Steve Thorpe – Diesel versus Nuclear

Simon: Was the diesel more complex than the nuclear?

I wouldn’t say more complex, I would just say that you had to know it more intensely because everybody needed to know everything onboard a diesel boat, whereas on a Polaris boat, there was enough people to sort of cover anybody else’s failings, if that makes sense.

Even on the new Vanguard Class submarines, people know the general layout and the general systems onboard, but then they will know their compartment where they work intensely really.

Simon: So, does that bring a stronger camaraderie onboard the diesels because, one, it’s less people but two, because you’re so interdependent?

Steve Yeah, definitely. Diesel boats were, work hard, play hard. It was really hard work at sea, but when you came back alongside, everybody was together, and it was a great community spirit if you like.