A new Arsenal of Democracy isn’t all neo-primes, wonder weapons and start up hype. Australia can play an outsized role in maintenance & repair ⬇️
We’ve previously opined about the key role Australia played in ship repair during World War II. Other shipyards further from the fight could build more quickly and effectively, but our proximity and ability to repair and maintain was crucial. The dockyard facilities at Cockatoo Island were just one example of the demand for ship repairs and maintenance from our navy, merchant fleet and those of our allies. As the Naval Historical Society of Australia explains:
“During the war years dockyard activity at Cockatoo Island was frantic, as the island became the major shipbuilding and dockyard facility for the Pacific region after the fall of Singapore. Hundreds of ships from the RAN and US Navy were docked at Cockatoo for refitting and repairs. Wartime dockings totaled 750 vessels, of which 395 were merchant ships and 350 were naval ships.”
Strategic geography doesn’t go out of fashion. As it currently stands Australia is focused a recapitalisation of our surface and submarine fleet and associated expansion and preparation of shipyards at Osborne in South Australia and Henderson in Western Australia. What we also need to consider is what a surge in demand for in theatre maintenance and repair could look like.
In an Executive Order just released focusing on rebuilding the American shipbuilding industrial base, the Trump Administration ‘plans to plan’ for a range of initiatives designed to increase drydock capacity to service submarines in particular. Even the world’s superpower is at capacity for shipbuilding and repair… in peace.
Australia has a plan for a contingency floating dry dock to be manufactured for the Henderson Defence Precinct in Western Australia, but the East Coast Submarine Base and any associated dry dock facilities are still in the formative stages. Brisbane, Newcastle and Port Kembla have previously been mooted but with no confirmed timings. At this stage the only ‘new’ dry dock slated on the East Coast is the revival of Cairncross in Brisbane – built in World War II to meet the surge in demand.
Might be time to consider not just our own needs but those of our allies and partners in peace and indeed should conflict occur. As always, food for thought and🔗 to articles quoted are in the comments.
📷 via the Australian War Memorial. HMAS Hobart at Cockatoo Island dry dock after sustaining damage from a Japanese torpedo. Colourised and enhanced by AI.