On a recent sun-soaked morning hundreds of miles off Florida’s Atlantic coast, this Trident ballistic missile submarine surfaced for an unusual operation.

About a dozen journalists, many representing the military, watched from a contracted 250-foot support vessel as the sleek, black back of the submarine ascended above gentle waters in the open ocean and maneuvered alongside the boat. With just a few feet separating the two vessels and a Coast Guard cutter on watch, the support boat’s crew extended a catwalk bridge from its deck over to the Rhode Island.

A pod of dolphins played in the wake below as the journalists hobbled quickly over to the submarine. “Keep moving! Keep moving!” a submariner shouted, as a slowdown easily could lead to a foot or leg getting caught and injured, or causing a “man overboard” situation.

Article written by Lisa Daniels – click here to read the article in full

Well i thought i’d introduce you to my training partner – Tombe.

Sadly for me she has much more energy, much better stamina and  seems to take great pleasure in running rings around me. Whilst i’m

there thinking only another 10 minutes, 8 mins, 6 mins, 5 mins before I can stop – she seems to enjoy running there and back a again.

Still i am getting better, and managing 3 runs a week increasing the time i run for and distance each outing so i’m making progress,

sadly so are the blisters! But i still haven’t managed to run for more than 1 hr yet, and i guess with only a month to go i need to hurry

up! Or work on the principle ignorance is bliss.

Vicky Brown – JustGiving page any donations are kindly welcome

Interestring article written by Kristoffer Pettersen – what are your thoughts?

It was the 16th of February, 2010 when HMS Astute left Faslane, Scotland to initiate sea trials. Forty three months behind schedule and £900m over budget, the Astute is the Royal Navy’s inaugural launch of  a series of 7 nuclear submarines provided courtesy of international conglomerate BAE Systems. However, cynics now name the last of class ‘HMS Abandoned’ due to its unviable nature in the current economic environment.

Read more

Four Royal Navy bomb disposal experts from the Fleet Diving Squadron based at Horsea Island, Portsmouth, are heading to Afghanistan in a few weeks to help deal with the improvised explosive device threat.

Predominantly based at Camp Bastion, the quartet of divers will work in support of the British Army’s 61 Field Squadron (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) and other coalition forces.

Read the full story at MOD news

NEW LONDON, Conn. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Escaping from a Navy jet is easy — just pull the eject lever. But when you’re in a submarine, more than 800 feet below the ocean’s surface in frigid water, it makes escaping a lot more difficult.

Now the Navy has a new way to train submariners how to escape, when they have no other way out.

To watch a video on this subject and to read more about the escape training click here.

Hi, I’m afraid it’s a cry for help!

On 19th September I’m attempting to run the Great North Run – 13 miles of hell for my feet (and the rest of me) in support of the Prostate Cancer Charity. I’ve set up a just giving which you can use to make a donation, if you’re able to.

Its a very worthwhile cause, and will be an extremely difficult challenge for me – as I hate running!

I’ll let you know how it goes, and hope I make it!

Many thanks, for all your support.

Vicky

Well it was another early morning and another journey by train from the beautiful city of Newcastle upon Tyne.  This time I have been sent off to Farnborough in not so sunny Hampshire to attend the International Air Show, at a planned meeting with the Indian defence delegation hosted by UKTI DSO.

During the meeting I had the honour to meet with the Minister of State M.M. Pallam Raju, who expressed great interest in the Analox military product range for use by the Indian Navy.  Chiefly the Analox Sub MkIIP and the new Analox Sub Aspida.  I also met with Raj Kumar Singh the Secretary for Defence Production as well as Air Commodore Ashok Lal who is the air Attaché at the Indian consulate.  The meeting was very informative and positive and hopefully more business opportunities may arise in the Asian trade area.

Walking the show also threw up a chance meeting with Timothy Bannister from Essex Cryogenics of Missouri.  Who showed me some highly innovative equipment for mass distribution of breathing oxygen into field hospitals as well as filling emergency oxygen bottles in aircraft.  Hopefully another new area of business for Analox. I also met with representatives from Rolls Royce and Airbus to talk about bleed air and aircraft cabin atmospheres.  All new areas for Analox to explore and hopefully be able to provide our unique range of quality breathing air analysis equipment.

A visit to an air show would not be the same without a chance to look at the main attractions the aircraft, and I wasn’t going to miss out.  The star of the show was without doubt the F22 Raptor, but the A400M Grizzly the new military transport aircraft from Airbus Industries.  As well as their A380 probably the biggest passenger aircraft I have ever seen.  All in all I think I have one of the best jobs in the world.  Where to next I wonder?

Drew Skinner – Military Account Manager

Analox Sensor Technology has launched the Sub Aspida, a new portable dual-gas monitor designed specifically for use in locations such as submarines where there are variations in atmospheric pressure.

At launch, Analox has also confirmed that the Dutch Navy have signed a contract for nine Sub Aspidas to be used on their fleet of four Walrus Class submarines.

Vicky Brown, Sales and Marketing Director – Analox Military Systems, said: “The Dutch Navy requires accurate dual-gas monitoring in a compact unit, in an environment which is prone to fluctuations in atmospheric pressure. The Sub Aspida addresses this need, and ensures the submariners remain safe whilst at work.”

From March to May 2010, the Sub Aspida was tested by Lt Leppink of the Dutch Navy in the control room of a submarine.  He said: “We were very impressed with the Analox Sub Aspida.  One of its most important advantages is the pressure-correct read out which remained accurate even during rapid changes in the atmospheric pressure, making it a vital tool to have on board any submarine.”

The Analox Sub Aspida is a compact, portable monitor capable of detecting both carbon dioxide (CO₂) and oxygen (O₂).  By combining continuous monitoring of partial-pressure O₂ and the volume of CO₂, the monitor is ideal for use on submarines.  With a pressure sensor incorporated, the Analox Sub Aspida is the only monitor which automatically corrects O₂ and CO₂ readings in relation to changes in atmospheric pressure, resulting in a more accurate and trusted reading.  This prevents spurious alarms caused by pressure variations typically found on board submarines.

The Sub Aspida offers audible, visual and vibrate alarms.  Where silence is vital, the audible alarm can be disabled.  To ensure its practicality the unit is easy to use, rugged in design and comfortable to wear.  It offers 12 hours of battery life from one charge and can also be powered by a 9 volt DC supply.  The software enables easy configuration, calibration and downloading of data and also ensures optimum performance of the unit by informing what maintenance is required and when.

For more information about the Analox Sub Aspida, contact Vicky Brown on +44 (0)1642 711 400

Normally when you think of SUDS, you’re thinking of either something cold to drink OR your a kid looking forward to a bath. In the case of the scuba diving industry, SUDS stands for something entirely different – Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba.

DiverWire.com reporter Dawn Callahan recently wrote an overview of the SUDS program. Here’s her story and a link to the DiverWire.com companion piece.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like aboard the most advanced submarine in the world, I’m here to tell you all about it.

To be specific, that submarine is the North Carolina, a Virginia class nuclear attack sub based at the Naval Submarine Base New London here, and it is truly a technological marvel.

To begin with, forget all about those romantic images of a dimly lighted sonar room where a captain squints into the eyepiece of the periscope in order to try to see what’s going on outside. Those days are long gone. Aboard the North Carolina, at least.

This is the 21st century, after all, and while much in the military is legacy equipment designed to last decades, the North Carolina is an example of what happens when planners take into account the latest available technologies and apply them to age-old problems.

To read more on this story click here.

Story Credit -  CNET