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  • Submarine issues call for help

    Submarine issues call for help

    BBC News


    The submarine was sold to Canada by Britain
    A major rescue effort has been launched off Ireland after a Canadian submarine asked for assistance.
    The Canadian Defence Force said HMCS Chicoutimi had suffered a mechanical failure and its crew were all safe.

    A Royal Air Force Nimrod from Kinloss has been diverted to the area and a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter is on its way from HMS Gannet in Ayrshire.

    The submarine, which was bought from Britain, is not nuclear-powered or carrying nuclear warheads.


    The request for assistance came from the vessel some 100 miles north west of Ireland.

    Neil Smith, a spokesman for the Faslane submarine base on the Clyde, said that Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Wave Knight had been turned round and was on its way to the scene.


    A Type 23 frigate, HMS Montrose, is being sent from Faslane, accompanied by tug boat support.

    "At this moment in time we don't have the exact details," said Mr Smith.

    "We are in communication with the people on board.

    "We are doing everything we can to assist them, and at this moment in time my colleagues are working hard to make sure that happens as quickly as possible."

    There were unconfirmed reports of a fire on board the vessel, he added.

    The Chicoutimi was one of four Upholder Class submarines originally built for the Royal Navy.

    Patrol submarines

    The diesel-powered vessel was called HMS Upholder when it was part of the Royal Navy's fleet.

    It was bought by the Canadian Navy, where it is now one of four Victoria Class long-range patrol submarines.

    This is the second time in a month the Chicoutimi has been involved in a rescue at sea.

    Last month, she was involved in an incident when an ocean-going tug boat accompanying it ran aground off Skye during sea trials.

    Eight sailors were taken off the tug by Portree lifeboat.



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  • #2


    She has had a history of problems since being bought from the RN,and this is turning into a shambles almost equal to the Seaking Fiasco.



    Sun, October 3, 2004


    Tax dollars drowning in sub sinkhole

    Tab for problem-plagued fleet approaching $1B

    By MARCO FORTIER, CP



    CANADA'S SUBMARINE program is sinking deeper in red ink, a Sun Media investigation reveals. The bill for four used submarines acquired by the Department of National Defence in 1998 is quietly climbing toward $1 billion.

    Even though only one of the submarines bought from the British navy is actually patrolling the ocean, the cost of the project has reached $897 million -- 20% more than the estimated cost of $750 million, according to National Defence figures.

    A series of technical flaws, equipment breakdowns and delays in delivery of the submarines is inflating the bill, say documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

    LEAKY, RUSTY

    The Sun also learned that National Defence had to purchase 5,500 used replacement parts that were not included in the initial deal with the British navy. The cost of those parts was censored in the documents.

    The list of deficiencies is staggering. Leaks. Rust. Broken-down instrument panels. Blocked rudders. A communications blackout. Rotten decks.

    Corrosion problems and turbine breakdowns on the HMCS Chicoutimi -- which is still being repaired in the U.K. but did have its naming ceremony yesterday -- have made headlines.

    But a series of less spectacular but nonetheless worrisome failures have also struck the fleet.

    The four subs' control panels, which register navigation data, are outdated and don't function properly. The apparatus is so old that replacement parts no longer exist, an incident report notes.

    "This equipment is out of date and no support is offered. It should be replaced by modern equipment," the report says.

    'SAFETY RISK'

    Crews face a "potential safety risk," the report says, adding the subs' computer system "freezes" and loses critical data.

    When the subs' equipment works, it does so at a speed that "is unsuitable for deployment under operational conditions."

    To add to the crews' worries, crucial parts of HMCS Victoria's sonar have shown signs of "excessive corrosion." It's the "main sonar for avoiding collisions," according to an incident report from August 2002.

    "If the rust pierces the connectors, water could make contact with the electrical system and ... degrade the performance of the sonar," a lieutenant wrote.

    SUB-STANDARD

    Canada agreed to buy four British Victoria-class submarines in 1998 for $750 million. Six years later, the ill-starred fleet remains plagued by serious mechanical problems:

    - HMCS Windsor, based at Halifax, is the only one of the four subs patrolling the ocean. Attempts at going out to sea were successful earlier this year.

    - HMCS Corner Brook is undergoing repairs in Halifax. Reports indicate repairs are more complex than expected and will take months.

    - HMCS Victoria is moored at its Esquimalt, B.C. base, where it will undergo testing at sea this fall. Torpedo tests are on the agenda.

    - HMCS Chicoutimi remains docked in Britain. Corrosion problems and turbine breakdowns have delayed delivery of the sub for three years.


    Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

    Comment


    • #3
      And we thought we had problems
      Meh.

      Comment


      • #4
        ...

        Is it nor fair time that the Irish Government pout there hand in there pockets and actually pourchased long range SAR aircraft. Is everyone here not sick and tired of the amount of times that the RAF and there Nimrods have to come to the assistance of SAR calls in the Atlantic.

        What would it cost to keep these type of aircraft in the air, maybe a long term replacemnt for the Casa's is required.
        "Why am I using a new putter? Because the last one didn't float too well." -Craig Stadler

        Comment


        • #5
          What would it cost to keep these type of aircraft in the air
          The only Nimrods in service are with the RAF and the airframes are 30 years + old and are currently about to undergo rebuild to MRA4 class so there is no chance for Irish Nimrods. Best bet is extra CASAs. Nice, simple and you know how they work if ever anyone thinks about increasing the MP fleet.
          Other options- USN surplus Orions or converted biz jets such as the new Challengers the Danish are now using.

          I heard about this accodent earlier this afternoon but I just caght something at the end of the news, have things got worse? it started at a fire and 3 crew injured. Has it increased?
          Si vis pacem para bellum

          Comment


          • #6
            HMCS Chicoutimi

            These four subs. were built by Vickers about ten years ago,they are the last diesel powered Subs. built for the RN.They were trouble from the word go,and never joined the fleet, after the sea trials of one vessel one Officer was quoted as saying "I hope we never have to fire a torpedo from one of these tubes".
            The reported electrical fire probably had nothing to do with the origonal reasons the RN rejected them, but after a three year refit and numerous sea trials you would think they would have the problems sorted.
            You can conclude (a) beware of buying second hand and (b) thers must be a good book to be written about the Upholder class Submarines.

            Comment


            • #7
              According to the News, LE Roisin is on the way to provide any assistance.


              Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

              Comment


              • #8
                Just heard,Roisin has been forced to turn back,due to poor weather,and has suffered minor damage.


                Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

                Comment


                • #9
                  The submarine is in the UK SAR area, hence they are providing the resources.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Latest word is Roisin has suffered serious damage to the Bow, and 2 Naval vessels have been sent from the south west coast to the Submarines Location to provide any assistance they can.

                    In relation to Roisin,remember when she was delivered,a part of the Bilge Keel broke off during sea trials,and one of the propellor blades almost detached? I understand at the time,much of the electrical equipment aboard did not take kindly to being battered about. All this was rectified by the builders,under warranty,but you have to wonder if a vessel which is supposed to be able to handle all types of atlantic weather(as well as asian Typhoons) could become damaged by heavy seas? I do not remember this happening in the past, or is it that the P50 Class is taken out in worse seas than the P20 class were?


                    Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by yellowjacket
                      The submarine is in the UK SAR area, hence they are providing the resources.


                      The incident happened off the North west coast.


                      Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

                      Comment


                      • #12

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          It appears that the home built P21 classa re far better sea boats then the P50s.

                          the P21 class weathered many a storm without suffering this type of damage. Is there an inherent flaw in theP50s as roisin especially seems to have given endless trouble since her acceptance.
                          Funny how Appledore went into receivership after the Niamh.......

                          the RN were glad to see the back of the upholder class as they were always problematic....they are under lease to the canadians ..no wonder they are in a hurry to get there ...sense of responsibility perhaps?
                          Covid 19 is not over ....it's still very real..Hand Hygiene, Social Distancing and Masks.. keep safe

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Three casualties from a stricken Canadian submarine off the northwest coast have been airlifted to Sligo General Hospital.


                            Three airlifted from stricken submarine

                            06 October 2004 22:53
                            Three casualties from a stricken Canadian submarine off the northwest coast have been airlifted to Sligo General Hospital.

                            The three are believed to be suffering the effects of smoke inhalation. One man's condition has been described as critical.

                            The Canadian submarine with 57 crew on board had been drifting without power off the northwest coast of Ireland.



                            The British naval frigate reached the submarine this afternoon, and several other Irish and British naval vessels also converged on the scene.

                            High winds and heavy seas had hampered efforts to reach the submarine, which issued a mayday call yesterday afternoon.

                            A fire had knocked out its engines and nine crewmembers suffered from the effects of smoke inhalation.

                            The HMCS Chicoutimi is to be towed back to a port in Scotland, but a request may be made to bring the submarine into Blacksod Bay in Co Mayo for shelter.

                            The vessel is a refitted British submarine, formerly HMS Upholder, which only officially joined the Canadian Navy five days ago under a deal agreed in 1998.
                            I assume they can expect to see indymedia types in mayo soon
                            You're even dumber than I tell people

                            You might have been infected but you never were a bore

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              one of the crew has apperently died, RIP:(

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