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Surface

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Surface

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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U3 hits the surface

Rescue Operations

Submarine rescue entails all activities related to on the first hand rescuing of the crew and secondly salvage of the boat.

The organization of submarine rescue in Sweden is founded on a thorough analysis made in the early thirties. This resulted in acquiring equipment for personnel and submarines and later also in building of test diving tanks in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Karlskrona. The former two tanks were 6 m deep and allowed training of breathing apparatuses and escape trunks. The deeper 20 m tank in Karlskrona was built during WWII when the number of submariners increased considerably. Detailed description see  pdf-dokument 2Mb.

Breathing apparatus used for free escape from the submarine,
Breathing apparatus M/42
1 Nose clip
2 Breathing hose with mouthpiece
3 Pressure maintaining valve
4 Breathing bag
5 Hose connecting oxygene bottle-checkvalve
6 Hose socket
7 Oxygene bottle
8 Pulling rail

Breathing apparatus used for free escape from the submarine,
model 1942. Photo U3 archives

The Swedish Navy did earlier rely on private salvage ships providing ship and equipment. During WWII a salvage ship named BELOS was acquired and was rebuilt for use by the Navy. Belos was provided with divers and manned by the Navy. When searching for the submarine HMS Ulven that foundered after having hit a mine, BELOS became well known in Sweden. The Ulven was foundered 15th April 1943. BELOS was the ship that found her and confirmed the loss.

Submarine salvage ship Belos I.
Submarine salvage ship Belos I. A rescue bell is seen at the aft winch. Photo U3 archives.

The Belos I with a diver. In the background the rescue bell, 1947
The Belos I with a diver. In the background the rescue bell, 1947. Photo U3 achives.

With the Belos I, two rescue bells were acquired named SVEA and GÖTA. They were designed to connect to the escape hatch of a distressed submarine. They could carry 8 persons at a time. The Swedish bells’ design was influenced by American, Charles Bowers,”Swede” Momsen model. This type of bell became renowned when rescuing part of the USS SQUALUS crew 1939. More reading on USS SQUALUS.

Belos II with rescue bell.
Belos II with rescue bell. Photo Bengt Rasin

Modern rescue facilities

To day the Swedish Navy relies on its Submarine Rescue Boat URF. This submersible has the capacity to dive down to a distressed submarine, mate and allow the whole crew aboard and return to the surface, all in one single mission. Her deep diving depth is 460 m.

The URF connected to be lifted on board the Belos III.
The URF connected to be lifted on board the Belos III. Photo Thomas Falk

URF is carried on board a modern submarine salvage ship, Belos III. This ship has a decompression chamber to take care of men that have been subjected to high pressures.

Submarine rescue ship Belos III with URF in the hydraulically operated A-frame.
Submarine rescue ship Belos III with URF in the hydraulically operated A-frame. Photo U3 archives.

Submarine rescue is today subjet to international cooperation. Countries lacking own rescue capacity can sign agreement on assistance from other nations.  URF can e.g. be transported on large Russian aircraft to nearly any place on the earth.

Submarine rescueop URF under loading aboard a Russian AN 124.
URF under loading aboard a Russian AN 124. Here the aircraft nose with cockpit is lifted to allow for the URF to enter. Photo Thomas Falk.

Free escape

One method of escaping from a distressed submarine is using a free escape trunk allowing the crew to leave the boat one by one.
This procedure is practiced in the diving tank in Karlskrona. This facility is kept up to standard with the developing technology for 64 years. This diving tank is a unique asset and utilized by several nations’s submariners

Training at the diving tank in Karlskrona, 1965.
Training at the diving tank in Karlskrona, 1965. Photo U3 archives.

The modern rescue suite used by submariners today can keep the man floating on surface alive for at least 24 hours. A small rubber raft is incorporated in the suit. See drawing  pdf-dokument

Should a submarine of to day stay on the bottom, unable to surface, there is a good chance for the crew to be saved