SRV-F Mk.3 New Mainstay of Undersea Missions

One way to rescue a sinking submarine is to send a rescue submarine or SRVS.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in SRV-F Mk.3 Andalan Baru Misi Bawah Laut

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Members of the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) are preparing to participate in the 40th Day Commemoration of the Eternal Patrol Tragedy of KRI Nanggala-402 at Koarmada II Dock, Surabaya, East Java on Thursday (3/6/2021).

The visitors of April 2021 became a week full of sorrow for the Indonesian Nation, especially for the Indonesian Navy. After it was confirmed to have sunk along with KRI Nanggala 402, a total of 53 members of the Indonesian Navy's Kencana Shark Corps "patrol in eternity." This event underscores that military operations are not only highly dangerous but also require technical support, adequate and advanced supporting infrastructure.

Now, after two and a half years of patrolling, KRI Nanggala 402 is considered to be "patrolling in eternity," according to the official website of the Indonesian Ministry of Defense. The Indonesian Navy will now receive new military equipment in the form of a Submarine Rescue Vehicle System (SRVS). Its function is to evacuate the crew of sunken submarines. The agreement, signed jointly by the Ministry of Defense and PT BTI Indo Tekno on Friday (9/1/2023), includes the SRV-F Mk.3 submarine rescue vehicle and a special support vessel designed to assist in emergency submarine rescue missions.

Also read: History and Role of Indonesian Submarines

The indigenous weaponry made by a British secondary school with the concept of "One Out, All Out" is designed to save the entire submarine crew in just one trip. The SRV-F Mk.3 is operated by three crew members and can accommodate up to 50 passengers.

Rescue mission

In submarine operations, there are various ways to save yourself in an emergency. The common method is for the crew to launch themselves from the submarine to the surface of the sea if possible. One safer way to rescue is to send a rescue submarine (submarine rescue vehicle system) or SRVS. In a broadcast on the YouTube channel, Reuters news agency in 2018 regarding NATO's SRVS operations, it was stated that the development of SRVS was carried out by three countries, namely England, Norway and France.

CHIEF MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST JOSHUA KARSTEN/U.S. NAVY VIA AP

The French submarine FNS Amethyst (S605) transited along the River Thames in preparation for arriving at the New London Navy Submarine Base in Groton, England on September 1, 2021.

One successful rescue mission carried out by NATO's SRVS occurred in August 2005. The vessel evacuated seven crew members of the sunken Russian submarine, Priz AS-28, at a depth of 190 meters in the Pacific waters near Kamchatka Peninsula. The SRVS rescued all crew members who had been stranded on the ocean floor for three days. The SRVS also cut the cable that had been entangling the propeller of the Priz AS-28 submarine.

The success became a new hope in the underwater world. Previously, in 2000, the Russian Navy had a disaster when the nuclear submarine Kursk sank at a depth of 108 meters and was handled late. As a result, all 118 crew members died.

Also read: Submarines Spearhead Maritime Defense

The targeted SRV-F Mk.3 by the Ministry of Defense is the latest vessel for submarine rescue. SRV-F Mk.3 is said to be capable of operating up to 600 meters below the sea surface. This submarine rescue vessel can be transported by ship to the target or by aircraft to the nearest port of the submarine accident location. According to the official SMP website, SRV-F Mk.3 can be transported using a medium transport aircraft such as the A-400M which has also been ordered by the Indonesian Ministry of Defense.

Operation

In operation, from the landing site the SRV-F Mk.3 was transported to the accident site. On the main support vessel there is a Transfer Under Pressure (TUP) room which allows rescued victims to be moved to a decompression (hyperbaric) room. The submarine that had an accident asked for help and issued a submarine in distress sign. Then the ground control center deployed the SRV-F Mk 3 to the target point.

With the ability to evacuate up to 50 people in a single mission, the SRV-F Mk.3 is capable of handling Nagapasa class and Type 214 submarines currently operated by the Indonesian Navy.

The SRV-F Mk.3 uses sonar and pingers to search for wrecked submarines. Through sonar beams and using a pinger, the SRV-F Mk.3 approached the target. In addition, the SRV-F Mk.3 also uses support for suonobuoys for passive detection (capturing sounds such as propellers and engines) of submarines that experience accidents.

Also read: Strengthen the Submarine Fleet

After the location was found and evacuation possible, the SRV-F Mk.3 then approached the target. The vehicle attaches itself to the escape hatch of a submarine that has an accident. After "attaching" safely, the escape hatch is opened and the bottom of the SRV-F Mk.3 entrance is opened after the pressure is equalized. Next, the process of transferring the crew from the ill-fated submarine to the rescue vehicle is carried out.

Commander of the Operations Command of the Indonesian Navy's Fleet First Admiral TNI Indra Agus Wijaya, who was contacted on Sunday (17/9/2023), said that several sailors from the Indonesian Navy's submarine will be prepared to learn how to operate SRV-F Mk.3. "Training will last for two years before the SRVS arrives in Indonesia. So far, we have participated in several exercises using similar equipment in Australia," he said.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

The KRI Alugoro-405, carrying Navy Chief of Staff Admiral TNI Muhammad Ali who will lead the honorary shark pinning ceremony as well as the 64th Submarine Unit Anniversary, has returned to the Ujung Koarmada II Dock in Surabaya on Tuesday (12/9/2023).

According to Indra, the evacuation procedure from the submarine can be through the tower door and battery door. So far, Indonesian Navy submarine sailors use the Mk 11 escape suite (submarine escape immersion equipment), namely a survival suit that inflates when escaping from the submarine to the surface of the sea, and a life craft as many as two units in each existing submarine. This procedure can be carried out from a depth of 60 meters. Various exercises are often carried out to deal with possible accidents in submarine operations.

To optimize rescue missions, fellow submarine crew members also share their experiences in self-rescue during disasters at sea. Commander of KRI Alugoro-405 Lieutenant Colonel Sea (P) Topan Agung Yuwono, representing Koarmada II, participated in the Submarine Abandoned Escape and Rescue (SAER) Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) held jointly with the Royal Australian Navy on September 11-15, 2023 in Surabaya.

These progressive steps certainly provide significant support for the mission of the Indonesian Navy.