Posted on 05/01/2013 6:38:47 PM PDT by JerseyanExile
Setback leaves Royal Canadian Navy with just one fully operational sub
CBC News has learned there is more trouble for Canada's fleet of used British submarines.
The Royal Canadian Navy has confirmed that HMCS Windsor – fresh from a $209 million refit – is unable to perform as expected because of a broken mission-critical diesel generator.
"We have restricted her in range of operations and her endurance," Captain Luc Cassivi, director of Canada's submarine force told CBC in an interview.
That means that the Windsor will only be able to operate in Canadian coastal waters until the diesel generator – a huge 16 cylinder engine – is removed from the submarine and replaced.
The Windsor has a second diesel generator which is still working. The diesel generators are used to charge the batteries that allow the submarine to operate under water.
A source has told CBC that the submarine's diving depth is severely restricted and the navy has been forced to withdraw the sub from planned exercises off the southern U.S. coast.
Capt. Cassivi said he is unable to provide exact details of the restrictions because they are "classified and linked to operational capabilities," but he denies that any exercises have been cancelled.
"It's an unexpected defect, and that is why we are going through the investigative process," said Capt. Cassivi.
The Halifax–based Windsor went back in the water in April, 2012 after a five-year refit designed to bring the submarine up to Canadian standards. The refit was three years behind schedule and until now, the navy has refused to say exactly how much it cost.
Canada purchased the four Victoria-class submarines in 1998 after the British navy declared them surplus. At $750 million, the deal was hailed as a bargain, and at a price far less than buying new submarines.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbc.ca ...
All joking aside, the Victoria-class purchase doesn't seem worked out that well for Canada. This is just getting absurd.
So, fix it? Or do the Homo’s not want to get dirt under their fingernails?
Navy seems to have changed since I was in.
Personally acquainted with no end of Newfies and Novis who could handle this. Or since this is undoubtedly a Lucas Generator, call the local MG Club.
Yes, the local MG club will know how to recharge the smoke...
I wanna know who made their scrappy diesel. We had a 12 cylinder Fairbanks-Morse on th USS Francis Scott Key that lasted 30 years.
Tell the Canucks: Next time BUY AMERICAN!
Judging from the amount of money they have already sunk into this turkey, they could have purchased a new, top of the line and state of the art Swedish sub. But instead they bought a fixer-upper. Hosers.
“Yes, the local MG club will know how to recharge the smoke...”
Lucas could actually screw up the ignition system on a diesel. The best description of their quality, paraphrased, was amazement at their ability to conduct electricity without the use of metal or conductive materials.
Canada has a navy???
“CFB Esquimalt”
Sounds like a Scotch whisky...
Having owned quite a few MGs, all I can say is the reason British drink warm beer is because Lucas (The Prince of Darkness) made refridgerators.
LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS.
You are hereby warned that to discuss any potentially classified information regarding PROJECT VIEUX NOUVELLES, Canada’s secret plan to use batteries for submarine power while submerged and diesel engines to charge the batteries while on the surface.
You are doubly, super-secret extra warned against revealing any information about Canada’s plan to employ mast-like tubes as air-intake devices for diesel engines, AKA PROJECT C’EST UN CHRIST DE SNORQUEAU MON TABERNACK.
You have gravely endangered la securité dela terre de nos aieux.*
Turn in your Sergeant Preston decoder ring, your Ross Rifle cleaning kit, (you can keep the rifle) your Labatt's opener, and the 200 lbs. of pemmican and bannock that was going to see your family through until the summer.
*One can only hope this lapse was inadvertent. This is the worst thing that has happened to Canada since JFK, Bill Clinton, Henry Kissinger, and Elvis were photographed in flagrante with Mrs. Trudeau by the CIA. Not all at once, eh?
Not what it used to be, but in 1945 we had the third-largest navy in the world.
Canada Ping!
What the Canadians should have bought was four German Type 212A subs. These are state of the art conventional boats with AIP (air independent propulsion) that allows high speed operation underwater. These subs are very, very silent and would give anti-submarine warfare units fits. The Type 212A boats have a crew of 5 officers and 22 enlisted. Propulsion is diesel-electric, with nine Siemens Polymer Electrolytic Membrane fuel cells (34 kw each) for air-independent cruising. One MTU 8V183-SE83 diesel generator set (at 1,040 kw) and one Siemens Permasyn motor drives a single 7-bladed prop at 2,400 shp.
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