OF CANADA's Submarine Force 2 ■ Explore the Depth of Canada's Submarine Force
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EXPLORE THE DEPTH » OF CANADA'S SUBMARINE FORCE 2 ■ EXPLORE THE DEPTH OF canada'S SUBMARINE foRCE A SUBMARINE AND CREW Out of the water… but still very busy! ubmarines are part of age citizen. When they go to submariner at sea. While being the unseen force of the sea, they lack regular commu- at sea for weeks on end with nation, stealthy, lethal and nication with the outside world. limited to no communication S persistent, making them The internet does not exist is the norm, a submariner must ideal for surveillance and intel- under the ocean... nor does proactively plan out things like ligence gathering in peacetime fresh air, privacy, or laundry when and how to pay the mort- and wartime. Most importantly, machines. A nice refreshing gage, how long to store personal the crew is critical for ensuring shower is also not a regular goods, or who will take care of that submarines operate at peak commodity on board a sub- the pets. And back-up plans performance while deployed marine. Thank goodness for must be created in case things on various exercises and opera- baby wipes and laundry buck- change, or the submarine needs tions. No crew, and the subma- ets. And yet, most submariners to remain on patrol longer. rine doesn’t go anywhere. thrive in that environment and As submarines lack many of But, what does the crew of a demand more. As such, it is the amenities that surface war- submarine do when the subma- truly an elite group within the ships have, submariners make rine is in dry-dock or alongside? Royal Canadian Navy which all the most of their time ashore. Her Majesty’s Canadian can become a member, given For instance, when in alongside Submarine Chicoutimi, one of the right training, work ethic outside of their home port, Canada’s four Victoria-class and attitude. submarine crews stay in hotels submarines, has been in several Even though not at sea, sub- so that they have access to international training exercises mariners remain busy when the regular showers and laundry and operations throughout the boat comes alongside or goes facilities, and can just enjoy Pacific in recent years, contrib- into dry dock. much-needed personal space uting greatly to the over 2,300 Every submariner is required after living in the cramped con- days at sea amassed by the class to maintain a standard of physi- fines of a submarine for weeks since their service began. cal fitness, and they must also on end. HMCS Chicoutimi also com- stay current in submarine dam- Submariner Lieutenant(Navy) pleted a record 197-day deploy- age control procedures, focus- Nathan Haylett notes that in ment in 2017-18 in support ing on firefighting, escape pro- these situations, each subma- of Op PROJECTION, where cedures, hydraulic bursts, high riner is given the key to their the submarine operated in the pressure air bursts and various hotel room, normally shared Asia-Pacific region and was electrical failures which are seri- with another crew member, as actively involved in joint exer- ous incidents for a submerged well as subsistence allowance cises conducted by the Japanese submarine. Submariners main- and incidentals to pay for food Maritime Self Defense Force tain up-to-date first aid training and other amenities. and the United States Navy. while ensuring they themselves “We are expected to be ready Currently, HMCS Chicoutimi remain healthy and ready to to stand duty watch and work is in the midst of a Transitional deploy. Time ashore provides as required,” he said. “but we Docking Work Period that will crew members an opportunity certainly have more freedom upgrade the submarine, update to seek out further training to explore various attractions… the maintenance and allow the to enable them to take on and eat amazing food!” platform to adopt a new main- advanced roles. The submarine community tenance cycle, improving the Beyond striving to main- also tries to host monthly mess overall availability and capability tain personal qualifications as events as a crew, COVID-19 of the submarine. Although not required by each submariner’s permitted. These events include unlike maintenance conducted individual trade, the crew of harbour cruises, local axe on your car, these checks must a submarine actively trains throwing events, tastings, sport- ensure the “vehicle” is ready in future submarine candidates ing days and competitive games all respects in order to operate while concurrently overseeing days. These activities help bond while submerged in more than the work on their submarine. a small crew into a family. 200 metres of salt water and They train to be ready and HMCS Chicoutimi looks for- under tremendous pressure. proficient in new systems and ward to returning to opera- These maintenance periods any upgrades that are usually tional service in 2023. Until also allow the crew a chance to the result of a work period, then, the crew is busy support- have time ashore. while taking care of the routine ing other submarines and pre- A submariner differs some- administration of daily life. paring to undertake any other what from the surface sailor, Seemingly standard life tasks tasks, while spending quality and even more from the aver- become more difficult for a time with family and friends. ■ " We are expected to be ready to stand duty watch and work as required, but we certainly have more freedom to explore various attractions… and eat amazing food!" LIEUTENANT(NAVY) NATHAN HAYLETT EXPLORE THE DEPTH OF canada'S SUBMARINE foRCE ■ 3 " HMCS Victoria is the second of our submarines to trial the BQQ- 10 system. So far, the system is exceeding our expectations and there are so many functions that we still have to explore and learn. It is exciting for the Submarine Force but especially for our sonar ops who get to operate a state-of-the-art sonar suite.” CAPTAIN(NAVY) JEAN STÉPHANE OUEllET, COMMANDER, CANADIAN SUBMARINE FORCE Submarine upgrades INCREASE UNDERWATER AWARENESS BY CAPT JENN JACKSON, MARPAC PUBLIC AFFAIRS Her Majesty’s Canadian Submarine Victoria processing and options for analysing con- tation, which is assisted by the fact that the system is exceeding our expectations is back at sea and its sonar operators (sonar tacts,” says PO2 Mihalcheon. “With the the fundamentals of the Sonar Op’s job and there are so many functions that we op) are more equipped than ever before. BQQ-10, we have a much more sophisti- remain the same. still have to explore and learn. It is exciting That is because HMCS Victoria received cated system to work with now.” “Building a “sonar ear” is equally as for the Submarine Force but especially for an upgrade during the submarine’s last The differences between the BQQ-10 important now as it was with the 2040 our sonar ops who get to operate a state- docking work period to its BQQ-10 sonar and the previous 2040 sonar suite range system. It is still possible to classify a con- of-the-art sonar suite,” says Capt(N) Jean suite, which not only aligns capabilities from a significant increase in the amount tact simply by what it sounds like before Stéphane Ouellet, Commander, Canadian with that of our Allies, but also effectively of post-processing that occurs when data the BQQ-10 processing and evaluations Submarine Force. changes the game for the Royal Canadian is received from Victoria’s sonar systems happens,” says PO2 Mihalcheon. “All operational Victoria-class subma- Navy’s Victoria-class submarines. to how that information is displayed in Even with conversion training ashore, rines are upgraded with this system, with Recently, HMCS Victoria’s crew suc- the submarine’s control room for its Sonar the main challenge faced by Sonar Ops Corner Brook being the third submarine cessfully conducted trials of the new Ops. at sea is determining how to optimize the to be upgraded upon completion of the sonar suite aimed at proving the sys- “The upgraded screens make a signifi- system and what works best to provide the Extended Docking Work Period in late- tem, fine tuning and verifying its inte- cant difference,” adds PO2 Mihalcheon. most relevant data to the command team. 2021. This leads to an overall increased gration with other onboard systems. For “In some ways, it is like we advanced from As Victoria continues with its regular patrol awareness of the underwater environment. Victoria’s Senior Sonar Operator (UC1), working with Atari-level graphics and schedule, its Sonar Ops will continue to Not only does this system significantly Petty Officer 2nd Class (PO2) Naomi information to full-on HDMI.” tweak their use of the system, which in improve our surveillance capabilities in Mihalcheon, the difference brings a new Prior to the trials at sea, the change for turn will benefit the Canadian Submarine the defence of Canada, it also contributes level of excitement to her job. the Sonar Ops began ashore with conver- Force overall. to keeping the Canadian Submarine Force “The BQQ-10 is far more advanced than sion training to familiarize the operators “HMCS Victoria is the second of our sub- relevant for operations today and in the the former sonar suite when it comes to with the new equipment and data presen- marines to trial the BQQ-10 system. So far, future,” he adds. ■ 4 ■ EXPLORE THE DEPTH OF canada'S SUBMARINE foRCE LETter #1 – 18 Apr, 2021 Letters get into my sleeping bag, which I soon found to be a little too warm for me. Thankfully, Dear Reader, I had brought my own blanket – like most My name is Captain Jenn Jackson and I am FROM a Public Affairs Officer posted to Maritime BENEATH sailors, I have one thing I never sail without, Forces Pacific.