HMAS Dechaineux
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates
Template:Infobox ship imageTemplate:Infobox ship careerTemplate:Infobox ship characteristicsHMAS Dechaineux (SSG 76) is the fourth of six Collins class submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
Named for Captain Emile Dechaineux, the boat was laid down in 1993 and launched in 1998. Dechaineux and sister boat Sheean were modified during construction as part of the "fast track" program—an attempt to fix the problems affecting the Collins class, and put at least two fully operational submarines in service before the last Oberon-class submarine was decommissioned.
In 2003, a seawater pipe burst while Dechaineux was submerged deep, nearly resulting in the loss of the submarine.
Design and construction
Template:See also The Collins class is an enlarged version of the Västergötland-class submarine designed by Kockums.<ref name=WoolnerChange7>Woolner, Procuring Change, p. 7</ref> At Template:Convert in length, with a beam of Template:Convert and a waterline depth of Template:Convert, displacing 3,051 tonnes when surfaced, and 3,353 tonnes when submerged, they are the largest conventionally powered submarines in the world.<ref name=Wertheim18>Wertheirm (ed.), Combat Fleets of the World, p. 18</ref><ref name=Jones244>Jones, in The Royal Australian Navy, p. 244</ref> The hull is constructed from high-tensile micro-alloy steel, and are covered in a skin of anechoic tiles to minimise detection by sonar.<ref name=YW165.74>Yule & Woolner, The Collins Class Submarine Story, pp. 165–74</ref><ref name=JDW070893>'Built in Australia' Collins rolls out, Jane's Defence Weekly</ref> The depth that they can dive to is classified: most sources claim that it is over Template:Convert,<ref name=Wertheim19>Wertheirm (ed.), Combat Fleets of the World, p. 19</ref><ref name=Grazebrook>Grazebrook, RAN prepares for Collins class</ref>
The submarine is armed with six Template:Convert torpedo tubes, and carry a standard payload of 22 torpedoes: originally a mix of Gould Mark 48 Mod 4 torpedoes and UGM-84C Sub-Harpoon, with the Mark 48s later upgraded to the Mod 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) version.<ref name=Wertheim18/><ref name=SPGmedia>SSK Collins Class (Type 471) Attack Submarine, naval-technology.com</ref><ref>Heavyweight Torpedo – Mark 48, United States Navy Fact File</ref>
Each submarine is equipped with three Garden Island-Hedemora HV V18b/15Ub (VB210) 18-cylinder diesel engines, which are each connected to a 1,400 kW, 440-volt DC Jeumont-Schneider generator.<ref name=Wertheim18/><ref name=SPGmedia/> The electricity generated is stored in batteries, then supplied to a single Jeumont-Schneider DC motor, which provides Template:Convert to a single, seven-bladed, Template:Convert diameter skewback propeller.<ref name=Wertheim18/><ref name=GrazebrookDU>Grazebrook, Collins class comes up Down Under</ref> The Collins class has a speed of Template:Convert when surfaced or at snorkel depth, and can reach Template:Convert underwater.<ref name=Wertheim18/> The submarines have a range of Template:Convert at Template:Convert when surfaced, Template:Convert at Template:Convert at snorkel depth.<ref name=Wertheim18/> When submerged completely, a Collins-class submarine can travel Template:Convert at maximum speed, or Template:Convert at Template:Convert.<ref name=Wertheim18/> Each boat has an endurance of 70 days.<ref name=Wertheim18/>
The issues with the Collins class highlighted in the McIntosh-Prescott Report and the pressing need to have combat-ready submarines in the RAN fleet with the pending decommissioning of Template:HMAS, the final Oberon-class submarine in Australian service, prompted the establishment of an A$1 billion program to bring Dechaineux and sister boat Sheean up to an operational standard as quickly as possible, referred to as the "fast track" or "get well" program.<ref name=YW298.9>Yule & Woolner, The Collins Class Submarine Story, pp. 288–9</ref> The fast track program required the installation of reliable diesel engines, fixing hydrodynamic noise issues by modifying the hull design and propeller, and providing a functional combat system.<ref>Yule & Woolner, The Collins Class Submarine Story, pp. 291–4</ref> The original Rockwell International-designed combat system had been cancelled, but because there wasn't enough time to evaluate the replacement system to include it in the "fast track" program, the two submarines were fitted with components from the old Rockwell system, which were augmented by commercial off-the-shelf hardware and software.<ref>Yule & Woolner, The Collins Class Submarine Story, pp. 292–4</ref> Even with the enhanced Rockwell system, it was believed that the capabilities of the fast track Collins boats was only equivalent to the Oberons.<ref>Yule & Woolner, The Collins Class Submarine Story, p. 294</ref>
Dechaineux was laid down by the Australian Submarine Corporation on 4 March 1993, launched on 12 March 1998, and commissioned into the RAN on 23 February 2001.<ref name=Wertheim18/> Dechaineux was named for Captain Emile Dechaineux, who was killed by a kamikaze attack on 21 October 1944 while commanding Template:HMAS.<ref>Yule & Woolner, The Collins Class Submarine Story, p. 340</ref>
Operational history
On 14 December 2000, Dechaineux and Sheean arrived at HMAS Stirling, following the completion of sea trials.<ref>Yule & Woolner, The Collins Class Submarine Story, p. 298</ref>
On 12 February 2003, Dechaineux was operating near her maximum safe diving depth off the coast of Western Australia when a seawater hose burst.<ref name=subdepth>Australian Associated Press, Navy forced to reduce subs' diving depth</ref> The high-pressure seawater flooded the lower engine room before the hose was sealed off: it was estimated that if the inflow had continued for another twenty seconds, the weight of the water would have prevented Dechaineux from returning to the surface.<ref name=subdepth/> The RAN recalled the Collins-class submarines to base after the incident, and after engineers were unable to determine the flaw in the pipes that caused the incident, instructed that the maximum safe depth of the class be reduced.<ref name=subdepth/>
Dechaineux underwent a maintenance period during 2009 and early 2010; the submarine was returned to service in late May 2010.<ref name=Oakes2sub>Oakes, Two subs out of action for 9 years</ref><ref>Martin, Rebuilt submarine HMAS Dechaineux returns to service</ref>
On 9 November 2010, Dechaineux was damaged after a tugboat helping the submarine to manoeuvre from her berth at HMAS Stirling crossed over the submarine's stern.<ref name=NicCollision>Nicholson, Collision grounds submarine</ref> The submarine was sent to the Australian Marine Complex at Henderson, Western Australia for repairs: these were completed within a week, and Dechaineux was operational by late November.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>
During 2012, Dechaineux underwent an intermediate maintenance docking, assisted Template:HMAS during trials of the MU90 Impact torpedo, and participated in several training exercises.<ref name="NN-06-12-12">Template:Cite news</ref>
See also
Citations
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