RAN with submarines in WWII

The subs don't have to be only employed against Japan, just not be sunk in the Med because they were big subs in a small sea before they get a chance to stretch their legs in the Pacific. I think the spirit of the OP is to have some British 'Pacific' boats with their good torpedoes going nuts against Japan while the USN is getting it's shit together. I want this to happen as well, it would be great.
 
So, if it is impractical to have them built before WW2 in the UK or Australia - then they need to have been built elsewhere!

So, how plausible would it be for RAN to appropriate French submarines - that maybe were in Australian ports e.g. after fall of France? And by 'after' I mean any point in time 'after'.
 
So, how plausible would it be for RAN to appropriate French submarines - that maybe were in Australian ports e.g. after fall of France? And by 'after' I mean any point in time 'after'.


Merlin,

That's a very interesting idea.

The French had slightly more than 40 boats in the Med when they surrendered and all but 2 or 3 stayed with Vichy. IIRC, Britain actually had to sink one during the Syrian campaign.

Having more French subs "come over" to Britain in 1940 could be helpful if the French were willing to operate under British command like the various Norwegian and Dutch naval assets did in the OTL.

More Free French naval assets could be seen as bargaining chips by de Gaulle and the other Free French leaders. They'd trade away control of a few boats in return for certain political considerations.

Of course, whether the RN, or anybody else, would want to take the time to learn how to operate the French boats, whether the weapons aboard those boats could be refitted to to WAllie standards, or whether the boats would be seen as useful are all important questions.

Still, when you consider that Britain was forced to redeploy all it's submarines in the Far East to the Med and Red Seas when Italy joined the war, having the prospect of extra hulls at hand could be attractive.


Bill
 
Wouldn't it be easier to just buy submarines from the United States. US had a whole bunch of older O, R, and S class submarines decommissioned since 1931. Surely Australia could buy some in 1939.
 
Wouldn't it be easier to just buy submarines from the United States. US had a whole bunch of older O, R, and S class submarines decommissioned since 1931. Surely Australia could buy some in 1939.


Tallwingedgoat,

Most certainly.

The question then becomes are those old boats which have been decommissioned for nearly a decade worth operating? And that's a similar question to the one about whether it would be worthwhile learning to operate and retrofitting any French boats.

I'm also unsure of whether the US or French boats in question would have the range navies as different as the RN, USN, and IJN all thought was necessary for operations in the Pacific.


Bill
 
Merlin,

That's a very interesting idea.
Thanks

The French had slightly more than 40 boats in the Med when they surrendered and all but 2 or 3 stayed with Vichy. IIRC, Britain actually had to sink one during the Syrian campaign.

Having more French subs "come over" to Britain in 1940 could be helpful if the French were willing to operate under British command like the various Norwegian and Dutch naval assets did in the OTL.

Of course, whether the RN, or anybody else, would want to take the time to learn how to operate the French boats, whether the weapons aboard those boats could be refitted to to WAllie standards, or whether the boats would be seen as useful are all important questions.

Still, when you consider that Britain was forced to redeploy all it's submarines in the Far East to the Med and Red Seas when Italy joined the war, having the prospect of extra hulls at hand could be attractive.


Bill

Regarding, converting them the W. Allies standards, when needs must - doesn't that just mean re-labelling 'french (language) instruments, changing the wireless equipement, and re-loading torpedoes (though perhaps the electrical system may be on a different voltage)?

The French did have subs in the Pacific - seem to remember the uniquely French one with an 8" gun!! Perhaps, the RAN could comandeer them.

Or at least in an ATL, it could be plausible.

As regards - buying them elsewhere, I think it would more likely be the case of:
'If only we had some subs, we could really do some danger to the those Jap' ships'.
'What, about those, we have over in - Freemantle(?), I know they are French - but they won't be using them'!

That is , a coincidence of need and availability.
 
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