NEWS
The consortium consists of Howaldtswerke- Deutsche Werft GmbH (HDW), Nordseewerke GmbH, and MAN Ferrostaal AG. The delivery of the three submarines by
the German Submarine Consortium is part of an extensive programme to modernise the South African Navy. The submarines are the latest version of the conventional 209 Class, which has been successfully exported by the German consortium for many years. 63 of these submarines are currently in deployment worldwide on four continents, making this the most successful diesel-electric driven submarine class in the world. In addition to the construction and delivery of submarines, the consortium's scope of delivery also includes training, logistical support, and simulation technology. The submarine has a displacement of
1450tonnes, is 62m long, and has a crew of 30. Charlotte Maxeke was due to leave Emden later in March for its journey to its future home base, escorted by the fleet supply ship SAS Drakensberg. The submarine was due to arrive at the South
African naval base at Simonstown in South Africa by the end of April.
Oxygen device sparked sub blast
An explosion on a submarine which killed two British sailors is believed to have been caused by an emergency oxygen device, the US military has said. The men died onboard the Devonport-based
nuclear submarine HMS Tireless during an operation under the Arctic ice cap. The submarine surfaced through the ice after the blast off Alaska. A third sailor was airlifted to a hospital in Anchorage. He is expected to make a full recovery. Self-contained oxygen generation candles are believed to have been the source of the blast, said the US. HMS Tireless was taking part in a joint British-American exercise at the time that the incident occurred. In a statement issued on 21 March, the UK
Ministry of Defence said: ‘It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that two Royal Navy personnel have been killed in an accident aboard HMS Tireless today, 21 March 2007. The two members of the crew died as a result of the initial accident. One submariner was also injured. His injuries were not thought to be life-threatening and he is expected to make a full recovery.’ The incident occurred at 0420hr on 21
March on HMS Tireless, a Trafalgar Class submarine. ‘It is thought that the accident involved a piece of air-purification equipment in the forward section of the submarine. The ship’s company dealt with the incident quickly and professionally and, as a result, there is only superficial damage to the forward compartment. The submarine was never in any danger, its nuclear reactor was unaffected, it quickly surfaced, and is completely safe,’ said the statement. Tireless was launched in 1985, but the piece
of air-purification machinery thought to have failed was fitted as part of an update in 2001.
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The Royal Navy submarine, HMS Tireless, in the Arctic ice prior to the incident, when the submarine was taking part in ICEX-07 with the Los Angeles class fast attack submarine USS Alexandria (SSN 757), and the Applied Physics Laboratory Ice Section.
The piece of equipment which malfunctioned is fitted to all Trafalgar class submarines. It has a good safety record to date but, as a precaution, its use on other boats has been restricted until safety checks can be carried out. It is not essential to the safe running of the submarine. Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent,
commander-in-chief FLEET, has made the following statement: ‘I very much regret that this incident has occurred and my thoughts go out to the family and friends of the men who have lost their lives. I also wish to pay tribute to the crew of HMS Tireless that this incident has been dealt with and contained so professionally.’
Minehunters complete upgrade
The Royal Netherlands Navy has received its first two modernised Tripartite class minehunters back into service. HrMsUrk and HrMsMaassluis are the first of
10 Alkmaars being upgraded under the ‘Project Aanpassing Mijnenbestrijdingscapaciteit’ (PAM) modernisation programme, along with the Belgian Flower class minehunters. Germany’s Atlas Elektronik is the prime contractor for the programme, which includes a new command-and-control system, hull- mounted sonar, and a self-propelled variable depth sonar fitted to a Saab Underwater Systems Double Eagle Mk II. Both new sonars are from Thales Underwater Systems. The Poisson Auto Propulse (PAP) mine- disposal vehicles have been replaced with the Atlas Elektronik Seafox mine identification and disposal systems. The last of the modernised vessels will join their fleets in 2009.
Second Greek frigate completes upgrade
The Hellenic Navy’s second Kortenaer (Elli) class frigate upgraded under a €380 million (US$499 million) programme has rejoined the Greek Navy. The HS Adrias rejoined the fleet on February
14 after 18-months in Hellenic Shipyards’ Skaramanga yard, which has also upgraded HS Kountouriotis. Work has already started on HS Navarinon and another three ships will be upgraded by 2009. The ships received improvements to their
LW 08, WM25 and STIR radars, propulsion, navigation, and environmental systems, and can now operate Evolved Seasparrow Missiles. They also received Tacticos combat management
systems, Mirador electro-optical directors, Scout Mk 2 navigation radar, EADS Hagenuk communications suite, and improved electronic warfare systems.
All change for Russian Navy
The Russian Navy plans to replace its fleet within 20 years, according to the commander- in chief Admiral Vladimir Masorin. Naval Spyglass reported recently that almost
all the fleet will be replaced with ships which, instead of being designed for a 15-20 year life will remain operational for 35-40 years. He also revealed that from 2009, the Russian
Navy will have only professional servicemen at sea, leaving conscripts to shore duties.
Overhaul for Latvian ships
The Dutch Alkmaar class minehunter HrMs Dordrecht arrived in the Belgian naval base in Zeebrugge on 7 February for an overhaul before she is transferred to Latvia as LVNS Namejs. This is part of a material logistics agreement signed between Belgium and The Netherlands last year. This involves joint procurement of spares for the Karel Doorman class frigates and Tripartite minehunters. Harbour acceptance trials are planned for
8-19 October, followed by sea acceptance trials on 19 November. She will be handed over to the Latvian Navy at the end of December, her sister ship HrMS Harlingen having being renamed LVNS Imanta on 7 March. Also being transferred are HrMsScheveningen,
which will become LVNS Viesturs, HrMs Delfzijl, and HrMs Alkmaar. The last two will also be overhauled at Zeebrugge.
India is set to seek six more submarines
India is expected to issue a request for proposals for six conventional submarines within the next few weeks, according to Naval Spyglass. New Delhi is apparently looking at German
Type 214 submarines with air-independent propulsion, and Russian Amur class boats with vertically-launched Klub-S surface-to-surface missiles, and possibly with air-independent propulsion. The new boats would augment six Scorpène
class submarines which are being built at Mazagon Dock in Mumbai.
WARSHIP TECHNOLOGY MAY 2007
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