Construction
Sheean was laid down by Australian Submarine Corporation, on 17 February 1994, launched on 1 May 1999 by Mrs. Ivy Hayes, Teddy Sheean's sister, and commissioned into the RAN on 23 February 2001.
The issues with the Collins class highlighted in the McIntosh-Prescott Report and the pressing need to have combat-ready submarines in the RAN fleet with the pending decommissioning of Otama, the final Oberon class submarine in Australian service, prompted the establishment of an A$1 billion program to bring Sheean and sister boat Dechaineux up to an operational standard as quickly as possible, referred to as the "fast track" or "get well" program. The fast track program required the installation of reliable diesel engines, fixing the hydrodynamic noise issues with the class by modifying the hull design and propeller, and providing a functional combat system. The original Rockwell International-designed combat system had been cancelled, but because there wasn't enough time to evaluate the replacement system to include it in the "fast track" program, the two submarines were fitted with components from the old Rockwell system, which were augmented by commercial off-the-shelf hardware and software. Even with the enhanced Rockwell system, it was believed that the capabilities of the fast track Collins boats was only equivalent to the Oberons.
On 14 December 2000, Sheean and Dechaineux arrived at HMAS Stirling, following the completion of sea trials.
Sheean was named for Ordinary Seaman Edward "Teddy" Sheean, who manned an Oerlikon and fired on Japanese aircraft attacking the corvette HMAS Armidale, dying when the ship sank. Sheean is the only submarine named after an enlisted sailor.
Read more about this topic: HMAS Sheean (SSG 77)
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