NEWS
manpower than the typical method of acceptance. During the trial, Bath Iron Works and the US
Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) tested the ship’s weapons, communications, and propulsion systems as well as conducting several other inspections including habitability, water purifi- cation and food preparation.
Submarine rescue Survitec wins sub escape
contract Survitec Group has secured a contract to supply its Mk11 Submarine Escape Immersion Equipment (SEIE) to the Royal Canadian Navy. Te Canadian Navy plans to upgrade its existing
RFD Beaufort Mk10 equipment with the new SEIE Mk11 variant and has also purchased a full accompa- niment of training suits. Since its launch in 2008 the RFD Beaufort Mk11
SEIE, the latest and most advanced equipment in the Survitec range, has been adopted by many nations with more to follow in 2012.
Submarine rescue
OceanWorks to deliver sub rescue equipment to Canadian Navy
OceanWorks International has been awarded a contract by the Canadian Department of National Defence for a piece of equipment which will enable submarine rescue cooperation and interoperability with the US Navy. Te equipment, an A-Frame Template Kit is designed
to work along with the Ship Interface Template Set (SITS) previously delivered to the Department of National Defence by OceanWorks International in March of 2010. Together the A-Frame Template Kits and SITS will
allow the Royal Canadian Navy to host the US Navy’s Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System’s (SRDRS) Pressurized Rescue Module System (PRMS) rescue vehicle and associated Launch & Recovery System, which is also supplied to the US Navy by OceanWorks International. The SITS, which consists of metallic support
structures that weld onto a vessel’s deck, enables instal- lation of the US Navy’s SRDRS, including the PRMS, onto a Vessel of Opportunity (VOO), which can be used to reduce the response time required to reach a Disabled Submarine (DISSUB). Te Concept of Operations involves mobilising the
SRDRS via air transport, installing it onto the VOO equipped with the SITS and A-Frame Template Kits,
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and rushing to the scene of a DISSUB to attempt a rescue of the crew members on board. Te Royal Canadian Navy intends to house the SITS
and A-Frame Kit on the East coast of Canada. Tis will significantly improve submarine rescue response times for both Canada and the US on the East Coast, under a related Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case between the two governments. Te East coast location is significant since the US SRDRS is based in San Diego and with the Canadian SITS and A-frame templates located in the East, the VOO can be prepared while the SRDRS is in transit to respond to an Eastern DISSUB incident.
Submarines HMCS Victoria conducts
torpedo trials Her Majesty’s Canadian Submarine (HMCS) Victoria recently conducted a series of successful weapon system trials, including multiple firings of the exercise version of the Mk48 heavyweight torpedo at the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges in Nanoose Bay, British Columbia. “As the submarine fleet achieves steady-state it will
be ready to act decisively at sea in defence of Canada, when and where needed,” said Captain (Navy) Luc Cassivi, Director Canadian Submarine Force. “Tese trials represent a major milestone for the Victoria- class submarine programme as Victoria is the first submarine in the fleet to fire a Mk48 Heavyweight exercise torpedo.” Te firings are part of the technical and operational
tests of Victoria’s weapons systems and additional weapons system trials are scheduled for the spring of 2012. In the exercise version of the torpedo, the warhead module is replaced with electronics for gathering test data. Victoria also participated in training with a naval
task group while off the west coast of Vancouver Island, focussing on coordinated anti-submarine warfare tactics. Equipment and crew trials will continued throughout March as part of Victoria’s programme to being declared fully operational later this summer. Te submarine fleet will achieve steady state in
2013, at which point Canada will have three of four submarines continuously available for operations. As part of the ongoing submarine operational cycle, the fourth submarine will be with industry, undergoing necessary deep maintenance. HMCS Victoria also recently conducted diving
operations near Victoria, BC, an event witnessed by General Walt Natynczyk, Chief of the Defence Staff, and Vice-Admiral Paul Maddison, Commander, Royal Canadian Navy. Te submarine was conduct- ing equipment trials and crew training such that it can be declared fully operational later in 2012. WT
Warship Technology May 2012
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