Interwar Australasian submarine forces remained small and relied on aging J-class or imported O-class boats despite submarines' value for local defense. Their construction demanded highly trained workers more than an enormous yard, making specialization potentially affordable. Cockatoo Island could have served both Australia and New Zealand by producing submarines, sloops, and occasional destroyers. Shared orders would have created a distinctive regional center for construction, repair, and maintenance while giving both navies a practical sea-denial capability.
Notable Point · 58:47-1:01:22
A shared Australasian submarine yard as an offset strategy
A specialized Australian yard building submarines and sloops for both Australia and New Zealand could have sustained high skills and regional sea denial.