In August 2001 the LR5 was flown to Norway and was prepared to dive on the Russian Oscar-class SSGN RFS Kursk that had suffered a catastrophic torpedo explosion and had sunk in the Barents Sea. There is a common bond among submariners that may transcend international tensions and submarine rescue is often a collaborative endeavor, most recently demonstrated by the effort to locate the lost Argentine boat ARA San Juan in 2017 and Indonesian boat KRI Nanggala in 2021. LR5 was bought by JFD and transferred to support the Australian Navy after it was replaced by the SRV1 in 2008.įortunately, NSRS has yet to be called upon for a live DISSUB (Distressed Submarine) event by any nation. Together with the Scorpio ROV, these systems provided submarine rescue services to the RN under a contract that began in 1983. NSRS is primarily intended to cover Northern European waters but overlaps with rescue systems provided by other navies worldwide. However, attack submarines at least, tend to spend a disproportionate amount of their time in shallower waters, either operating off coasts or in transit to their bases.

Should an incident cause an uncontrolled descent in the open ocean, the boat would exceed crush depth, implode and be far beyond rescue. The NSRS can perform rescues down to depths of 610 meters, essentially covering the continental shelf but it should be remembered that about 90% of the ocean is more than 1,000 meters deep. Rescue by another submersible is a far safer means of escape where possible. However, this is fraught with risk and is a last resort option that is only viable at relatively shallow depths. The RN trains its submariners in Submarine Escape, Rescue, Abandonment and Survival (SMERAS) techniques.

It is theoretically possible for personnel to evacuate directly from a bottomed submarine and ascend from the escape tower to the surface using escape suits. A credible rescue capability is therefore an important backup for any submarine force and a statement that the navy cares about the welfare and safety of those serving. Despite the high standards of maintenance and operation, the risk of a submarine becoming trapped on the seabed remains a possibility. As an inherently dangerous business, the safety record of modern RN and NATO submarines is exceptionally good, although there have been several close calls including some not in the public domain. The RN has not lost a submarine in an accident at sea since HMS Affray sank near Alderney in 1951. Here we look in detail at the history, capabilities and future of NSRS. Should a submarine get into difficulty, the NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS) is ready around the clock for deployment to provide assistance.

Us navy submarine escape suit