HMCS Victoria (SSK 876)

HMCS "Victoria" (SSK 876) is a long-range hunter-killer (SSK) submarine of the Canadian Navy, the lead ship of her class. She is named after the city of Victoria, British Columbia. She was purchased from the Royal Navy, and is the former HMS "Unseen" (S41). The class was also renamed from the "Upholder"-class.

Design

HMCS "Victoria's" displacement is approximately 2,200 tons surfaced and 2,400 tons submerged. Covered in anechoic tiles to reduce her detection by active SONAR (SOund NAvigation Ranging), the submarine is 70.3 meters long, 7.6 meters across the beam and has a deep diving depth in excess of 200 meters. The main hull is constructed of high tensile steel sections stiffened by circular internal frames. Equipment located outside the main hull is covered by the Casing, which also gives the crew a safe walkway when the submarine is surfaced. The Fin, which helps support the masts, serves as a kind of keel and provides a raised conning position.

pecifications

HMCS "Victoria" has six torpedo tubes and can carry up to eighteen Mark 48 Mod 4 heavyweight torpedoes for use against surface and sub-surface targets. She is also capable of carrying sub-harpoon missiles and laying mines.

HMCS "Victoria's" SONAR sets allow her to locate and track ships and other submarines “passively”, that is without transmitting on active sonar and thus giving way her location. She is fitted with RADAR (RAdio Detection And Ranging) for general navigation, attack and search periscopes (incorporating video recording and thermal imaging), and an Electronic Support Measures suite. The ship has two diesel generators, each capable of producing up to 1,410 kilowatts, and one main motor. The generators are used to charge two main batteries, each consisting of 240 battery cells. These batteries are used to power the submarine, which can reach a submerged speed of up to convert|20|kn|km/h|0.

History

In 2002, a dent was discovered in Victoria's hull that limited its diving depth to 75% of normal. The dent was not successfully repaired until the end of 2007. [web cite|title = Diving into invention|publisher=Chronicle Herald|date=2008-01-12 |url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/Metro/1017499.html |accessdate=2008-01-15]

External links

* [http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/victoria/home/index_e.asp Official website]

References