Last of Collins subs commissioned

The Australian Navy has commissioned the sixth and last of the controversial Collins Class submarines which began life as a glint in the federal government's eye almost two decades ago. HMAS Rankin was officially welcomed into the navy in a ceremony in the West Australian port city of Fremantle. The $5.1 billion Collins project, begun in 1984, was beset by controversy as teething problems were identified in the fleet and questions raised about their effectiveness and capabilities. However the prevailing wisdom now is that they are among the best non-nuclear submarines in the world. "The project has had its challenges - the track record of other submarine-building nations shows that these challenges have not been unusual," the navy said in a statement.

The first of the Collins Class subs, designed and built by the Australian Submarine Corporation, was launched in 1993 and commissioned three years later. HMAS Rankin was launched in November 2001. All six subs will be fitted with the Mk 48 Mod 7 advanced capability torpedo

- the best of its kind, according to the navy - and will also have their tactical command and control component enhanced. Beazley praises completion of last Collins Class sub ABC Perth Former federal Labor leader and defence minister Kim Beazley has welcomed the completion of the Federal Government's Collins Class submarine project.

HMAS Rankin is the sixth and last submarine to join the Australian naval fleet under the $5 billion project.

In the past, manufacturing faults have forced Collins subs to be temporarily suspended from the service.

Rankin was commissioned at Stirling naval base at Garden Island this morning and will be used for reconnaissance missions, intelligence gathering and covert operations.

Mr Beazley says he is pleased the project is complete despite several teething problems.

"This is the most complex artefact that has ever been produced in Australian history, it is the most difficult vessel to build, and to build the most difficult vessel while making it the best is an extraordinarily hard thing to do," he said.

Federal Attorney-General Daryl Williams says the commissioning is a great achievement.

"It has been a long time in getting to this stage. There have been challenges en route but the commitment of the Government I think has seen those challenges met and overcome," he said.