.

“Because of capacity issues, we are going to proceed with the repairs to Chicoutimi beginning in 2010, once the other three submarines are fully operational,” he told reporters after a speech to the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations.

Admiral Robertson added that HMCS Cornerbrook is currently being deployed off the east coast.

“[It's] working with the naval task group and will then be proceeding with other activities in the next couple of months,” he said.

The other two subs, HMCS Victoria and HMCS Windsor, are currently undergoing maintenance.

Senior federal officials have in past looked into the possibility of buying new subs and scrapping the four British-built vessels.

But Admiral Robertson told reporters there are no plans to buy any new submarines.

He said the government and Defence Minister Peter MacKay are “very supportive of moving the current subs to full operational capacity.

“These are very capable boats that show what a powerful combination you get out of stealth and skill in the hands of Canadian submariners.”