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Falklands War Admiral Sandy Woodward dies aged 81

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Admiral Sandy Woodward at his home in Wimbledon in 1992

Adm Woodward was described as a “modern-day hero” by Falkland Islanders

An admiral who led Britain’s task force in the 1982 Falklands War has died after a long illness, aged 81, his daughter has told the BBC.

Adm Sir Sandy Woodward was commander of the carrier force sent by PM Margaret Thatcher to retake the Falklands.

He served as deputy chief of the defence staff from 1985 and was promoted to admiral in 1987.

David Cameron said the UK was “indebted” to Adm Woodward for his role in ensuring freedom for islanders.

“The admiral was a truly courageous and decisive leader, proven by his heroic command of the Royal Navy Taskforce during the Falklands conflict,” said the prime minister.

“We are indebted to him for his many years of service and the vital role he played to ensure that the people of the Falkland Islands can still today live in peace and freedom. My thoughts and prayers are with Adm Woodward’s family and friends at this difficult time.”

‘Inspirational leadership’

Daniel Allan, founder of the Falklands United Movement, which represents some islanders, said he was a “modern-day hero”.

“We owe him a debt of gratitude and he is in the thoughts of every islander, past and present, today,” he said.

A look back at the life and career of Admiral Sir Sandy Woodward (R)

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said he would be remembered as the “Fighting Admiral”.

“Adm Woodward served his country with distinction throughout his career,” he said.

First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas said: “Undaunted by the challenge of fighting a capable enemy over 8,000 miles from the UK, in the most demanding and extreme of weather conditions, and against uncertain odds, Admiral Woodward’s inspirational leadership and tactical acumen – meshing the realities of the higher political command at home with the raw and violent fight at sea – was a major factor in shaping the success of the British forces in the South Atlantic.

Analysis

image of Caroline Wyatt
Caroline Wyatt Defence correspondent, BBC News

A tall plain-speaking man, Adm Woodward will be best remembered in the Falklands – briefing his men with a blunt statement as they deployed: “People will die, ships will be lost, that’s the deal. Go to it.”

He made clear that, as a leader, it was more important to be respected than liked, writing that: “A truly good leader should seek respect and regard any liking simply as profit.”

It was Adm Woodward who wanted to torpedo the Argentine ship the Belgrano because of the threat he believed it posed to British forces, even though it was outside the exclusion zone when sunk – a decision agreed by Margaret Thatcher.

He did not regret the move, saying Britain never realised how close it came to losing the war.

After retirement, Adm Woodward continued to speak out for the navy, angered by the scrapping of the UK’s aircraft carriers and the Sea Harriers, which had proved so vital in retaking the Falklands.

He described the decision as appalling, and warned the UK would no longer be able to retake the islands as it did more than 30 years ago.

“Highly regarded and widely respected within the military, he will be sorely missed and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”

Sukey Cameron, the Falkland Islands’ government representative in the UK, tweeted: “Sad to learn of the death of Admiral Sir Sandy Woodward; remembering with gratitude the important part he played in #Falklands Liberation.”

Adm Woodward was born John Woodward in Penzance, Cornwall, on 1 May 1932, according to the Who’s Who database.

He trained at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, joining the navy in 1946 at the age of 13, and quickly rising through the ranks to command submarines.

During his time serving in submersibles, Adm Woodward married Charlotte Mary McMurtrie in 1960 and they had a son and a daughter.

When Argentina invaded the British overseas territory of the Falkland Islands on 2 April 1982, he was a newly appointed rear admiral and acted as commander of the Carrier Battle Group from the flagship HMS Hermes.

Three days later the first British task force ships left Britain, and by 14 June, following a number of key battles, the British had liberated the capital, Port Stanley.

Among the most controversial actions of the British during the war was the sinking of the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano, killing 368 crew.

BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said Adm Woodward had wanted to torpedo the ship because of the threat he believed it posed to British forces, even though it was outside the exclusion zone when sunk – a decision agreed by Mrs Thatcher.

During the conflict, an estimated 600 Argentines were killed along with 255 UK servicemen and three Falklands civilians.

Knighthood

Adm Woodward, who also went on to be the Flag Aide-de Camp to the Queen, was knighted for his service in the Falklands campaign in 1983.

He retired in 1989 but never forgot his time in the Falklands, later writing a book titled One Hundred Days on his experiences and chairing the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel Trust, which raised money to build a chapel in Pangbourne, Berkshire, in memory of those who had died.

“Start Quote

I found her [Margaret Thatcher] to be the best top executive I’d ever met”

End Quote Adm Woodward April 2013

Robert Fox, defence editor of the London Evening Standard, said Adm Woodward had to take “some of the biggest risks of any commander in modern British history”.

“He knew how to take risks… the lack of air cover, the way the whole thing was conducted against the unknown – it would simply be deemed as unacceptable by Westminster today,” he said.

Writing for the Daily Telegraph earlier this year, Adm Woodward described working with Mrs Thatcher between 1985 and 1987, when he was the head of defence staff operations and would attend cabinet meetings.

He said their relationship was one of mutual respect, describing Mrs Thatcher as “the best top executive I’d ever met”.

In June 2011 Adm Woodward wrote in the Daily Mail that he feared the Falkland Islands were “now perilously close to being indefensible”.

“Twenty-nine years ago today, we reclaimed the Falklands for Britain in one of the most remarkable campaigns since the Second World War,” he wrote.

“The simple truth is without aircraft carriers and without the Americans, we would not have any hope of doing the same again today.”

And in written evidence to the Commons Defence Committee in May of this year, he warned Britain would be unable to defend itself if cuts to the navy continued to be made.

Source – BBC News

Revealed: Shock ‘Code Red’ safety report on British nuclear subs as fleet is hit by leaking, cracked reactors and lack of trained staff

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  • Safety issues with UK’s nuclear subs and facilities used to repair missiles
  • Cracks in reactors and nuclear discharges found in Navy’s oldest boats
  • Nuclear-qualified engineers are quitting over poor pay and conditions
  • Experts described latest report as the most worrying they had seen

 

An official watchdog discovered major safety issues with both the UK’s nuclear-powered submarines and facilities used to repair nuclear missiles, raising the risk of a catastrophic accident involving radioactive material.

Last night, experts described the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR) report for 2012-13 as the most worrying they had seen.

Leak: Tireless, the oldest submarine in the Royal Navy fleet, which entered service in 1984, suffered damage to its circuits earlier this year resulting in a radioactive leakCode Red: Tireless, the oldest submarine in the Royal Navy fleet, which entered service in 1984, suffered damage to its circuits earlier this year resulting in a radioactive leak

The document, obtained by this newspaper, reveals:

  • Cracks in reactors and nuclear discharges are directly attributable to the Royal Navy’s oldest Trafalgar Class SSNs (Ship Submarine Nuclear) remaining in service beyond their design date.
  • Faults with the new Astute Class submarines will delay their entry into service, forcing the Navy to continue sailing the ageing and potentially dangerous Trafalgars.
  • The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) failed to notice or rectify corrosion to a nuclear missile treatment plant in Berkshire.
  • Nuclear-qualified engineers are quitting the Navy in droves over poor pay and conditions, creating a skills crisis.

Head of the DNSR Dr Richard Savage wrote: ‘Significant and sustained attention is required to ensure maintenance of adequate safety performance and the rating [Red] reflects the potential impact if changes are ill-conceived or implemented.

 ‘The inability to sustain a sufficient number of nuclear suitably competent personnel is the principal threat to safety. Vulnerabilities exist in core skill areas, including safety, propulsion, power and naval architects.

HMS TIRELESS THE ‘KILLER SUB’

Two Submariners killed in an explosion aboard the HMS Tireless, 32-year-old Paul McCann (left) and 20-year-old Anthony HuntrodIn March 2007, sailors Anthony Huntrod, 20, (right) and Paul McCann, 32, (left)  were killed on HMS Tireless when a self-contained oxygen generator exploded during an Arctic exercise north of Alaska.

They died trapped in a small, smoke-filled compartment.

An inquest heard that there was a significant possibility the generator was salvaged from a hazardous waste depot in a cost-cutting bid  by the MoD.

‘Due to build delays with the Astute Class, there has been a requirement to extend the Trafalgar Class beyond their original design life in order to maintain the SSN flotilla at a fully operational level.

Some of the emergent technical issues affecting the Trafalgar Class over the last few years can be directly attributed to the effects of plant ageing.’

The report also raises concerns over whether the UK’s nuclear fleet and its inland nuclear establishments could withstand an earthquake on the same scale as the one that struck the Fukushima reactor plant in  Japan in 2011.

The document notes that facilities which form part of Britain’s Defence Nuclear Programme (DNP) require ‘continued priority attention’ to reach recommended safety standards.

Last night, nuclear expert John Large told The Mail on Sunday that the DNSR report revealed a crisis in Royal Navy nuclear safety.

He said: ‘This is the most self-damning and concerning report that I have seen. We’re talking about a ticking time-bomb, with a higher risk to the public and the environment than we previously feared.

‘The combination of a lack of nuclear engineers, the Astute submarines being so far behind schedule and the Trafalgar Class sailing beyond their design date is very worrying.

‘The Trafalgars, including HMS Tireless, the oldest boat of the class, should be withdrawn immediately.’

HMS Tireless, which entered service in 1984, suffered damage to  its circuits earlier this year resulting in a radioactive leak.

The nuclear sub was patrolling off South-West England when the problem arose, forcing its captain to return to Devonport. A more serious leak  was avoided because of swift remedial action.

Nuclear materials – including Trident missiles – are brought to the AWE’s site at Aldermaston, Berkshire, for assembly, maintenance and decommissioning.

Warning: There are also fears over the Aldermaston centre where Trident missiles are servicedWarning: There are also fears over the Aldermaston centre where Trident missiles are serviced

These processes include ‘uranium polishing’ – the removal of impurities from the material in order to extend its life cycle as a component in nuclear missiles.

The DNSR report states: ‘Inspection programmes have not been as comprehensive as regulators would expect.

As an example, corrosion in the structural supports of a building was not identified as early as would be expected which resulted in the Office for Nuclear Regulation issuing a Safety Improvement Notice.’

Last night the AWE admitted corrosion had affected its uranium component manufacturing facility, but added repairs had been completed.

An MoD spokesman said: ‘We would not operate any submarine unless it was safe to do so and this report acknowledges that we are taking  the necessary action to effectively manage the technical issues raised by the regulator.

‘It also highlights that the MoD is committed to maintaining expertise in submarine technology and operation – underlined by last month’s operational handover of the first two Astute Class submarines.’

Source – Daily Mail

S. Korean Navy offers insight into demanding submarine life

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 — Life aboard a submarine can be tough. Operations are hectic, quarters are cramped and the health of crew members can suffer as a result.
Captain Hyun Chang-hoon used to have strong teeth before he joined the submarine fleet more than 20 years ago, but now the 47-year-old suffers from dental disease, which is a common health problem for veteran submariners due to the higher-than-normal amount of carbon dioxide inside a submarine.

“Think about artificial teeth left in a can of Coca-Cola, which contains carbon dioxide. Teeth will dissolve a couple days later,” Hyun said. “My bad teeth are just one example of life in the deep sea where there’s no light.”
Hyun, the captain of a 1,800-ton submarine named after a famous independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun (1877-1910), was speaking of the intense lifestyle of soldiers in this unit during a Yonhap reporter’s visit to the ninth flotilla submarine base in the southeastern port city of Jinhae.

Poor dental hygiene is just one of the hardships crew members face when living in cramped quarters for extended periods of time.

“When I returned to home after completing months-long missions, I went to a public sauna to get rid of all kinds of body odor. But it didn’t go away,” said a vice admiral who had served in the submarine unit for nearly 30 years.

Due to confined space, no women have been allowed in the unit since its establishment in the early 1990s.

The Navy recently revealed the Type 214 submarine — the third of its kind in operation since 2010 — to give the public a very rare insight into various aspects of its weaponry, machinery, confined spaces and life aboard.

The atmosphere in the unit is derived not only from the nature of its missions, which require about 40 men to remain together underwater in an iron tube for many long days, but also because very few soldiers serve in the unit.

Secrecy and noise reduction is important to the submarine crew so they won’t be detected by the sonar of other submarines. Wearing boots with layers of soft-cushions on the heel is one way they reduce noise.

The Diesel submarine is operated by Air Independent Propulsion (AIP), which extends the ship’s submerged endurance compared to conventional submarines. The AIP system enables the crew to carry out underwater missions for several weeks without the need to access atmospheric oxygen.

It is equipped with ship-to-land missiles and torpedoes as well as an advanced sonar system for anti-submarine warfare, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

South Korea currently operates over 10 submarines, including 1,200-ton Type 209 subs and 1,800-ton Type 214 subs.

The Navy plans to acquire nine 3,000-ton level heavy-attack submarines after 2020 with significant improvements in their radar and armament systems compared to their predecessors. A total of nine 3,000-ton submarines are expected to be built in South Korea with indigenous technologies, according to officials. By 2020, there will be over 20 ships operated by the Navy.

As the flotilla is expected to receive more ships in coming years, it is due to become South Korea’s submarine headquarters in 2015.

The procurement plan reflects the intensifying hidden underground battle with North Korea after a South Korean corvette Cheonan was sunk by a suspected North Korean submarine attack in March 2010. A total of 46 sailors were killed in the incident.

Navy officials stressed the need to beef up the submarine capabilities, citing growing naval tensions around the Korean Peninsula that could turn into an armed conflict.

China’s growing naval presence and Japan’s military build up to counter it also highlight the need for better anti-submarine warfare capabilities, they said.

“We will play a key role in deterring North Korea’s naval provocations and protect national interests in the deep sea,” Hyun said.

The biggest challenge for that goal is attracting and retaining skilled officers and crew members, as fewer cadets have applied for the intense submarine unit in recent years as the recruiting system was changed.

When the flotilla was first launched two decades ago, top-ranking cadets were selected for the submarine program and joined the ranks of the submarine flotilla to operate strategic naval weapons against North Korea. The communist country has operated a large submarine fleet since the 1960s.

After the recruiting system came under criticism for depriving cadets the opportunity to choose other units, the Navy now accepts applications for volunteers who want to become submariners. Instructors say they have difficulties enticing cadets and non-commissioned officers in joining the crew.
To tackle the manpower problem, the Navy is seeking to increase the pay of submariners, but receiving more government funding is no easy task, said a Navy captain in charge of the submarine training unit.

“We need more crew with in-depth knowledge and passion for the role submarines are expected to play in maritime strategy,” Hyun said.

Bob’s tales of life on a submarine – New book

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Bob Clarke

Bob Clarke

A MAN who grew up in Thurrock before joining the Royal Navy has written a book about his time as a submariner during the Cold War.

Bob Clarke, who was born in Chadwell St Mary, regales a host of fascinating stories logged during his time in the Navy in the book If You Can’t Take A Joke.

He was inspired to join the UK’s sea force when his interest was stirred when he found the wreck of HMS Truculent, a wartime submarine, on Grays Beach.

On leaving school at 15, Bob joined the Navy, where he found himself embroiled in one of the most tense periods in history as submarines circumnavigated the world, on call should a nuclear war begin.

If You Can’t Take A Joke covers a year spent at a boys training establishment, 18 months aboard a major warship in the East Indies as well as ten years of service in submarines during the Cold War era and during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

It also features 20 colour illustrations by up-and-coming Essex artist Shaun Stone.

Bob, who now lives in South Woodham Ferrers, said of his time in the Navy: “There was some excitement, but it was interspersed with a lot of boredom.

“Some of the stories are humorous, while some are about the serious things we did during the Cold War.”

Each possessed nuclear weapons and were met with the threat of mutually assured destruction.

But while no missiles were ever fired, the two were engaged in psychological warfare.

For more information about Bob’s book, visit  http://www.ifyoucanttakeajoke.co.uk/

 Source – Thurrock Gazette

Wrens join Submarines – Video Clip

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Warning – This clip, whilst highly amusing, contains extremely bad language and has the propensity to offend delicate ears!!

Source – Youtube

Russia to hand over a submarine to Vietnam this Nov.

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According to a press release of the Admiraltei Verfi shipyard, the first Kilo 636 submarine of the six submarines for Vietnam will be handed over to Vietnam in November 2013.

 submarine, kilo, russia, vietnam

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung inspected Kilo 636 submarine named Hanoi of Vietnam Navy during a visit to Russia in May 2013. Photo: VNA

“The factory is fixing defects and preparing for the test of ashore hand-over,” Russian newswire RIA Novosti cited a press release of Admiraltei shipyard.

“In November the two sides will sign a preliminary report and the submarine will be handed over to the base. The flag hoisting for the submarine will take place in the order-placing country,” the press release quoted the plant’s engineer Aleksandr Belyy.

Aleksandr Belyy stressed that the experiment of ashore hand-over will take quite some time. The plant engineers will check all systems and operational mechanisms of the submarine and complete the paint job.

The first phase of the trial ended on December 25, 2012. The second phase consists of factory testing and unload testing took place from 16/4 to 27/06/2013. Along with it is the training of the Vietnamese crew.

“From July 4 to 17, we made and completely finished the national testing program,” stressed Aleksandr Belyy.

“We conducted more than 100 days of diving and all systems worked well,” he said.

The contract to buy six Kilo 636 submarines from Russia was announced by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in December 2009. The contract is scheduled for completion in 2016. The two first submarines are expected to be handed over to Vietnam this year.

Varshavyanka (Kilo) submarines are the most advanced type of the contemporary world. The length of the vessel is 74 meters, and width 10 meters. Their deepest submerging level is 300 meters, and underwater speed of up to 37 km / h. The submarine can run automatically for 45 days and nights.

The Kilo submarines are equipped with the “Club” missile complex which is capable of projecting power at a distance of 300 km. Particularly, the unique feature of this submarine is its extremely low noise. The Western experts call Varshavyanka submarines “black holes in the ocean.”

Source – Vietnam Bridge

Major new submarine museum planned for River Clyde

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Two Navy servicemen on a ‘Stickleback’ submarine in 1954. Picture: Royal Maritime Museum

A MULTI-million pound museum to create the biggest ­memorial in the world to more than 5,300 Commonwealth sailors killed in the line of duty, and honour Scotland’s role in the ­development of submarine technology, is planned for the banks of the River Clyde.

 Award-winning architect ­Gareth Hoskins, who designed the £47 million National Museum of Scotland redevelopment, the Culloden Battlefield Memorial Centre and the Bridge Arts Centre, has been asked to draw up plans for the new £6m building overlooking the Firth of Clyde at Helensburgh.

Funding for the proposed Scottish Submarine Centre is being sought from a consortium of private and public bodies with organisers claiming to have secured pledges of more than £1m so far.

An application for £240,000 is due to go before the Scottish Regional Armed Forces Community Covenant Awards Board for approval later this month.

The Community Covenant grant scheme was launched by the Ministry of Defence in August last year. It offers funding of £30m over four years to UK projects which strengthen ties between serving and former military personnel with their communities.

The proposed Submarine Centre will be the only one of its kind in Scotland. Already, the Royal Navy Museum has agreed to donate an X51-class submarine as a centrepiece of the state-of-the-art digital museum to act as a memorial to submariners from around the world.

The midget submarine is a direct descendant of the X-class subs whose crews trained in the Firth of Clyde during the ­Second World War to develop the techniques needed to attack enemy shipping in the narrow fjords of Norway. The X51, improved on the wartime midget submarines, was first unveiled in 1954 on the Gareloch in the Firth of Clyde. Capable of carrying a crew of five, the miniature subs were used for a variety of roles. However, the history of submarines and the Clyde is much longer.

It is hoped the new facility will open by the end of 2016 in time for the 100th anniversary of the K13 disaster. Thirty-two people died when the steam-driven submarine failed during sea trials in the Gareloch near Helensburgh on 29 January, 1917 within sight of the location proposed for the new museum and memorial. Brian Keating, a Helensburgh-based businessman who is driving the project, said: “Helensburgh and the Clyde have been associated with the submarine service for more than 100 years. A lot of work was done here to pioneer the technology.

“The Clyde has also played a major role as a home to submarines on active duty. Many of the most famous and daring ­missions carried out during the Second World War either began here or were in some way connected with the Clyde.

“We want to create a world-class museum which celebrates the marine engineering heritage of the Clyde shipbuilders involved in the development of submarines and serves as a memorial to the brave men from all over the Commonwealth who served in the ­‘silent service’.”

Architect Hoskins, a native of Helensburgh, was recently awarded a series of top awards.

Source – The Scotsman

Jude Law apes Gibraltar submarine captain for new film Black Sea

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ACTOR Jude Law has prepared for his next Hollywood role by joining the crew of an operational Royal Navy nuclear submarine on patrol.

Jude-Law-on-board-submarine-HMS-Talent-in-Gribraltar-for-filmingJude Law on board submarine HMS Talent in Gribraltar for filming

The 40-year-old actor spent several days on HMS Talent learning the life of a submariner, and he remained on board when the vessel left Gibraltar to take part in war games in the Mediterranean.

However, London-based Law, whose film credits include The Talented Mr Ripley and Sherlock Holmes, was not allowed to see the most sensitive operational areas of the hi-tech submarine.

The actor is due to star in the film Black Sea as a British submarine captain who embarks on a hunt for a stolen submarine with gold on board.

He was very down-to-earth, he went around every department and worked out with the Captain

Leading Seaman Anthony Morgan

Crewmen said he immersed himself in the job and made sure he ate with all the officers and sailors. Leading Seaman Anthony Morgan said: “He was very down-to-earth, he went around every department and worked out with the Captain.”

When Law left he was given a “dolphin” badge, which is presented to newly-qualified submariners.

Source – Express

US – SSBNX Under Pressure: Submarine Chief Says Navy Can’t Reduce – Video Clip

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SSBN Force Level Requirements: It’s Simply a Matter of Geography

By Rear Adm. Richard Breckenridge Director, Undersea Warfare, OPNAV N97

There have been recent claims that today’s ballistic missile submarine force is operating with excess capacity and, therefore, force reductions to save resources may be in order. As I have noted in response to a recent op-ed, this supposition is untrue – in fact, our lean SSBN force is providing the cornerstone of our national security at a pace that has remained essentially constant since the late 1990s. Even so, questions about the size and capability of our future at-sea deterrence are appropriate to consider as we recapitalize this national asset. Given past force structure reductions from the “41 for Freedom” SSBN force of the 1960s and 1970s, to the 18 Ohio-class SSBNs of the 1980s and 1990s, to our current force of 14 SSBNs, one might wonder, “What is the minimum number needed for strategic deterrence?” Given advances in technology and the changing scope and complexity of post-Cold War deterrence, is there a way to “do more with less” as we field the next class of SSBNs?

The Mission: Delivering survivable nuclear deterrence from large open-ocean areas

The purpose of the SSBN force is to deter nuclear attack against the United States and against our friends and allies. Our “boomers” do this as part of a nuclear triad. The SSBN role is to provide an assured response capability that is survivable, reliable and robust enough to act as compelling deterrent against a nuclear strike from a foreign power. To make sure our SSBNs are survivable, they are operated from bases giving them access to the broad ocean areas in both the Atlantic and the Pacific. They are stealthy – both in transit and on station. They are operated in a manner that makes their locations unpredictable, while still ensuring that our adversaries know that we have the ability to hold them at risk. This enduring, certain deterrent force acts as an important stabilizer; it is always there and always at the ready.

The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740) returns to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay after three months at sea, March 20, 2013. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James Kimber/Released)

The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740) returns to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay after three months at sea, March 20, 2013.

Our Current and Future SSBN Force: A case study in system optimization

An unarmed Trident II D5 missile launches from the Ohio-class fleet ballistic-missile submarine USS Nevada (SSBN 733) off the coast of Southern California, March 1, 2011. The test launch was part of the U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs demonstration and shakedown operation certification process. The successful launch certified the readiness of an SSBN crew and the operational performance of the submarine's strategic weapons system before returning to operational availability. The launch was the 135th consecutive successful test flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Benjamin Crossley/Released)

An unarmed Trident II D5 missile launches from the Ohio-class fleet ballistic-missile submarine USS Nevada (SSBN 733) off the coast of Southern California, March 1, 2011. The test launch was part of the U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs demonstration and shakedown operation certification process. The successful launch certified the readiness of an SSBN crew and the operational performance of the submarine’s strategic weapons system before returning to operational availability. The launch was the 135th consecutive successful test flight.

Our SSBN force has been “optimized for leanness” based on more than 50 years and 4,000 patrols of proven performance. The deterrent value we provided with 41 SSBNs we now provide with 14 Ohio-class SSBNs. This 65 percent force reduction is a result of two impressive technological developments – the extended range of the D5 missile and quieting technologies that make our SSBNs that much harder to find, even by a persistent and determined adversary. Our boomers are able to exploit the vast reaches of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to patrol silently while within range of key targets to hold an aggressor at risk.

As we return to our question of the leanest force capable of providing this credible and persuasive deterrent, our answer simply comes down to world geography 101 principles. Because the Pacific Ocean is larger, we operate two additional SSBNs in the Pacific to accommodate range and survivability considerations. Six SSBNs in the Pacific and four in the Atlantic is the bare minimum required to provide uninterrupted alert coverage for the combatant commander.

So if 10 SSBNs is our absolute minimum, why do we need 14 today? The reason hinges on the three-year refueling overhaul at the mid-life of each SSBN removing them from strategic service. Today, of our 14 SSBNs, we operate on average 11 to provide vital nuclear deterrence. Based upon other electronic system modernizations, this minimum force level occasionally dips to 10 operational SSBNs. One important historical note is relevant to the refueling overhaul discussion. The Ohio-class core life exceeded the design estimates of 15 years and the Navy was able to postpone mid-life refueling by six years.  Naval Sea Systems Command engineers then conducted detailed technical analysis of all other shipboard systems and extended the service life of our Ohio class from 30 to 42 years – a mind-staggering 40 percent life extension. This technological feat saved the country substantial budgetary resources, reaping a greater return from the initial investment in this SSBN class; essentially four less SSBNs will be procured during this century as a result of this achievement.

The good news is that this legacy of lean success is being imprinted in the DNA of the new Ohio replacement SSBN. The engineers at NAVSEA and our partners in industry are designing a new boomer with a 42-year service life and a reactor core that will not require refueling throughout the life of the ship. This will reduce the class mid-life overhaul by one-third and we will be able to deploy our 10 operational SSBNs with a force of just 12 total SSBNs.

If you want to see a “lean, mean fighting machine,” look no further than our current and future ballistic missile submarine force.

Source – Navy Life

‘Sub should go on show in Greenock’ – HMS Onyx

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CALLS for a submarine to be exhibited in Greenock have resurfaced – following news that a new ‘silent service’ museum is to be opened on the other side of the Clyde

HMS Onyx

SAVE SUB: HMS Onyx could be scrapped if no-one comes up with the money to buy the submarine

Source – Greenock Telegraph