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TheNATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS) is a tri-national project to develop an internationalsubmarine rescue system. The system provides a rescue capability primarily to the partner nations ofFrance,Norway and theUnited Kingdom, but also toNATO and allied nations and to any submarine equipped with a suitable mating surface around its hatches.[1]
NSRS was designed and manufactured byForum Energy Technologies' Subsea Division, formerly Perry Slingsby Systems.[2]
The NSRS entered service in 2008, replacing the UK's previous rescue system, theLR5. The complete system is fully air transportable in a variety of aircraft operated by NATO countries, including theAirbus A400M Atlas,Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, andLockheed C-5 Galaxy. It is capable of launch and recovery in a significant wave height of up to 5 metres (16 ft) (sea state 6) and can reach any distressed submarine (DISSUB) in 72-96 hours from the alert, dependent upon location. It has limited capability in ice-covered seas.
When a 'SUBSUNK' alert, which messages that a submarine is in difficulties is received, the operator of the submarine will initiate the NSRS call-out procedure. The intervention system, which is upon a ready-maderemotely operated vehicle (ROV) will dispatch to the location approximately 24 hours in advance of the full rescue system. Once the ROV arrives it will locate the distressed submarine, establish communications, conduct damage assessment, and prepare the submarine for rescue operations.[3]
The Submarine Rescue Vehicle (SRV) along with a portable launch and recovery system (PLARS), support and operating equipment and thehyperbaric treatment complex (known as the Transfer Under Pressure (TUP) equipment) will arrive approximately 24 hours later. All equipment and personnel will be flown to the mobilisation port for embarkation on a suitable mobilisation ship. The embarkation will take less than 18 hours and the mobilisation ship will then sail to the scene where the SRV will be launched. The aim is to achieve time-to-first-rescue of 72 hours, with personnel being brought to the surface in groups of 12, and transferring them to the NSRS hyperbaric treatment facility if necessary.
The NSRS is based atHM Naval Base Clyde in theUK.
The Intervention system comprises the ROV, the launch and recovery system and the control module. The vehicle is based on theForum Energy Technologies (FET) PSSL Triton SP ROV which is in widespread commercial use and is fitted with variable vectored thrusting. It is capable of operating in depths of 1000m. It can carry a variety of tools to assist in removing debris and delivering emergency life support stores (ELSS)[example needed] to the survivors through the escape/rescue hatch, in watertight pods, known as pod-posting.
The SRV is a crewedsubmersible and was developed from previous rescue vehicles, notably LR5, developed and built by FET's Subsea Division brandPerry Slingsby Systems Ltd in North Yorkshire.[4] It is 10m long, weighs 30tonnes and has an all-steel (NQ1), single piecehull. The craft is operated by a three-man crew (two pilots and a rescue chamber operator). It can operate at depths down to 610m and can mate with the rescue hatch seal at angles of up to 60 degrees in any direction. It also uses high-temperature batteries, of"Zebra" type.[citation needed] These enable it to stay submerged for up to 96 hours. Propulsion is provided by two 25kW units, with a further four smaller units being used for positioning. It is the latest generation of rescue vehicle and has diverless recovery,fibre-optic data communications and a self-contained breathing system developed by Divex (now part of James Fisher Defence).
Delivery of the complete system was achieved by October 2007. Trials and development of improved operating practices were completed in time for Exercise Bold Monarch in May 2008. Full operational capability was attained in March 2011. NSRS has operated from numerous mother ships and exercised to bottomeddiesel submarines of NATO nations as well as those ofRussia andSweden. In 2013 NSRS achieved a first by conducting a full rescue cycle with thenuclear attack submarineHMS Astute, which was suspended mid-water below large mooringbuoys. This success was repeated in April 2015 in theMediterranean Sea to the French nuclear submarineRubis.
The PLARS comprises a combined SRV catcher and stabilisation system and is designed for operation in high sea states (up to sea state 6). The system is air transportable inC-130 Hercules and theA400M. It uses a constant tension winch system for maintaining hawse tension in a wide range of sea states.
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The TUP system is a fully autonomous and air transportable hyperbaric treatment facility that provides full decompression and medical support for up to 72 personnel simultaneously from 6bar to ambient pressure. It comprises a reception chamber, twodecompression chambers and a central control position with fulllife-support and environmental control in conditions from −30 °C (−22 °F) to 60 °C (140 °F).[citation needed]
Built and put into service byRolls-Royce Holdings, the NSRS will be transferred to James Fisher Defence in July 2015.[5]
