U.S. Navy Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System (SRDRS) Mates With Russian Sub

By Edward H. Lundquist - June 10, 2011

Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Joel Rivera, right, assigned to Deep Submergence Unit, greets Russian Mate Dimitri Bukin during a submarine rescue exercise where a U.S. submarine rescue vehicle mated with the Russian submarine Alrosa. This is the first time a Russian submarine mated with a U.S. submarine rescue system, the Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System (SRDRS), demonstrating they could work together and reach a milestone of international cooperation and interoperability during exercise Bold Monarch 2011. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ricardo J. Reyes

The Russian submarine Alrosa on the surface during Exercise Bold Monarch 2011. Exercise Bold Monarch 2011 was an international submarine exercise that took place off the east coast of Spain from May 30, 2011 to June 9, 2011. Royal Navy photo by APOA(Phot) "Des" Wade

The New Breed offshore supply vessel HOS Shooting Star, mothership to SRDRS, uses dynamic positioning to maintain its position while performing underwater rescue exercises. Bold Monarch 2011 supported interoperability between all submarine rescue units. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ricardo J. Reyes

The U.S. Navy's Deep Submergence Unit releases the U.S. Navy Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System's (SRDRS) Pressurized Rescue Module (PRM), Falcon, to mate with the Portuguese navy submarine Tridente (S 70) at a depth of 360 feet during Bold Monarch 2011. Participants and observers from more than 25 countries took part in NATO exercise Bold Monarch 2011, the world's largest submarine rescue exercise. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Kathryn Whittenberger

Navy Diver 1st Class Joshua Roy from the U.S. Navy's Deep Submergence Unit acts as aft internal attendant during a familiarization dive of a submarine rescue vehicle for international observers during Bold Monarch. U.S. Navy photo by MCC (SW/AW) Kathryn Whittenberger

Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Joel Rivera assigned to Deep Submergence Unit, communicates with HOS Shooting Star during a submarine rescue exercise where a U.S. submarine rescue vehicle mated with the Russian submarine Alrosa during exercise Bold Monarch 2011. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ricardo J. Reyes

Navy Diver 1st Class Ralph Lafond, assigned to the U.S. Navy's Deep Submergence Unit, talks to a crewmember of the Portuguese navy submarine Tridente (S 70) after mating the U.S. Navy Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System's (SRDRS) Pressurized Rescue Module (PRM) Falcon with Tridente during Bold Monarch 2011. Participants and observers from more than 25 countries took part in the NATO exercise. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Kathryn Whittenberger

Personnel assigned to the Spanish navy submarine Galerna (S 71) climb up to the U.S. Navy Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System's (SRDRS) Pressurized Rescue Module (PRM) Falcon, during an underwater rescue exercise. The 12-day exercise supported interoperability between all submarine rescue units. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ricardo J. Reyes

The Russian crew from the Alrosa enters the Submarine Rescue Chamber lowered from the Italian rescue ship Anteo on June 2, 2011. This was the first time a NATO rescue craft mated with a Russian submarine. NATO photo

NATO exercise Bold Monarch 2011 brought navies from around the world to improve interoperability between submarines and submarine rescue units. The triennial event is the world’s largest submarine rescue exercise.

The 2011 exercise, which was held off the coast of Cartagena, Spain, marked the first time the Russian Navy has participated. As part of Bold Monarch 2011, the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System’s (SRDRS) Pressurized Rescue Module (PRM) Falcon successfully mated with the Russian Federation Navy’s Kilo-Class submarine Alrosa (B-781). As a result, Falcon is now certified to mate with a submerged Russian submarine and be able to rescue submariners.

Submarines from Portugal, Russia, Spain and Turkey were ‘bottomed’ during the event. “Rescue forces equipped with a range of sophisticated debris clearance, diver assisted gear and submarine rescue vehicles from Italy, the USA, Russia and Sweden, together with a jointly owned rescue system from France, Norway and the U.K., will engage in a serialized program to ‘rescue’ the stricken submariners,” said a NATO statement.

The U.S. SRDRS is kept in a fly-away status, ready to deploy on a moment’s notice. Based at the Deep Submergence Unit at the Naval Air Station in San Diego, Calif., SRDRS can deploy and be ready to mate with a disabled submarine anywhere in the world within 72 hours.

“The SRDRS consists of the Atmospheric Dive Suit 2000 (ADS2000) – manned, one-atmosphere dive suit that is used to inspect bottomed submarines and clear away debris that could cover an escape hatch, associated topside equipment and systems, and the PRM Falcon,” said Cmdr. Christy Hagen, a spokesperson for the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Force. “Falcon is a tethered, remotely-operated submersible that is launched and controlled from the deck of a surface ship and transfers up to 16 submariners from a disabled submarine per dive,” Hagen said.

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4 Archived Comments

Paul

10:06 AM June 10, 2011

Interesting how Tom Clancy mentioned this 27 years ago in his novel, The Hunt for the Red October.

Chuck Oldham (Editor)

8:37 PM June 10, 2011

I think in the novel it was the DSRV that mated up with Red October, but you’re right, it’s been a long time coming. What amazes me is seeing the dark gray of the submarines’ decks at the bottom of the docking collar and realizing that I’m looking at the interface between two vehicles under 360 feet of water. What a terrible tragedy that this sort of cooperation wasn’t possible when Kursk went down.

Ann

6:52 AM June 15, 2011

Yes, Tom Clancy was always a great read

Jason

5:32 PM February 29, 2012

It is very interesting. Submarine rescue is a unique operation. The Kursk was a terrible tragedy, but help was available. Politics got in the way, much to the regret of many. The U.S. Navy, as well as teams from other countries, were on site, ready to do their job. The Russian Navy has since sent ambassador’s to participate in submarine rescue training exercises, as well as to express their deepest regrets. Hopefully, this type of tragedy will be avoided in the future.