ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the decision-making environment attending the mooted acquisition, by Canada, of nuclear-propelled attack submarines (SSNs). It focuses on the technical, logistic, and financial considerations relating to the 1987 Defence White Paper's selection of SSNs, presents a brief review of relevant background material. In assessing the desirability of acquiring SSNs as an essential component of operations in the Atlantic and Pacific, it is instructive to review again the recommendations of the Senate Committee. If the volume of ocean for Canadian operations was limited, this could again reasonably adequately, perhaps even more effectively, be met by smaller, cheaper, more numerous conventional submarines, particularly if these had the potential advantage of Air-Independent Propulsion. The discussion of the desirability of nuclear submarines has skirted conventional alternatives to nuclear boats. In a relatively brief speech Beatty noted "the growing strategic importance of the Arctic Ocean as an operating area for foreign submarines raising both security and sovereignty concerns for Canada."
