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Engineers surge ahead with work on Ambush
Published on 04/01/2008
BARROW engineers are surging ahead with the town’s new Astute class sub after learning lessons from before.
Ambush has been transformed from a giant metal cylinder into one of the most sophisticated engineering products in the armed forces.
The 220 tonne Command Deck Module has been manoeuvred into the hull in a delicate operation.
It is the brains of the submarine and contains all the high technology command systems, sensor equipment and communication systems through which the boat is controlled.
Lessons learned from the same operation with the first-of-class sub Astute means time to ship the giant module aboard has been cut from 17 days last time to just three this time.
Shipyard staff hope to avoid repeating problems encountered last time such as bumping into obstructions.
BAE Systems said the two-deck high module, which was pre-fitted with electronics and accommodation gear in the Warspite building, is in a more complete state than Astute’s was at the same stage.
The operation leaves the final butt weld closure of the Astute’s hull to be completed next month, which will allow testing and commissioning to start on whole systems.
The giant fin or conning tower for Ambush will be lowered by crane and fitted onto the boat this month. Shipping of the command deck got under way on December 17 when project boss Paddy Gregg celebrated his 30th birthday by pressing the start button.
It set the rams in motion that inch the long curve roofed module along special rails into the submarine pressure hull unit.
Before the sliding operation could begin, a whole range of fixtures and fittings had to be completed and fully tested on both the module and the receiving unit because, with an average clearance of just 6mm, they could not be easily be dealt with afterwards.
BAE spokesman Chris Nelson said: “One of the key lessons from Astute was fittings were most likely to clash and impede the shipping operation.
“These have been addressed in advance and the entire module was shipped some 25mm lower, before being jacked onto its final mounts to avoid clash of valves, manifold blocks and vent at the top of the module.â€
It helped the delicate operation be completed in less than three days compared to 17 days on boat one.
Mr Gregg paid tribute to Tony Waugh, 59, of Millom, who retired from BAE two years ago, but was briefly brought back from retirement to lead the shipping team using his experience from managing the same operation on Astute.
The CDM comprises combat system equipment on deck one and accommodation on deck two.
The future HMS Ambush is due to be launched in June 2009.
Engineers surge ahead with work on Ambush
Published on 04/01/2008
BARROW engineers are surging ahead with the town’s new Astute class sub after learning lessons from before.
Ambush has been transformed from a giant metal cylinder into one of the most sophisticated engineering products in the armed forces.
The 220 tonne Command Deck Module has been manoeuvred into the hull in a delicate operation.
It is the brains of the submarine and contains all the high technology command systems, sensor equipment and communication systems through which the boat is controlled.
Lessons learned from the same operation with the first-of-class sub Astute means time to ship the giant module aboard has been cut from 17 days last time to just three this time.
Shipyard staff hope to avoid repeating problems encountered last time such as bumping into obstructions.
BAE Systems said the two-deck high module, which was pre-fitted with electronics and accommodation gear in the Warspite building, is in a more complete state than Astute’s was at the same stage.
The operation leaves the final butt weld closure of the Astute’s hull to be completed next month, which will allow testing and commissioning to start on whole systems.
The giant fin or conning tower for Ambush will be lowered by crane and fitted onto the boat this month. Shipping of the command deck got under way on December 17 when project boss Paddy Gregg celebrated his 30th birthday by pressing the start button.
It set the rams in motion that inch the long curve roofed module along special rails into the submarine pressure hull unit.
Before the sliding operation could begin, a whole range of fixtures and fittings had to be completed and fully tested on both the module and the receiving unit because, with an average clearance of just 6mm, they could not be easily be dealt with afterwards.
BAE spokesman Chris Nelson said: “One of the key lessons from Astute was fittings were most likely to clash and impede the shipping operation.
“These have been addressed in advance and the entire module was shipped some 25mm lower, before being jacked onto its final mounts to avoid clash of valves, manifold blocks and vent at the top of the module.â€
It helped the delicate operation be completed in less than three days compared to 17 days on boat one.
Mr Gregg paid tribute to Tony Waugh, 59, of Millom, who retired from BAE two years ago, but was briefly brought back from retirement to lead the shipping team using his experience from managing the same operation on Astute.
The CDM comprises combat system equipment on deck one and accommodation on deck two.
The future HMS Ambush is due to be launched in June 2009.