Originally Posted by
ChrisJ800
Do we not have a closer port than at Perth for accessing those chokepoints or are they all now chinese controlled?
The waters around the Port of Darwin (Arafura Sea) are shallow and are not suitable for submarine operations. Also, the Northern coastline of Australia experience very large tidal changes which involve different docking requirements. Cyclones also present another issue.
If the US was to begin submarine operations out of Australia, the joint operations would create a case for a resupply/rearming facility to be built at Exmouth (near Learmonth RAAF Base) as this would reduce transit times and get these vessels back on station faster. There is deep water just to the West so it’s more suitable than Darwin. Also, the relative isolation of that area would mean the activities at that facility would not be subject to many prying eyes.
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This is a more comprehensive map showing RAN submarine operating areas than the one I previously posted.
