The submarine suffered harm and settled at the bottom. If the crew survives, the hours can decide. A complicated rescue operation begins. This script has become the starting point for the Natov exercises "Dynamic Monarch '24". These were carried out off the coast of Norway with the participation of the Polish ship ORP "Lech".
Second specified exercises are vain to look for in the NATO calendar. "Dynamic Monarch" is the largest and most crucial maneuvers dedicated to rescuing crews of damaged submarines. They are organized all 3 years in different parts of Europe. MARCOM, or the Natovian command of the naval forces, takes care that sailors have the chance to train on both warm and cold waters. The task is under the supervision of ISMERLO – an global liaison office, designed specifically to coordinate underwater rescue operations. It brings together 40 countries – both members and partners of the Alliance. “National cooperation is crucial here,” emphasises cadmium. Bret Grabbe of the U.S. Navy, NATO submarine commander. “It facilitates a fast and effective consequence to emergency situations involving submarines. And the skills and experience gained during the "Dynamic Monarch" contribute importantly to enhancing interoperability between allies and thereby strengthening maritime security," he adds.
This year's edition of maneuvers was hosted by Norway. Rescue ships, submarines, helicopters and aircraft from 10 states appeared in Arendal port. Poland besides had its representative. In “Dynamic Monarch” took part ORP ‘Lech’ from 3 Fleet Ships in Gdynia. He returned to maneuver after 16 years of break. “The management of the exercises has given us very different tasks,” admits Lieutenant Adam Witkowski, “Lecha”. To begin with, the crew of the Polish unit conducted a seabed inspection in the Skagerrak Strait. It was to check that there were no fishing nets, boulders, by the word of various types of obstacles that could prevent the submarine from being at a given depth. We utilized onboard sonar erstwhile we saw the bottom. We besides left for the sea an unmanned ROV kind vehicle. The collected material was passed to Norwegians – reported by Mr Witkowski. In the end, the obstacles were not detected, the submariners got green light from the organizers and appropriate exercises could begin.
The first phase active searching for a damaged unit, or units, due to the fact that 2 submarines were active in the "Dynamic Monarch" – Norwegian HnoMS "Utstein" and Swedish HMS "Uppland". Not only rescue crews were active in this maneuvering episode, but besides the P-8 Poseidon marine patrol aircraft and submarine drones. The British, for example, tested the action of Distressed Sub Group (DSG), a rescue fast consequence group that was deployed aboard the Dutch ship HNLMS ‘Mercuur’. It is intended to scope the site of the alleged disaster in a short time and to effort to find and illustrate the damaged ship and to establish communication with its crew, even before the main rescue forces arrive.
When the ships were targeted, the right action could be taken. The participants of the maneuvers practiced a full scope of related elements. – erstwhile the ship settles down, it usually waits for the arrival of specialist evacuation vehicles. Before that happens, however, contact with the crew must be established and, as far as possible, supply it with supplies that will let the sailors to last – explained Mr. specified a task can be accomplished by the crew of the Polish unit. Shipped on the ORP “Lech” divers descend under water and in peculiar tankers transmit food, medicines or tools essential to remove damage. They can besides attach peculiar ducts to the hull for ventilation of individual compartments. During the “Dynamic Monarch”, the “Lecha” crew was to execute all these tasks. Unfortunately, the weather stood in the way, which prevented diving that day. However, the unit managed to take a position above the ship HnoMs ‘Utstein’ and connect with its crew utilizing satellite phones. The divers went underwater, but at a different phase of the exercise. They were acquainted with the water and the conditions there, and did various kinds of work. They've reached a depth of 35 meters.
Poles had more luck during another tasks. 1 of them was to save the crew who left the sunken ship alone. There are peculiar escape suits on board each specified unit. In utmost cases, sailors insert them and effort to surface themselves. However, this method has a advanced risk. besides shortly to get out of the deep can origin a decompression disease, resulting in death. “Therefore, erstwhile the crew members are on the surface, they must be given immediate assistance,” said Mr Witkowski. – During this episode, members of our crew had to execute a triage, which is simply a fast assessment of the wellness of the survivors. Everyone was waiting for a stay in the decompression chamber – either on board or on board the German ship FGS “Rhein”, says ORP commander “Lech”.
Polish sailors besides had the chance to closely watch the evacuation of submarines utilizing specialized vehicles. 2 specified systems were active in the Dynamic Monarch. On the Norwegian Coast defender unit NoCGV ‘Barentshav’ was boarded NSRS. It's a kind of batiscap that can go down to a depth of 600 m and with a peculiar sleeve connect to a damaged submarine. Members resting on the bottom of the unit with a dry ft pass into the NSRS, and this 1 takes them to the surface. The vehicle can accommodate 15 passengers and the strategy itself is owned by the United Kingdom, France and Norway. Swedish URF operates on akin principles, only that it reaches depth of 460 m, while on board it takes place for 35 survivors. The base for it is the HswMS rescue ship “Belos”. During the Dynamic Monarch, both vehicles went underwater and docked in the hull of the submarine. – We have sent observers to both Barentshav and Belos. 1 of our sailors even went under the water – noted Mr Witkowski, and after a while added: – The importance of the exercise itself is hard to overestimate. They were a fantastic chance for us to share experiences. We have shown our capabilities, we have besides seen what our allies have. We got a chance to practice in an environment another than the Baltic. On the Skagerrak, for example, the currents are much stronger than ours. All of this should be taken into account by launching a vehicle or divers.
