WEBVTT - The Flood - Episode 4: The Fallout 0:00:04.240 --> 0:00:07.280 Hi, it's Claire from the Front. We're bringing you a 0:00:07.360 --> 0:00:10.640 new mini series from The Australian called The Flood, and 0:00:10.760 --> 0:00:14.440 this is episode four. The series is hosted by Chief 0:00:14.440 --> 0:00:18.239 International Correspondent Cameron Stewart and created by Cam with me 0:00:18.440 --> 0:00:21.360 and our audio lead Jasper Leik, plus all of us 0:00:21.400 --> 0:00:25.040 here at The Australian. It tells the incredible true story 0:00:25.079 --> 0:00:29.000 of how sixty Australian sub mariners saved their own lives 0:00:29.080 --> 0:00:32.760 and their boat. The Flood is a truly inspirational story 0:00:32.800 --> 0:00:37.480 of human courage, resilience, teamwork and ingenuity. You can follow 0:00:37.520 --> 0:00:40.600 the show by searching The Flood wherever you listen and 0:00:40.760 --> 0:00:44.440 going to the floodpodcast dot com, where you can also 0:00:44.520 --> 0:00:55.040 watch it as a video. The Flood is brought to 0:00:55.040 --> 0:00:59.800 you by the Australian War Memorial. Some stories define a nation, 0:01:00.160 --> 0:01:03.120 others reveal what it means to be human. Through Their 0:01:03.160 --> 0:01:06.280 Eyes is a new podcast from the Australian War Memorial 0:01:06.520 --> 0:01:11.720 that uncovers powerful human stories, revealing war through unexpected perspectives 0:01:12.000 --> 0:01:15.880 and immersive storytelling. Through Their Eyes will be live soon 0:01:15.959 --> 0:01:17.560 wherever you get your podcasts. 0:01:23.600 --> 0:01:25.280 I wrung my wife and said, we've had a bit 0:01:25.319 --> 0:01:27.280 of a misshoe. Can you come and pick me up 0:01:28.480 --> 0:01:30.480 and pick up some cigarettes? Whine got wet. 0:01:40.640 --> 0:01:43.039 I'm Cameron Stewart and this is the fourth and final 0:01:43.080 --> 0:01:48.800 episode of the flood, the fallout. The shadow was back 0:01:48.840 --> 0:01:51.960 on the surface, but Peter Scott and his crew were 0:01:52.000 --> 0:01:54.000 still a long way from dry land. 0:01:55.360 --> 0:01:59.040 We didn't know the state about hydraulic systems, electrical systems. 0:01:59.080 --> 0:02:00.920 We didn't know how much war we had on the boat. 0:02:01.200 --> 0:02:04.400 We didn't know what casualties we'd suffered them therefore, you know, 0:02:04.440 --> 0:02:07.920 what expertise we'd lost and so on. We didn't know 0:02:08.280 --> 0:02:11.000 probably at that point whether there'd been other issues, like, 0:02:11.080 --> 0:02:15.000 you know, had fire started or whatever. So once we 0:02:15.000 --> 0:02:19.600 were on the roof, a really serious damage control battle 0:02:20.440 --> 0:02:21.120 kind of began. 0:02:21.840 --> 0:02:23.680 It was the long trens at back. I can remember 0:02:23.720 --> 0:02:26.240 that because we were severely speed restricted because of the 0:02:26.320 --> 0:02:29.680 damage that had been done to the main mater cooling gear. 0:02:30.560 --> 0:02:32.320 There was a lot of work going on to try 0:02:32.360 --> 0:02:34.959 and get systems back up to get us home safe, 0:02:34.960 --> 0:02:39.840 and that was obviously carried out. But that time coming 0:02:39.880 --> 0:02:44.239 back in was I guess, just the time to reflect 0:02:44.320 --> 0:02:47.640 and come to groups with what had just happened. 0:02:48.680 --> 0:02:51.160 Jordie Buntzing had more to reflect on the most. He 0:02:51.320 --> 0:02:54.080 lost a round of rock paper scissors, nearly drowned in 0:02:54.080 --> 0:02:57.880 the lower major room, and soakedy cigarettes. For the next 0:02:57.919 --> 0:03:01.960 six hours, the submarine chugged to the naval based HMAS 0:03:02.000 --> 0:03:05.960 Sterling near Perth Top Brass, led by Commodore Mike Diggs, 0:03:06.160 --> 0:03:10.240 commander of the Australian Submarine Group, that scrambled an emergency response. 0:03:11.240 --> 0:03:13.800 I can recall it very clearly. We set the wills 0:03:13.800 --> 0:03:17.000 in motion to provide the support for the submarine, so 0:03:17.480 --> 0:03:23.200 that included some medical support, HR support, psychological people on standby, 0:03:23.919 --> 0:03:27.079 as well as engineering support. Obviously we needed to find 0:03:27.120 --> 0:03:29.240 out what the problem was and make sure the submarine 0:03:29.280 --> 0:03:29.760 was saved. 0:03:30.720 --> 0:03:35.240 It was a tremendous relief to get back alongside and 0:03:36.000 --> 0:03:39.800 great to see a guy like Mike Dieks, who I've 0:03:39.880 --> 0:03:41.600 known from my very. 0:03:41.440 --> 0:03:43.440 First days in the Navy. 0:03:46.000 --> 0:03:48.280 Yeah, so it was just really good to see your 0:03:48.320 --> 0:03:51.480 boss there and know that you've sort of got yourself 0:03:51.480 --> 0:03:51.920 through that. 0:03:52.920 --> 0:03:55.880 I was on the wharf when Dashana arrived back alongside, 0:03:56.480 --> 0:04:00.560 and I was the first person at Peter Scott spoke 0:04:00.600 --> 0:04:04.560 to when he came off the submarine on arrival. My 0:04:04.680 --> 0:04:08.480 emotions were a degree of thankfulness and relief, but also 0:04:08.720 --> 0:04:12.280 of pride. Peter is a very matter of fact sort 0:04:12.320 --> 0:04:16.760 of person and a very calm person, and that shone 0:04:16.800 --> 0:04:20.800 through on that occasion, and he, probably without any intention, 0:04:22.040 --> 0:04:25.120 underplayed the seriousness of the event. As I got more 0:04:25.120 --> 0:04:27.720 information about it, I realized exactly how serious it was. 0:04:28.360 --> 0:04:30.720 The Navy had to urgently find out what went wrong 0:04:30.720 --> 0:04:33.640 with Dushana and ensure the problem didn't extend to the 0:04:33.680 --> 0:04:37.960 other Colins class submarines. It immediately recalled all submarines to 0:04:38.080 --> 0:04:41.400 port and reduced the deep diving depth, therefore reducing the 0:04:41.440 --> 0:04:45.240 pressure on the seawater hoses until the accident could be investigated. 0:04:45.839 --> 0:04:49.320 In the immediate aftermath, they just recalled the submarines because 0:04:49.560 --> 0:04:51.560 we didn't understand what had happened. We didn't know what 0:04:51.680 --> 0:04:54.200 risk the other boats might have been exposed to, and 0:04:54.240 --> 0:04:56.600 so on. It was probably within a week that they 0:04:56.600 --> 0:04:59.919 were released to sail again when we understood the recourse 0:05:00.400 --> 0:05:01.919 the problem. 0:05:02.440 --> 0:05:06.640 Investigators put the seawater hoses through rigorous pressure tests, much 0:05:06.680 --> 0:05:09.839 more intense than the Colon submarine's deep diving depth, but 0:05:09.960 --> 0:05:13.920 couldn't find any fault to explain the flood months dragged 0:05:13.920 --> 0:05:16.760 into several years with no answers, and the Navy had 0:05:16.800 --> 0:05:19.679 no choice but to maintain a reduced deep diving depth 0:05:19.760 --> 0:05:23.720 for many years. This cantailed their potency because submarines are 0:05:23.720 --> 0:05:26.640 easier to detect and have more limited options for attack 0:05:26.720 --> 0:05:30.279 if they are subject to depth restrictions. Since World War One, 0:05:30.520 --> 0:05:33.200 submarines have been a critical part of warfare with their 0:05:33.240 --> 0:05:36.760 ability to sneak up on hostile forces and destroy them. 0:05:37.120 --> 0:05:39.960 In World War Two, U boat fleets of the Germans 0:05:40.000 --> 0:05:43.040 and the Allies played a critical role in the war's outcome. 0:05:43.640 --> 0:05:46.920 The Commander in chief at fleet moments, they should have 0:05:46.920 --> 0:05:48.559 brief given a came from Pearl Harbor. 0:05:48.600 --> 0:05:49.560 He has to do afternoon. 0:05:49.920 --> 0:05:53.200 I don't think that the theft of a large and Japanese. 0:05:54.920 --> 0:05:58.520 Today there are two types of submarines. Attack submarines which 0:05:58.640 --> 0:06:02.680 hunt and destroy enemy submarines and server ships gather intelligence 0:06:02.880 --> 0:06:06.599 and launch tactical cruise missiles. Then there are the larger 0:06:06.640 --> 0:06:11.480 ballistic missile submarines operated by nuclear weapons states. These sophisticated 0:06:11.520 --> 0:06:14.800 submarines are armed with nuclear weapons and roam the world's 0:06:14.839 --> 0:06:18.520 oceans twenty four to seven, creating a permanent nuclear deterrent, 0:06:18.720 --> 0:06:21.440 which allows the nation to hit back through these submarines 0:06:21.720 --> 0:06:25.600 if it's ever subjected to a nuclear attack. The Colins 0:06:25.640 --> 0:06:29.800 class submarines, which Australia operates, are attack submarines. As an 0:06:29.800 --> 0:06:34.040 either nation, they are considered a most formidable defense capability. 0:06:35.040 --> 0:06:36.039 Here's Peter Scott. 0:06:36.960 --> 0:06:40.680 The failure was basically a flexible hose. 0:06:41.520 --> 0:06:43.480 One of the things about submarines is you want to 0:06:43.520 --> 0:06:44.800 be out there and you want to be as quiet 0:06:44.839 --> 0:06:47.440 as you possibly can. You do need to operate a 0:06:47.480 --> 0:06:49.600 lot of machinery on board, so you want to isolate 0:06:49.640 --> 0:06:52.480 that machinery from the hull so that the noise from 0:06:52.520 --> 0:06:55.840 the machinery doesn't vibrate out into the ocean. One of 0:06:55.920 --> 0:06:59.800 the ways that we do that is rather than connecting 0:07:00.480 --> 0:07:03.800 hard pipes from the system to the whole, there's pressure 0:07:03.880 --> 0:07:07.320 rated flexible hoses and they just create that sort of 0:07:07.400 --> 0:07:10.760 acoustic barrier between the machinery and the whole. So these 0:07:10.760 --> 0:07:14.000 are tested to all sorts of pressures and there are 0:07:14.240 --> 0:07:18.040 hundreds of them on board the submarines. This one failed 0:07:18.680 --> 0:07:23.320 and eventually the investigations found that it was a manufacturing defect. 0:07:24.280 --> 0:07:27.320 Mike Dix again, the nature of the pressure on those 0:07:27.360 --> 0:07:31.160 hoses were somewhat different to what they were designed for, 0:07:31.240 --> 0:07:32.520 if I recall correctly. 0:07:32.520 --> 0:07:34.720 In other words, the constant. 0:07:34.320 --> 0:07:38.520 Pressure versus pulse pressures may have caused the hose to 0:07:38.560 --> 0:07:41.960 fail because there hadn't been properly designed for the situation 0:07:42.000 --> 0:07:43.040 that found itself. 0:07:42.720 --> 0:07:45.920 In the Other dilemma was what to tell the media. 0:07:46.520 --> 0:07:48.520 The clowns class had had a lot of bad press. 0:07:48.840 --> 0:07:52.720 We didn't need any more, but we needed to really 0:07:52.840 --> 0:07:55.840 draw out the positives out of this situation. 0:07:56.320 --> 0:07:58.200 Maybe probably didn't have a whole lot of tolerance for 0:07:58.240 --> 0:08:00.840 the media at that time, To be honest, there wasn't 0:08:00.880 --> 0:08:03.440 much more to be said, so I think within probably 0:08:03.560 --> 0:08:06.120 a week or two, the Navy probably shut down on 0:08:06.160 --> 0:08:08.280 it again and said, we've told you what we can 0:08:08.320 --> 0:08:08.560 tell you. 0:08:08.880 --> 0:08:09.840 That's all there is to it. 0:08:10.480 --> 0:08:12.240 Do you think they played it down to a degree 0:08:12.320 --> 0:08:13.680 because of a circumstance. 0:08:18.560 --> 0:08:23.800 So the Navy would not have played it up, because 0:08:23.880 --> 0:08:30.000 there's nothing to be gained by playing it up. My 0:08:30.120 --> 0:08:31.800 sense is they would have played it with a pretty 0:08:32.440 --> 0:08:33.240 straight bat. 0:08:34.559 --> 0:08:37.360 The Navy did not completely cover up the flood on d. Shane, 0:08:37.600 --> 0:08:39.400 but it did all that it could to ensure that 0:08:39.440 --> 0:08:42.720 the real story was not told. Four days after the flood, 0:08:43.040 --> 0:08:46.080 the Navy stated merely that a number of tons of 0:08:46.160 --> 0:08:49.360 water had entered the submarine after a host failed, but 0:08:49.360 --> 0:08:52.959 it made no mention of deep diving depth a critical factor, 0:08:53.400 --> 0:08:56.720 and it did not say how close the submarine came 0:08:57.080 --> 0:09:00.280 to being lost as a result. Within a tent for 0:09:00.440 --> 0:09:04.559 our news cycle, the story had all but banished. Meanwhile, 0:09:04.679 --> 0:09:07.000 the Navy had the cruise word there to think of. 0:09:08.200 --> 0:09:11.040 You know, you hear very often nowadays about PTSD. Well, 0:09:11.080 --> 0:09:13.400 that was certainly we're aware of that at those times, 0:09:13.880 --> 0:09:16.800 and we needed to look after the crew both immediately 0:09:16.840 --> 0:09:20.080 after the incident itself, but then follow up in the 0:09:20.120 --> 0:09:22.480 weeks and months to come. Sometimes these things take a 0:09:22.520 --> 0:09:24.200 while to reveal themselves. 0:09:24.880 --> 0:09:25.640 Jeordie Bunting. 0:09:25.720 --> 0:09:30.800 Again, there was advice and psychology advice that was offered, 0:09:32.440 --> 0:09:35.600 but I was a blog and we don't do that. 0:09:35.640 --> 0:09:40.240 We just get on the part of me says how 0:09:40.240 --> 0:09:42.120 do I have taken those opportunities up? 0:09:42.160 --> 0:09:42.720 Then it. 0:09:44.240 --> 0:09:46.920 Might have changed things. But down the track I did 0:09:47.000 --> 0:09:49.000 seek help. I was broken and. 0:09:48.960 --> 0:09:54.559 It worked organizationally. I knew that different people would need 0:09:54.600 --> 0:09:57.240 different kinds of support, you know, depending on what their 0:09:57.280 --> 0:09:58.560 experience had been on the day. 0:09:58.880 --> 0:10:00.480 I think we probably asked it. I ran to sit 0:10:00.520 --> 0:10:02.600 down with a psychologist at some stage. 0:10:03.240 --> 0:10:06.400 Through those next several weeks, there was kind of barely 0:10:06.440 --> 0:10:09.760 a moment when some of that wasn't playing out in 0:10:09.800 --> 0:10:13.480 my head, and I think that's just you know, your 0:10:13.520 --> 0:10:16.040 body and your brain still trying to comprehend what's happened 0:10:16.080 --> 0:10:17.520 and place it somewhere. 0:10:18.559 --> 0:10:19.520 I know that. 0:10:21.720 --> 0:10:25.719 Certainly for the first couple of weeks afterwards, I'd go 0:10:25.840 --> 0:10:32.800 to bed at night and just find myself just lying 0:10:32.840 --> 0:10:34.240 as still and quiet as I. 0:10:34.160 --> 0:10:38.760 Could, while I was sort of really liiving some of 0:10:38.760 --> 0:10:42.360 this stuff, and. 0:10:42.880 --> 0:10:47.120 I was kind of most determined not to. 0:10:48.480 --> 0:10:51.040 You know, Sean and my wife, she's been around sumarines 0:10:51.080 --> 0:10:54.200 as long as I have, right so, but what I 0:10:54.200 --> 0:10:57.600 didn't want to do was sort of betray to her 0:10:57.720 --> 0:11:00.880 the full sense of the trauma that we'd we've been through, 0:11:01.679 --> 0:11:03.559 because I knew we had to go back to sea, 0:11:03.600 --> 0:11:10.440 and I didn't want to add two her concern while 0:11:10.440 --> 0:11:13.480 we were away for another three months, totally out of 0:11:13.480 --> 0:11:15.640 contact as you are for weeks and weeks on end. 0:11:17.040 --> 0:11:19.920 To the amazement of the Navy's top rast despite the 0:11:19.920 --> 0:11:23.719 traumatic experience of the Deschena's crew. Every one of them 0:11:23.800 --> 0:11:26.640 reported back for duty just two weeks after the flood 0:11:26.760 --> 0:11:29.160 to go back to see. 0:11:28.520 --> 0:11:30.079 We were part of a crew that wanted to get 0:11:30.120 --> 0:11:33.760 back to doing what we were doing. If anything had 0:11:33.760 --> 0:11:34.960 brought the crew together. 0:11:36.480 --> 0:11:40.679 Trauma aside, they actually came away with a much renewed 0:11:41.880 --> 0:11:46.880 and maybe even reinvigorated sense of confidence in themselves, what 0:11:46.920 --> 0:11:49.839 they were able to do, what they're training had given 0:11:49.880 --> 0:11:52.040 them on the day, and in their butt. 0:11:52.840 --> 0:11:55.640 To a degree, it was what I expected. 0:12:00.080 --> 0:12:05.200 But I know how hard it was to get my 0:12:05.280 --> 0:12:11.560 own ass back on that submarine, so I don't imagine 0:12:11.559 --> 0:12:16.600 it was any easier for the others. So you know, 0:12:16.920 --> 0:12:20.600 a lot of a lot of respect for those people. 0:12:21.600 --> 0:12:24.559 For some crew members, like Jordie Bunting, the trauma of 0:12:24.600 --> 0:12:28.720 the flood had the delayed impact. It created demons which 0:12:28.800 --> 0:12:32.320 came back to haunt them months and even years later. 0:12:34.000 --> 0:12:35.840 Do you think about it much? 0:12:36.840 --> 0:12:39.960 It's in your mind every day every day. 0:12:40.679 --> 0:12:43.440 You know, my wife sleeps beside me at night and 0:12:43.440 --> 0:12:44.319 knows I have nightmares. 0:12:44.440 --> 0:12:45.280 It's nights a better. 0:12:48.000 --> 0:12:48.120 YEA. 0:12:48.520 --> 0:12:51.640 What do you do? You either get on the horse 0:12:51.640 --> 0:12:54.360 and get going, or you let it rule your life, 0:12:54.400 --> 0:12:56.200 and it certainly changed my life, but it's not going 0:12:56.240 --> 0:13:00.280 to own me. It changed my life, for we're in 0:13:00.280 --> 0:13:01.920 the blink of an eye, and it's not only for me, 0:13:02.000 --> 0:13:05.640 I guess for the whole crew. We've been through an 0:13:05.679 --> 0:13:11.199 experience which was near death. My appreciation of people have 0:13:11.320 --> 0:13:15.760 certainly changed, and being very conscious of those around you 0:13:16.720 --> 0:13:19.839 that if you treat them with respect, they may well 0:13:19.880 --> 0:13:24.400 save your life. And that's dear to me. I carry 0:13:24.400 --> 0:13:27.760 that ethos from a civilian life now in the second 0:13:27.760 --> 0:13:33.600 career that I've got very very risk adverse Now I 0:13:33.600 --> 0:13:41.080 don't take risks a lot more calculating it certainly led 0:13:41.120 --> 0:13:45.079 to mental health issues. No, I don't holde behind that, 0:13:46.200 --> 0:13:49.600 but now look, the incident made me the person that 0:13:49.640 --> 0:13:52.640 I am today. Would I do it again? 0:13:52.760 --> 0:13:52.960 Yeah? 0:13:53.000 --> 0:13:53.440 Probably. 0:13:54.559 --> 0:13:58.200 John Ryan was the chief engineer all the crew. John 0:13:58.800 --> 0:14:01.800 that I've spoken to just describe it as a terrifying 0:14:01.840 --> 0:14:05.120 experience on a scale of one to ten. Where would 0:14:05.120 --> 0:14:06.680 you rank it. 0:14:08.360 --> 0:14:08.600 Enough? 0:14:12.280 --> 0:14:16.720 Why, it's pretty much as close as you ever want 0:14:16.720 --> 0:14:17.439 to come to death. 0:14:19.920 --> 0:14:22.120 Melanie Elton was a SINA operator. 0:14:23.880 --> 0:14:30.240 I've had definitely a lifelong effect. Definitely, anxiety is probably 0:14:30.240 --> 0:14:33.320 my worst is I don't have any confidence in myself. 0:14:33.440 --> 0:14:36.760 I don't want any jobs or responsibility. I seem to 0:14:36.760 --> 0:14:39.480 be staring away from them. Now now the job changed 0:14:39.560 --> 0:14:42.720 I'm going to do. I mean, it's even less stressful. 0:14:47.840 --> 0:14:51.240 The flood is brought to you by the Australian War Memorial. 0:14:52.000 --> 0:14:54.360 What Does War Look Like Through the Eyes of the 0:14:54.400 --> 0:14:57.280 People who Lived It? Through Their Eyes is a new 0:14:57.320 --> 0:15:00.440 podcast from the Australian War Memorial that I'm and covers 0:15:00.520 --> 0:15:05.680 deeply human stories drawn from the AWMS vast collections, galleries 0:15:05.760 --> 0:15:10.840 and expert insights. Through unexpected perspectives and immersive storytelling, each 0:15:10.880 --> 0:15:14.560 episode brings history to life in a way that's personal, 0:15:14.800 --> 0:15:19.360 moving and relevant today. Discover the stories behind our history. 0:15:19.720 --> 0:15:23.359 Listen to Through Their Eyes soon wherever you get your podcasts. 0:15:26.800 --> 0:15:29.080 Two years after the flood in two thousand and five, 0:15:29.320 --> 0:15:31.720 I was having a beer with a defense contact when 0:15:31.720 --> 0:15:34.040 he whispered, have you heard the rumor that the Navy 0:15:34.080 --> 0:15:37.400 almost lost a submarine a few years ago? I wondered 0:15:37.440 --> 0:15:40.000 if he was referring to the small story about the 0:15:40.040 --> 0:15:43.320 broken hose and the Dashano two years earlier. As luck 0:15:43.320 --> 0:15:45.800 would have it, I still had the contact details for 0:15:45.880 --> 0:15:48.920 many of the Dashano crew, because I'd spent forty eight 0:15:48.960 --> 0:15:52.320 hours on board that same submarine just months before the incident. 0:15:53.000 --> 0:15:55.600 I avoided the giant defense media machine, which I knew 0:15:55.600 --> 0:15:58.240 would try to shut down the story, so I directly 0:15:58.280 --> 0:16:00.920 contacted many of the crew members I had sailed with. 0:16:01.360 --> 0:16:04.080 To my surprise, most of them were willing to brave 0:16:04.120 --> 0:16:07.280 the wrath of defense pr to tell me their story. 0:16:07.320 --> 0:16:10.720 But I didn't get the one interview I needed until now. 0:16:12.640 --> 0:16:16.920 Cameron on Commodore Peter Scott retired from full time service 0:16:16.960 --> 0:16:18.160 in the ro all Australian Navy. 0:16:18.560 --> 0:16:21.960 After commander of the Dusheno, Scott was promoted to Commodore 0:16:22.040 --> 0:16:25.600 and became commander of the Australian Submarine Group, before serving 0:16:25.640 --> 0:16:29.680 in Iraq, the Persian Gulf in Afghanistan. Even in twenty 0:16:29.720 --> 0:16:32.840 twenty three, when Scott wrote a memoir called Running Deep, 0:16:33.120 --> 0:16:36.800 he only touched lightly on the flood, devoting six pages 0:16:36.880 --> 0:16:39.640 out of two hundred and sixty five to that dramatic day. 0:16:40.640 --> 0:16:43.760 But in his foreword to Scott's memoir, the then Governor 0:16:43.800 --> 0:16:48.120 General David Hurley did not ignore those six pages. Hurley 0:16:48.160 --> 0:16:52.280 described the flood as an extraordinary story of terror, bravery, 0:16:52.440 --> 0:16:56.440 leadership and team response during a major life threatening emergency 0:16:56.440 --> 0:16:59.560 at sea. So in early twenty twenty six, I asked 0:16:59.560 --> 0:17:02.240 petersk Got to finally give me the interview I'd saught 0:17:02.320 --> 0:17:05.560 for twenty one years. 0:17:06.520 --> 0:17:08.040 When we sit here like this and you ask me 0:17:08.119 --> 0:17:10.680 questions about it's pretty bloody heart sometimes to go back 0:17:10.680 --> 0:17:14.640 to it, But I think it's had a different impact 0:17:14.840 --> 0:17:18.720 at different times. I think fundamentally professionally, it's been a 0:17:18.840 --> 0:17:21.000 solid and positive. 0:17:21.119 --> 0:17:22.720 Impact for the crew. 0:17:22.880 --> 0:17:30.600 It really was a binding, solidifying piece of professional justification 0:17:30.720 --> 0:17:31.720 and experience and they. 0:17:31.640 --> 0:17:33.920 Went on to do remarkable work. 0:17:35.080 --> 0:17:37.280 For myself, i'd say it was. 0:17:38.720 --> 0:17:41.680 It would be present more often than it needed to be, 0:17:42.480 --> 0:17:45.720 But of course it sits alongside a number of other 0:17:46.840 --> 0:17:49.960 life threatening situations that I've been through in a thirty 0:17:49.960 --> 0:17:54.120 four year service career, which included time in Iraq and Afghanistan. 0:17:54.840 --> 0:17:57.240 There were a couple of times when I went off 0:17:57.640 --> 0:18:04.200 to seek the support of psychologists. Once over a period 0:18:05.440 --> 0:18:08.000 immediately before I was promoted to Commodore, when I was 0:18:08.040 --> 0:18:09.959 going to be head of the Summarine n't and I 0:18:10.000 --> 0:18:13.679 just wanted to sort of get a level on some 0:18:13.800 --> 0:18:15.760 of the stress and anxiety that I. 0:18:16.280 --> 0:18:19.800 Was living with I was worried that some of this 0:18:19.880 --> 0:18:22.040 stuff might come back and bite me on the bum 0:18:22.280 --> 0:18:22.879 down track. 0:18:23.760 --> 0:18:27.640 Both Peter Scott and former submarine commander Mike Dix adamant 0:18:27.680 --> 0:18:29.600 that the floodies are more of the good news story 0:18:29.640 --> 0:18:30.240 than bad. 0:18:31.040 --> 0:18:34.399 It was quite a remarkable set of circumstances. I've got 0:18:34.440 --> 0:18:37.600 no doubt that at the time of the incident there 0:18:37.640 --> 0:18:39.480 were some people that were very shaken up by it. 0:18:39.560 --> 0:18:43.240 But being a sub mariner operating in the environment which 0:18:43.280 --> 0:18:47.159 we do, comes with some inherent risks. But it was 0:18:47.160 --> 0:18:51.080 a great example of the camaraderie and the sense of 0:18:51.680 --> 0:18:54.200 even though you're in a very difficult situation, that they 0:18:54.200 --> 0:18:57.280 are actually in control of that situation, and the things 0:18:57.280 --> 0:19:00.320 that they did at the time were entirely appropriate to 0:19:00.320 --> 0:19:02.080 bring that submarine safety to the service. 0:19:02.960 --> 0:19:06.320 The Colins class submarines have certainly been tested, but as 0:19:06.320 --> 0:19:08.880 they approach the end of their operational lives, the boats 0:19:08.920 --> 0:19:09.840 have been a success. 0:19:10.800 --> 0:19:14.399 They've done some outstanding work in support of government objectives 0:19:14.400 --> 0:19:17.919 and Australians should be very very proud of their service. 0:19:18.600 --> 0:19:21.680 The Colins boats are thirty years old and now they 0:19:21.720 --> 0:19:25.600 need significant taxpayer investment to keep going until Australia gets 0:19:25.600 --> 0:19:29.080 its new boats under the Australia America, Britain ORCHEST Deal. 0:19:29.680 --> 0:19:33.119 Australia, the US and the UK will work together to 0:19:33.240 --> 0:19:37.439 develop unmanned under sea vehicles as part of the trilateral 0:19:37.600 --> 0:19:38.480 ORCUS agreements. 0:19:39.320 --> 0:19:43.400 First we'll get nuclear powered Virginia class submarines from America. Then, 0:19:43.520 --> 0:19:46.560 together with Britain, will build and sustain our own nuclear 0:19:46.560 --> 0:19:48.080 powered boats, the Orchist class. 0:19:48.480 --> 0:19:51.199 The US doesn't usually share this type of technology with 0:19:51.280 --> 0:19:53.680 US allies, so the fact that Australia is getting it 0:19:53.800 --> 0:19:54.720 is a massive deal. 0:19:55.400 --> 0:19:58.080 Will need to grow the workforce of sub mariners from 0:19:58.160 --> 0:20:01.200 around eight hundred and fifty today to more than three 0:20:01.359 --> 0:20:04.760 thousand in the next twenty years. So can the Collins 0:20:04.840 --> 0:20:08.480 boats keep us going? In the meantime, the government's scaling 0:20:08.560 --> 0:20:12.280 back at spending on Colin's sustatement and maintenance, prompting real 0:20:12.320 --> 0:20:15.399 fears will end up with a capability gap that is 0:20:15.720 --> 0:20:19.040 no effective submarine fleet at all for a period of time. 0:20:20.119 --> 0:20:22.679 Mike Dieck says stories like that of the flood on 0:20:22.720 --> 0:20:26.399 the Dashano, no matter how terrifying, shouldn't deter would be 0:20:26.440 --> 0:20:30.040 sub mariners from what he says is an exciting life. 0:20:30.160 --> 0:20:32.320 If I was a kid in high school now, I'll 0:20:32.359 --> 0:20:35.840 be getting through my AGC exams my year twelve and 0:20:35.880 --> 0:20:38.119 then looking to join the navy and become a submarner 0:20:38.119 --> 0:20:40.879 because I think it would be a really exciting career. 0:20:41.359 --> 0:20:45.240 I think it is interesting times to have another look 0:20:45.280 --> 0:20:48.560 at the Dashano and what happened back then. But she's 0:20:48.600 --> 0:20:53.920 still sailing. The submariners are still doing their work, largely unsung, 0:20:54.119 --> 0:20:57.640 but playing a very important role in the defense of Australia. 0:20:58.640 --> 0:21:03.280 The submarine has been for a very long time and 0:21:03.440 --> 0:21:09.399 will remain the nation's principal strategic deterrent. It's an absolutely 0:21:10.480 --> 0:21:16.879 critical naval capability critical to the nation's security and prosperity. 0:21:18.119 --> 0:21:19.960 The offensive and deterrent. 0:21:20.880 --> 0:21:24.960 Capability and capacity of the submarines we have today and 0:21:25.000 --> 0:21:28.280 the submarines that we will have in the future is remarkable. 0:21:28.760 --> 0:21:33.560 It is what demands the respect of regional navies and 0:21:33.600 --> 0:21:36.880 that's where the real value about submarines lies. 0:21:37.920 --> 0:21:40.160 So if I had the chance. 0:21:41.480 --> 0:21:48.040 To be a part of that again, no doubt, I'd 0:21:48.119 --> 0:21:51.399 absolutely be stepping forward again. 0:21:52.320 --> 0:21:55.920 Despite their traumatic experience, the Dushana Crue say they would 0:21:55.920 --> 0:21:58.080 do it all again. Here's John Ryan. 0:21:58.359 --> 0:21:59.879 I mean the buck did what it was supposed to do. 0:21:59.880 --> 0:22:03.240 The people did what they were supposed to do. Yeah, 0:22:03.320 --> 0:22:06.040 I mean submarine is just a lump of steel, but 0:22:06.480 --> 0:22:09.240 the people in it and the systems that run it perfect. 0:22:10.760 --> 0:22:12.560 The Colins have got a bad wrap back in the 0:22:12.640 --> 0:22:15.480 day by a lot of the media. I think a 0:22:15.520 --> 0:22:21.560 lot of it was unfounded or at least dramatized. Living 0:22:21.600 --> 0:22:25.720 it and seeing what was reported on were two completely 0:22:25.720 --> 0:22:31.159 different things. So yeah, if someone's thinking about it, I 0:22:31.160 --> 0:22:34.240 would definitely give it a go. Great life, great experience, 0:22:34.320 --> 0:22:40.399 great training, see the world. I shall put me on 0:22:40.440 --> 0:22:41.160 a poster. 0:22:44.080 --> 0:22:46.879 Pay for that. And here's Melanie. 0:22:46.520 --> 0:22:51.919 Eleton that you will never find any job with the 0:22:51.960 --> 0:22:58.960 same amount of loyalty, family, courage, adventure, not one days 0:22:59.080 --> 0:23:03.120 the same, the bonding of all your crew like it's 0:23:03.160 --> 0:23:05.760 so worth it. I was a shy girl, got picked 0:23:05.760 --> 0:23:07.680 on for having red hair at school, and then I've 0:23:07.720 --> 0:23:10.080 got up to being a leading seaman on a submarine 0:23:10.480 --> 0:23:14.920 running a sign I watch so anyone can do it. 0:23:15.880 --> 0:23:18.719 And Greg Sullivan thinking about the flood every now and again, 0:23:19.440 --> 0:23:22.919 I think probably affects me more. If I'm telling someone 0:23:22.960 --> 0:23:25.919 the story and going through the events, I get a 0:23:25.920 --> 0:23:29.200 bit of a shitter, but I mean, in the end, 0:23:29.800 --> 0:23:33.159 everyone on the boat did a great job and I 0:23:33.160 --> 0:23:34.760 think that's why it all turned out. In the end. 0:23:35.680 --> 0:23:38.760 I think everyone on the boat should be proud of 0:23:39.000 --> 0:23:42.000