NATO Submarine Rescue System

The NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS) is a tri-national project to develop an international submarine rescue system. The system will provide a rescue capability primarily to the partner nations of France, Norway and the UK but also to NATO and allied nations and to any submarine equiped with a suitable mating surface around its hatches.

The NSRS enter service in 2008, replacing the UK rescue system (see LR5) the complete system is fully air transportable in a variety of suitable aircraft (C17/C5/An124/A400). It is capable of launch and recovery in a significant wave height of up to 5m (Sea State 6) and can reach any distressed submarine (DISSUB) in 72 - 96 hrs from the alert, dependent upon location. It has limited capability in ice covered seas.

On receipt of a SUBSUNK alert the submarine operator will initiate the NSRS call-out procedure. The Intervention System, which is centred upon an off the shelf Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) will mobilise to the scene about 24 hrs in advance of the full rescue system. Once on site it will locate the distressed submarine (DISSUB), establish communications, conduct damage assessment and prepare the DISSUB for rescue operations.

The SRV along with a portable launch and recovery system (PLARS), support and operating equipment and the Hyperbaric treatment complex, known as the Transfer Under Pressure (TUP) equipment will arrive approximately 24 hours later. All equipment and personnel will be flown to the mobilisation port (Moport) for embarkation on a suitable mother ship (Moship). The embarkation will take less than 18 hours and the Moship will then sail to the scene where the SRV will be launched. The aim is to achieve time to first rescue of 72 hours, with personnel being brought to the surface in groups of 12 and transferring them to the NSRS hyperbaric treatment facility (referred to as the TUP system) if necessary.

The NSRS is based at HM Naval Base Clyde in Scotland.

Intervention System and the Intervention Remotely Operated Vehicle (IROV)

The Intervention system comprises the ROV, the launch and recovery system and the control module. The vehicle is based on the PSSL Triton SP ROV which is in widespread commercial use and is fitted with variable vectored thrusting. It is capable of operating in depths of 1000m and is very mobile and compact. It can carry a variety of tools to assist in removing debris and delivering emergency life support stores (ELSS) to the survivors through the escape/rescue hatch, in watertight pods; known as pod-posting.

Submarine Rescue Vehicle (SRV)

The SRV is a manned submersible and was developed from previous rescue vehicles, notably LR5, developed by Perry Slingsby Systems Ltd in North Yorkshire. It is 10m long, weighs 30 tonnes and has an all-steel(NQ1), single piece hull. The craft is operated by a three man crew (two pilots and a rescue chamber operator). It can operate at depths down to610m and can mate with the rescue hatch seal at angles of up to 60 degrees in any direction. It also uses the latest technology high temperature batteries, the [Molten_salt_battery#ZEBRA|"Zebra"]] type. These enable it to stay submerged for up to 96 hours. Propulsion is provided by 2 x 25kW units, with a further 4 smaller units being used for positioning. It is the latest generation of Rescue Vehicle and has Diverless Recovery, Fibre-Optic Data Comms and a Self Contained Breathing system developed by Divex (now part of James Fisher Defence). Delivery of the complete system was achieved by October 2007. Trials and development of improved operating practices were completed in time for Exercise Bold Monarch in May 2008. Full operational capability was attained in March 2011. NSRS has operated from numerous Moships and exerciseded to bottomed diesel submarines of NATO nations as well as those of Russia and Sweden. In 2013 NSRS achieved a first by conducting a full rescue cycle with the nuclear attack submarine HMS Astute, which was suspended mid-water below large mooring buoys. This success was repeated in April 2015 in the Meduiterranean to the French nuclear submarine RUBIS.

Portable Launch and Recovery System (PLARS)

The PLARS comprises a combined SRV catcher and stabilisation system and is designed for operation in high sea states (up to sea state 6). The system is air transportable in C-130 Hercules and the new A400M. It uses a constant tension winch system for maintaining hawse tension in all sea states.

Transfer Under Pressure (TUP) System

The TUP system is a fully autonomous and air transportable hyperbaric treatment facility that provides full decompression and medical support for up to 72 personnel simultaneously from 6 bar to ambient pressure. It comprises a reception chamber, two decompression chambers and a central control position with full life-support and environmental control in conditions from -30C to +60C.

Built and put into service by Rolls-Royce the NSRS will transfer to James Fisher Defence in July 2015. It is widely acknowledged as the most capable system available.

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