Posted on 08/07/2007 6:30:58 AM PDT by Clive
This recently unclassified photo was taken as the result of manoeuvres during Exercise NOBLE MARINER in May where HMCS Corner Brook was able to approach a high value unit, in this case the British aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, without being detected. Anti-submarine warfare continues to be one of the most under-estimated and difficult threats for allies and potential adversaries to deal with.
“The picture represents hard evidence that the submarine was well within attack parameters and would have been successful in an attack,” says Commander Luc Cassivi, commander Submarine Division in Halifax. “This situation enabled the crew to demonstrate advanced warfare skills and their ability to get the job done. The commanding officer, Lieutenant-Commander James Clarke, and crew were obviously very satisfied and proud of their performance.”
Exercises like NOBLE MARINER provide the Navy with an opportunity to put into practice advance warfare scenarios, which closely depict the realities of a battle at sea.
“For the Victoria-class submarines, results like this clearly demonstrate that warfare skills within the community are at a high standard regardless of the challenges still remaining with getting the weapon capability onboard,” says Cdr Cassivi. “The performance of our submarines during these exercises sends a clear message to our allies that despite our class introduction challenges, we are maintaining our warfare skills to a high standard.”
Four of these diesel-electric vessels were purchased from the Brits after the Royal Navy converted to an all nuclear submarine fleet.
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Wow-—give that Canuck skipper a cigar. Bravo Zulu.
Kudos to the Canadians, and I hope the captain of the Illustrious is suitably alarmed.
HMS Illustrious (R06) is an Invincible Class light aircraft carrier. It is designated as Fleet Flagship.
Nice work. This sort of thing is what exercises are all about IMO.
And the Upholder itself is now the infamous HMCS Chicoutimi, which managed about 3 days of active service with the Canadian forces.
Davy Jones...call your locker.
That the one returned for warranty service?
Not good.
Post or FReepmail me if you wish to be enlisted in or discharged from the Navair Pinglist.
This is a medium volume pinglist.
I was on the USS Glenard P. Libscomb. We sunk everything during war games. No ever sank us except another submarine.
Uh oh.
I’ve always been in favor of an American U-boat program. Even if we have to manufacture the dadgum things on licence from the Germans. Diesel electrics are cheap and quiet and we can build a lot of them. It could be a good alternative to our reliance on the nukes.
The Germans have a superb design out there.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
I think it was sold on a 'You bought it. You broke it. It's yours.' contract. Last I saw the plan was to leave it rotting in drydock for another half-decade or so.
I don't think it will ever be returned to service. Of course, I was a little surprised to see them still using the other 3.
The Swedish, Dutch and French also have good designs. If anything, the Swedes might be better than the Germans.
Or, if you want them cheap, the Indians are going to be making them from the European designs.
But I agree with you. The Americans could use a dozen or so for coastal patrol and for work in the Caribbean.
Someone is selling small, cheap ($45M) Mobile Coastal Defense System (MCDS or helicopter carrier)ships with only a six-month lead time: http://www.alibaba.com/manufacturer/13323237/Sell_Mobile_Coastal_Defence_Systems_The_Mcds_Ship.html
“...regardless of the challenges still remaining with getting the weapon capability onboard,”...
Well, yeah, there’s that, too...
Might work for a third - world country with pretensions, but they basically look like work boats that service the oil rigs in the Gulf. No hanger to protect the copters, it appears. And of course the big expense isn’t the boat with the flat deck, it is in the ASW suite on the chopper.
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