HMAS Dechaineux (SSG 76)

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Career (Australia)
HMAS Dechaineux with dancing dolphin
Laid down:	4 March 1993
Launched:	12 March 1998
Commissioned:	23 February 2001
Status:	Active
Homeport:	Fleet Base West
General Characteristics
Displacement:	Surfaced: 3,051 tonnes Submerged: 3,353 tonnes
Length:	77.8 metres
Beam:	7.8 metres
Draught:	6.8 metres
Propulsion:	1 × Jeumont Schneider main motor 7,050 hp (5.25 MW) 3 × Hedemora/Garden Island Type V18B/14 diesels 6,000 hp (4.42 MW) 3 × Jeaumont Schneider generators 5,630 hp (4.2 MW) 1 × shaft and a skew back propeller 1 × Mactaggart Scott dm 43006 hydraulic motor for emergency propulsion
Speed:	Surfaced: 10+ knots (18.5 km/h) Submerged: 20+ knots (37 km/h)
Range:	11,500 miles (at 10 knots surfaced) 9000 miles (at 10 knots snorting) 400 miles (at 4 knots dived)
Complement:	45 (8 Officers)
Sensors and processing systems:	Thales underwater systems scylla bow sonar Thales Underwater Systems GEC-Marconi Kariwara, Thomson Marconi Narama towed array or Allied Signal TB 23 Kelvin Hughes I-band navigation radar Thales optronics CK043 search and CH093 attack periscopes Anechoic tiles fitted
Electronic warfare and decoys:	Edo ES-5600 ESM, Argo AR-740 Strachan and Henshaw SSDE
Armament:	Boeing/Rockwell integrated system McDonnell Douglas UGM-84 Harpoon 6 × 21 in (533 mm) tubes for sub harpoon and Gould Mark 48 torpedo - total of 22 carried 44 mines in lieu of torpedoes Fitted for but not with Land Attack Cruise missiles with combat system AN/BYG 1 To be fitted : US Mk 48 ADCAP Combat System AN/BYG 1 based on Raytheon's CCS Mk 2
Motto:	"Fearless and Ferocious"
Badge:

HMAS Dechaineux (SSG 76) is a Collins class submarine laid down by the Australian Submarine Corporation at Osborne in South Australia on 4 March 1993, launched on 12 March 1998 and commissioned on 23 February 2001. HMAS Dechaineux is based at Fleet Base West in Western Australia.

1 Name
2 Operational History
- 2.1 2003 flooding incident
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Name

Main article: Emile Dechaineux

The vessel is named for Captain Emile Dechaineux, who commanded vessels in the North Atlantic and South West Pacific during World War II, and was awarded the British Distinguished Service Cross and the U.S. Legion of Merit. Dechaineux died as a result of wounds sustained in what is believed to be the first hit scored by a kamikaze. On the morning of 21 October 1944, HMAS Australia, captained by Dechaineux, was part of a bombardment force supporting the Allied landing at Leyte in the central Philippines. During the battle, a Japanese aircraft was engaged and hit by anti-aircraft gunners on Australia and HMAS Shropshire. At first, the aircraft appeared to fly away from the ships, but it subsequently turned and dived into Australia, hitting the foremast and causing a large explosion and intense fuel fire. Dechaineux died of wounds received in the attack.

[edit] Operational History

[edit] 2003 flooding incident

In 2005, it was revealed that Dechaineux had almost sunk in February 2003, following the failure of a seawater hose at its maximum diving depth. ^[1] The engine room was flooded and a crew member almost drowned. The maximum dive depth was later reduced, but remains classified. Nevertheless there is some evidence to support claims that much-publicised teething problems with the Collins class have been resolved. ^[2]