HMAS Dechaineux (SSG 76)

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HMAS Dechaineux with dancing dolphin
Career (Australia) Royal Australian Navy Ensign
Laid down: 4 March 1993
Launched: 12 March 1998
Commissioned: 23 February 2001
Homeport: Fleet Base West
Motto: "Fearless and Ferocious"
Fate: Active
Badge: Image:Dechaineux badge.gif
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 nautical miles (21,300 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) surfaced
9000 nautical miles (17,000 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) snorting
400 nautical miles (700 km) at 4 knots (7 km/h) 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

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.

Contents

[edit] Name

Capt. Emile Dechaineux
Capt. Emile Dechaineux
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 Distinguished Service Cross and the U.S. Legion of Merit. Dechaineux died as a result of what is believed to be the first hit scored by a kamikaze. On 21 October 1944, HMAS Australia, commanded by Dechaineux, was supporting the Allied landing at Leyte in the Philippines. A Japanese aircraft was engaged and hit by RAN AA gunners. The plane flew away from the ships, but then turned and dived into Australia, hitting the foremast and causing an explosion and 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]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Navy forced to reduce subs' diving depth", The Age, July 23, 2005. Retrieved on 2006-12-16. 
  2. ^ Brendan Nicholson. "Collins subs star in naval exercises", The Age, September 24, 2003. Retrieved on 2006-12-16. 

[edit] External links

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