Submarines mean dive and survive!

PREPARING A submarine for sea involves a number of activities by the crew well before cast-off. On this occasion too, the submarine crew had closed up two hours earlier to turn all armament and equipment. The XO is responsible for this preparation.

PREPARING A submarine for sea involves a number of activities by the crew well before cast-off. On this occasion too, the submarine crew had closed up two hours earlier to turn all armament and equipment. The XO is responsible for this preparation.

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" Action stations! Prepare submarine for sea."

Thereafter, each submarine compartment reports back to the Control Room.

"Action stations closed up. All hands correct."

"Open up and inspect armament and equipment. Operate equipment manually."

And thus commences a rigorous procedure of checking out each and every equipment on board including the batteries, diving and surfacing systems. "Prepare Port and Starboard diesels for warming up."

" Turn Main motors."

With the arrival of the Captain on board a few minutes before cast off, the XO makes his report.

" Captain! The submarine is ready for sea."

" Very good". The Captain takes over.

" Slow ahead Starboard."

" Slow astern Port."

" Let go 3 & 4." (ropes from the S/M to the jetty). " Starboard 30."

The submarine at Vizag Naval Base gradually inches outward from the jetty. The Captain squints fore and aft to ensure that the bow is not touching the jetty as yet and that the submarine's stern is clear. The big diesels are such that each fitted on a railway engine pulls a passenger train of twenty-one bogies at speeds upto 100 kms. per hour. This ninety meter submarine has three such diesels. The submarines diesels are used for propulsion whilst on surface and even when dived but only for charging the massive batteries. This is done by raising the snort mast, sucking in air and starting diesels underwater. A regular affair in a conventional diesel-electric boat since a submarine is powered by electric motors once dived and these motors and generators are the source of all electricity, refrigeration, air-conditioning and cooking. The huge high capacity batteries thus need to be charged at least once in 72-96 hours.

As the big diesels churn the sea water around, the bow of the submarine inches towards the jetty. The stern is well clear and pointing outward from the jetty.

"Let go 1 and 2", yells the Captain. The Captain has one last look fore and aft to ensure the big submarine is well clear and there are no vessels astern of the submarine. The two dockyard tugs hover at a distance just in case something goes amiss and the submarine needs assistance.

"Stop Starboard. Stop Port."

"Slow astern two diesels."

The port and starboard diesels commence propelling the submarine outward and sternway as she gradually clears the jetty and heads for the more open water within the docks. The Captain gives a series of orders which enables the submarine to maneuver in such a way that finally the bow points towards the opening to sea.

"Helmsman, steer 145".

" Slow ahead Port! Slow ahead Starboard."

The big diesels commence propulsion foreward as the submarine slowly moves passing by other ships in harbour. Whilst the Captain concentrates on clearing the harbour, the XO is busy saluting and accepting salutes of senior and junior ships.

(Note: The XO is the Executive Officer or 2 I/C)

The submarine's deck on surface is just a meter above the water line and hence by the time the submarine actually clears the harbour, personnel must secure all ropes and implements inside the casing lockers and must get into the conning tower and into the pressure hull. Just as the submarine enters the open sea she commences to gradually pitch roll." Captain Sir! Decks cleared for sea" " Very good".

The submarine is heading for a war patrol which could last six to eight weeks depending on the orders received on board and which is yet to be opened by the Captain. He too does not know for security reasons. The orders would be taken out of a safe once dived in a little while, when there is enough water below her keel. After an hour or so, out in the open sea, off Vizag harbour the Navigating Officer reports depth of water to the Captian on the open bridge.

" Prepare to dive. Sound diving stations." One final check. One final visual sweep to ensure no ships are around.

Sonar reports that the nearest ship is around ten nautical miles and heading away. " Flood end groups", orders the Captain.

" Diving now ! Diving now."

As the air is replaced by sea water the submarine becomes heavy and submerges upto the conning tower. Meanwhile, the Captain and helmsman clear the conning tower and jump into the hatch. The control room officer yells, "Captain coming down. Keep clear".

" Upper lid shut."

Once the Captian is in the control room and the helmsman on the submarine dive consoles, the XO reports that the submarine is ready to dive.

"Up periscope"

The Captain takes a last sweep around the open sea
" Down periscope. Proceed to dive."
" Commence dive"
" Dive ! Dive! Dive"
" Flood center."
" Half ahead main motor."
The center main ballast tanks fill with sea water and the submarine gradually submerges completely and commences her dive into the sea.

" Check depth".

"Depth 20 Meters. Inspect compartments. Shut lower lid." " 5 Degree aft bubble." The captain instructs the plainsman on the angle of dive.

Sonar reports, "HE bearing Green 60 drawing left, 10 miles. Another HE bearing Red 30 drawing right, 20 miles."

" Very good."

" Depth 50 meters. Forends/ Aftends report."" Forends correct. Depth 50."
"Aftends correct. Depth 50."

(Note: These are the two end compartments of a Submarine)
" Dive to 100 meters" instructs the Captain " Aye Aye 100 meters."

As the submarine settles down at 100 meters depth below the sea surface the Captain orders a mug of piping hot tea.

" Depth 100 meters, Sir."

" Very good. Trim the boat. Maintain 100 meters depth, bearing 220, speed 4 knots." " Forends/ Aftends report."

" Forends all correct. Depth 100."
" Aftends all correct. Depth 100."
" XO all yours.I am going to check out the orders for the patrol."

"Red watch, watch dive. Depth 100. Speed 4 knots."
With that the Captain proceeds to his cabin where he opens up the sealed orders in the safe. As he browses through the orders from the Flag Officer Submarines he also quickly makes certain mental notes. The patrol had been ordered in view of a certain littoral state's activities wherein it is suspected that merchant ships passing the A & N Islands are carrying arms and ammunition for unacceptable activities. Intelligence reports have been received from international sources who suspect that these ships are carrying contraband for terrorist activities. The submarine has been thus ordered to track them and do photo runs in order to collect evidence. These would be used to nail the originator. The submarine is also to relieve a sister submarine already present on site in the A & N Islands general area.