Canada: the decision to procure nuclear-attack submarines and its significance for NATO. Master's thesis

Technical Report · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6097447

Guillory, T

In June 1987 the Canadian government announced plans to procure 10 to 12 nuclear attack submarines (SSNs). The evidence suggests that, for some Canadians, a primary purpose for this submarine program may not be to enhance the security of NATO, but instead to assert Canada's sovereignty, principally against the United States, in the Arctic region. The thesis discusses this decision and its possible implications for the security of North America and NATO. It is argued that the United States must continue to have unimpeded access to the Arctic region to counter the ever-increasing threat posed by Soviet nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). Finally, the thesis suggests a possible solution to the current sovereignty debate and a potential strategy for employing these SNN to enhance the security of North America and NATO as a whole.

• Research Organization: Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6097447
• Report Number(s): AD-A-201669/9/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

350200* -- Arms Control-- Proliferation-- (1987-)
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450202 -- Explosions & Explosives-- Nuclear-- Weaponry-- (-1989)
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ARCTIC REGIONS
ARMS CONTROL
CANADA
DECISION MAKING
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
NATO
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR SHIPS
POLAR REGIONS
POLITICAL ASPECTS
SECURITY
SHIPS
SUBMARINES