Combat System Game Park Theory and Recycling the Weak (Poor)

The present economic and political discourse Australia finds itself in is recognised by this blogger as ironic and if it wasn’t so foolhardy would be a source of amusement. The irony is in some of my recollections and experiences in a previous life. Game theory or decision theory uses mathematical models to understand and determine conflict and cooperation between intelligent and rational decision makers.
This post is a very crude twist on this. In a previous life I served on Collins Class Submarines (CCSM), work routines are divided into a two-watch system 1^st and 2^nd each watch rotation lasts for six hours. Inevitably half the crew would find themselves sitting on watch in the wee hours of the morning attempting to fight boredom. It usually hit hardest around 0300 particularly for those operating the combat system (sonar and track management analysis) this is where combat system game park theory was born.

Game Park Theory

The game would usually begin by a protagonist identifying a known weakness in another watch member. This could be a number of things, some kind of odd physical feature, an event that may have happened during a previous port visit, some deficiency in a task performed, even planting seeds of doubt regarding the fidelity of would be victims partner. I know what you may be thinking about now. “That’s really harsh.” I’d say you are correct but boredom takes it toll and it was a way to pass the time from which there is no real escape on a submarine.

Combat system in control room facing aft

Some of the parameters observed in the passing of these exchanges was the repeating patterns in the exchanges between the crew, these could get very heated at times often ending with threats of physical violence and someone being detailed off to perform a task elsewhere. The pattern was those who often began the exchange, the protagonists were almost always the same people. They were described to me, as the lions that hunt because they need to feed and the prey were the zebras the quarry chosen for their weaknesses.

It latter occurred to me that the dynamics of these exchanges were more complex there weren’t just lions and zebras, as others would often join the fracas. There was a whole game park eco system. Others identified were they hyenas these individuals would act as part of a pack and goad the prey once it was weakened by the original instigator and probably hunted for fun but with lesser proficiency. Flashy game hunters did so purely for fun and would often instigate exchanges at the slightest hint of weakness, these individuals hunted for sport. Often there was a source of unspoken friction between the lions and the flashy game hunters almost as if the game hunter had taken the lion’s meal. Although it might be drawing a long bow between what I saw then to what I observe now the similarities seem very uncanny.

People will often try to tell you that Australia is the lucky country riding on the sheep’s back and in the past I believe this analogy was relatively factual however by todays standard it’s an extreme stretch of the imagination. Where the fleece on the sheep’s back may have previously resembled something Jason and his Argonauts sought. It is nothing less than a mange-ridden hide being crowded out by rent seeking crony capitalist parasites while being hobbled by an exorbitant load of private debt. Much like the lions in the combat system game park theory the crony capitalists feel they need their monopolies and cartels to operate unheeded with tax concessions provided by all Australians to operate unchecked, as they need to feed. Any help already provided to the poor and vulnerable or voices fighting for them are viewed to be threats to these vested interests. Those who are happy for the status quo to continue are akin to the hyenas they feel the need to feed in the form of generous tax concessions and rally to the dog whistling plutocrats as they feel their share of the crumbs is threatened.

Recycling the Weak Poor

The conditions and argument for the budget emergency, was a poor attempted to be introduce measures that were unfair and exploited the vulnerable in this country while maintaining the status quo for the wealthy. A little more light hearted anecdote pops up when remembering the past and comparing it with this matter. Every year the Gloucester Cup is awarded to one unit within each of the tri-services, in 2004 HMAS Rankin won this award, which constitutes a physical trophy and designated a star citation to be mounted to the unit while alongside. It was a big deal at the time because this was the first time a submarine had won it in 18 years however to most sailors it mean little else than the inconvenience of pomp and ceremony and was more warmly received by the officers who could gesticulate about exploits in the mess among those considered worthy of their station.

Shortly after this was awarded I had arrived in Guam for a port visit, I received an envelope addressed to me in fleet mail marked ‘STAFF-IN-CONFIDENCE-FOOL’ from a colleague posted to another boat it was a picture of HMAS Rankin’s ships crest with the motto defend the weak, mounted on a recycle bin along with the Gloucester star with the words “RECYCLE THE WEAK” typed at the bottom. I have reproduced what the photo looked like below, as I no longer hold it. 

Left: HMAS Sheean photographed wining the Gloucester Cup the following year HMAS Rankin had won. Right: A re composition of the recycle the weak incident.

Boredom strikes again with shenanigans used to combat the ever-dull midnight (guts) gangway (up trot) duty! I later found out that I was not the only one in receipt of this prank although I saw the humour in it; it was not shared with many throughout the squadron. The picture had been posted all over Diamantina Wharf in each of the boats offices even pin boards in the Force Element Group (FEG) building. I was told the commanding officer of Rankin was furious and had even sent a copy of the picture to CAPTSM the CO of the squadron for examination.

In a way this whole recycle the weak motto is more like a subtext for the current coalition government, there are undoubtedly vast challenges facing our economy, which require sensible and fair reform for everyone. It is disheartening to see that the identification of ‘leaners and lifters’ being used as an argument for fiscal tightening for those who need it most. In a way the politicians are becoming more utilitarian and their debate is captured by the wealthiest vested interests that can lobby parliamentary members for their own ends.