Remora to the “rescue”

The Remora struts its stuff during the rescue exercise in waters off WA.

The Navy’s ability to rescue personnel from a disabled submarine was put to the test during Black Carillion exercises off the West Australian coast.

The Submarine Escape Rescue Manager (SERM), otherwise known as Remora, conducted a trial to extract 20 role-playing medical survivors.

Under the rescue scenario HMAS Dechaineux (LCDR Simon Rusiti) had sunk in 150m of water after colliding with a large tanker. Once bottomed, Dechaineux fired a series of yellow smoke candles every half an hour until found.

The rescue forces then went into action, communicating with the disabled submarine via the use of hull tapping, emergency underwater telephone, marine sound signals and pyrotechnics.

MV Sea Horse Standard then took up position over the submarine, so Remora could be launched to survey the scene.

With this complete, Remora carried out a touch and go, along with its first “mate” with the disabled sub. Injured personnel were then transferred to Remora and brought to the surface for treatment.

 

The Commonwealth and the Australian Submarine Corporation have signed a contract worth up to $3.5 billion over 25 years to refit the Collins Class submarines. The contract will build on the remarkable achievements made by Australian industry during the construction of the Collins Class, which is widely regarded as the most capable conventional submarine of its kind in the world. Under the contract, ASC will integrate capability enhancements, such as a new combat system and a heavyweight torpedo, to ensure that the technical capabilities of the submarines are maintained. Minister for Defence Senator Robert Hill said Australia had joined a small elite group of countries with the technical and industrial capability to build, maintain and support future design of submarines. “No other conventional submarine in the world is capable of challenging the technical capabilities of the Collins class submarines. In the water they are practically invisible,” Senator Hill said. The Collins class has an extremely high level of technical complexity. Each submarine comprises more than 500,000 assembled parts and requires in excess of 2.5 million person-hours to assemble.

 

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