Submarine accidents are relatively rare., but this often leads to situations, directly threatening the lives of the entire crew. Therefore, the solution to the issue of survival in a modern submarine has always been very significant in the general context of improving the submarine fleet..
Most modern submarines are designed like this, that if the main ballast tanks are filled with water, they remain buoyant. If the submarine is unable to proceed, She still needs to be able to float.. But if a large amount of water gets inside the submarine, then sooner or later save her from sinking to the bottom, under enormous pressure, it will be unreal.
The life of the crew becomes the main value
Experts name some of the most dangerous events during an uncontrolled dive of a submarine: filling a submarine with water, pressure rise, temperature change, air toxicity, failure of the ship's life support systems. The listed risks directly affect the allowable duration of the crew's stay on board the submarine..
At the dawn of the history of the submarine fleet, the crews of submarines were actually "suicide bombers": a huge number of submariners died. So, during World War II, the only way to escape from a sinking submarine was a torpedo tube, however it was not so easy. More often sailors simply died.
Now it is very important to save the lives and health of crew members., therefore, so much attention is paid to issues of survival on a submarine. Easier to prevent a critical situation, than trying to fix it, therefore armament, secrecy, electronic warfare systems, navigation is given special attention already in the design of submarines. Separately, the possibility of evacuation measures is provided..
Compartments for evacuation are placed in the bow or stern of the submarine, Where is the special equipment?, to be used in the event of an emergency. These are signals, means of supplying oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide, individual emergency beacons, rescue diving suits, equipment for receiving emergency life support capsules, etc..
Pop-up rescue cameras
One of the most important means of increasing crew survival in critical situations is a submarine survival camera.. In Russia, such a camera was first tested in 2014 year: in addition to the team 5 testers placed ballast in the chamber, equal to the total weight of the submarine crew.
Today, all modern and Russian submarines under construction are equipped with pop-up rescue cameras.. This invention of Soviet designers is really priceless: VSK can save the lives of all members of the submarine crew.
but, as shown by the tragedy on the nuclear submarine K-278 "Komsomolets" in 1989 year, and VSK is not a panacea: camera sank, which led to the death of many crew members.
12 August 2000 sank nuclear submarine "Kursk". She also did not help the presence of a pop-up rescue camera.. However, when testing the new VSK on the Severodvinsk nuclear submarine, very good results were shown.: ascent took only 10 seconds. The test participants compared their sensations during the ascent with the ascent on a conventional elevator..
Flat nozzle for Russian combat aircraft: from Soviet developments to perspective
In the modern submarine "Yuri Dolgoruky" VSK is located behind the missile compartment. Inside the chamber - numbered places, assigned to each member of the crew and individual supplies of drink and food for several days.
Food supplies and special rafts
Each compartment of a modern Russian submarine also contains an emergency supply of food for a week. Each sailor also has a portable breathing apparatus for action in the first minutes of a fire or the appearance of toxic substances in the air.. The task in a critical situation is to connect to the backup breathing system of the submarine.
Also on the submarines are special rafts, calculated each for 20 crew. Each raft is equipped with the necessary adaptations for survival in ocean conditions.: niches for collecting rainwater, fishing tackle.
Talking about survivability in a modern submarine, psychological aspects cannot be ignored., since no modern equipment and means of evacuation can replace the coherence and endurance of the crew. Despite the gradual automation and introduction of robotics, the human factor remains decisive.
So, NATO military psychologists, studying the experience of using submarine crews during hostilities in the Persian Gulf, understood the importance of special psychological training of crews before performing combat missions. At the same time, the psychological comfort of the crew largely depends on living conditions., which are created on a submarine.
