Aukus Manpower: Retired Admiral Sets 3,000 Sailor Target

Retired Admiral Peter Briggs estimates that Australia requires approximately 3,000 personnel to operate its future nuclear submarine fleet, a number that would triple the size of the current submarine arm. Briggs made the assessment as the US Navy submarine USS Colorado arrived at HMAS Stirling near Perth on Tuesday. He described the staffing requirement as a major hurdle for the nation's defense establishment.

The Royal Australian Navy currently fields about 850 qualified submariners for the existing Collins-class fleet. The new Virginia-class vessels are larger and require up to 134 crew members per boat, nearly three times the staffing level of the older diesel-electric subs. This increase in individual ship crew size drives the total personnel requirement upward as the fleet expands to three to five ships under the $368 billion Aukus pact.

Navy officials project that 400 officers and sailors will be trained and ready for duty by 2030. As of now, 230 Australian personnel are in the US training pipeline, with 145 having completed nuclear power training. Briggs argued that this current trajectory is insufficient and that a more intensive recruitment strategy is necessary to meet the operational demands of the new nuclear-powered boats.

The recruitment challenge is compounded by the need for over a dozen different trades, including sonar operators, radio technicians, cooks, and electricians. Briggs noted that maintaining two distinct submarine types, the Virginia-class and the future SSN-AUKUS design, adds complexity to logistics, maintenance, and spare parts management. The Australian government did not provide specific responses regarding recruitment targets or workforce development status during the announcement.

The USS Colorado, built in 2018, will remain in Perth for a month of routine maintenance. During this visit, Australian personnel will practice procedures for various nuclear-related operational scenarios. Officials confirmed that no radiological material would be transferred and that related exercises would be simulated. The vessel carried four torpedoes and four payload tubes on its two-week journey from Pearl Harbor, which was staffed by a crew of 160.

Captain Justin Reeves, commanding the USS Colorado, described the vessel as built for combat rather than comfort, noting that sleeping arrangements often involve stacked bunks or shared beds. He stated that the submarine's operational limits are determined by food and supplies, which can last for several months due to the nuclear power plant. The USS Colorado is scheduled to return to Australian waters in late 2027 as part of a rotational force program aimed at building local skills and infrastructure.