Your list Dober is very interesting and does incite discussion on many levels, please allow me to make a few comments based on my experience.

Kilos are very very capable boats, but the blow holes on top make a bugger of a noise when they get stuck open, I have come across this a couple of times (we think it was the same boat each time).

Scorpeone’s are very interesting boats and I am waiting to hear how they do, I haven’t come across these as they were only being designed when I was in, but from what I have read, they are very capable. I can’t understand why Chilie didn’t take the AIP first up and are having them introduced later (boats three and four with retrofit to boats one and two).

The 212’s are new Greece should have a good run with them.

The 209’s were offered to the RAN but refused on the grounds that they were considered too small for our needs. In hind sight, we should have taken them. The Vaster’s are great but upsizing them to create the Collins was not a good move.

Sure our boats are capable of firing Subharpoon and Mk 48’s and also deploying mines but you need a system that works, many say that the FCS on our boats don’t work, but that’s only a small part of the problem. Retrofitting them with the Sterling AIP has been an interesting project. Personally I wouldn’t have given up our old O boats as quick as what we did, they could do all the same things as what our Collins class boats can.

Here’s my list of top 10 boats that I prefer (all are non nukes)

1. Upholder class (before transfer to the RCN)- the Spearfish are the best torps in the world and the US want to buy them 😉

2. Dolphine class, those Israeli boats are real buggers to hunt because they are so small.

3. The Hai Lung class, the Taiwanese have made several modifications to these Dutch built boats and have made them more capable.

4. Yuushio (Improved) class, you know the Japanese 😉

5. Type 209 (any version)

6. Oberon class (again)

7. Kilo Class

8. Any Swedish made boat.

9. Foxtrots (sure they are old and noisy, but I was on one and I loved it)

10. Gal class

Villian: mate you and I should get to gether and spin a few waries over the traditional two cans 😉 Send me a private message and we’ll see if we can’t catch up mate!

Oh yeah btw, you got it Ship 4_3 is infact Jeanne d’Arc, Wan’s kicking himself now!

One left and I think this is going to be the toughest, remember people Type and Country of service only, Name will help.

Sorry Wan, wrong mate, though I know you are going to kick yourself when you find out what it is actually 😉