The hazards of submarine duty come with a price. We hope the number of dives equals the number of surfaces. Every man on a submarine must be ready in the event of an emergency to save the Submarine. But what happens when events occur that make it impossible for a submarine to surface? The United States Submarine Force is ready.
After the tragedy of the USS Thresher, the Navy instituted a program called SUBSAFE. This program has provided the Public, the Navy and submariners with assurance that the Submarines that sail the seas are the safest vessels on the ocean today. Because of this US Submarines ARE SAFE!
Quick Links
These links will take you to Official Navy Websites on Submarine Rescue subjects.
The Best place to research submarine salvage and submarine rescue, click here!
DSRV - Deep Submersible Rescue Vehicle, the DSRV was designed to rescue downed submariners in the event a submarine was still intact, but unable to surface.
A CSP News Story on the DSRV.
Stankiehoods - A special device worn by submariners to conduct a boyant (free) assent to the surface.
PBS's Website has a good diagram of an escape hatch.
From COMSUBPAC we get a history of Submarine rescue.
Submariners train for Disaster - From All Hands Magazine, the US Navy's Official Journal.
Tips from the Naval Safety Center -
Analysis has shown the most likely scenario today will be a submarine that sinks in shallow water because of flooding in the engineroom. It will take two to seven days to get a rescue ship to the stranded vessel. The criteria everyone is working toward is having a submarine crew able to survive on the bottom up to seven days before rescue.
Here is a checklist you need to review to ensure your best chance of survival:
- Relearn all the escape training you received in SubSchool.
- Because it's likely your engineroom will be flooded, move your LiOH canisters forward. (NavSea is formalizing this recommendation.) Look at your upcoming ops, and decide if you need more canisters.
- Take a round turn on hatch PMS1. Ask yourself these questions: Does your hatch open easily, or does it take three men and a small boy to do the job? Will it open at 450 feet, and do you know how to open and shut the hatch during an escape?
- Do you have change 1/A2 to the Submarine Atmosphere Control Manual?
- Make sure your Steinke hoods are in good shape. If you're going to do a free ascent, they'll have to work.
Think of survival equipment like this: The Navy would not have taken the time or spent the money to put such equipment aboard if it wasn't needed.
The author's e-mail address is jbramble@safetycenter.navy.mil.
Check out this site for the Navy Medical Side of the House.