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Repairs sideline submarines
Ian McPhedran
April 23, 2008 12]http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dominionpo ... a6479.html[/url]
Visiting Aussie sub had dodgy battery
| Monday, 21 April 2008
The Australian navy sent one of its Collins-class submarines to New Zealand for exercises earlier this year knowing that its eight-year-old battery was at risk of failure, the Herald Sun newspaper reports.
The newspaper said an un-named "whistleblower" had disclosed that a warning was issued in April last year saying the battery had "significant safety and performance implications".
Quoting from the warning letter, the whistle blower said the navy was told to replace the battery as early as possible "to avoid any potential catastrophic incident".
Submarines run on battery power when submerged and must surface or use a snorkel at periscope depth to provide air to their diesel engines.
The acting commander of the Australian navy fleet, Commodore Simon Cullen, denied HMAS Rankin had battery problems.
"Rankin completed a successful deployment to New Zealand as programmed and dived for the bulk of her recent deployment without any limitations," he said.
But the insider, who cannot be identified, said the main battery had performed poorly during the exercise.
The New Zealand navy said at the time of the visit between February 11 and 24 that the submarine was conducting "a supported maintenance period whilst alongside at the Devonport Naval Base for the period of her visit".
But today a NZ Navy spokeswoman declined to say what had been involved in the maintenance: "The Australians are the ones who can answer that," she said.
The insider told the Herald Sun that Australian navy chiefs, including Cdre Cullen, had been told by Adelaide-based Pacific Marine Batteries that the sub's main battery was in a dangerous condition.
- NZPA
Repairs sideline submarines
Ian McPhedran
April 23, 2008 12]http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dominionpo ... a6479.html[/url]
Visiting Aussie sub had dodgy battery
| Monday, 21 April 2008
The Australian navy sent one of its Collins-class submarines to New Zealand for exercises earlier this year knowing that its eight-year-old battery was at risk of failure, the Herald Sun newspaper reports.
The newspaper said an un-named "whistleblower" had disclosed that a warning was issued in April last year saying the battery had "significant safety and performance implications".
Quoting from the warning letter, the whistle blower said the navy was told to replace the battery as early as possible "to avoid any potential catastrophic incident".
Submarines run on battery power when submerged and must surface or use a snorkel at periscope depth to provide air to their diesel engines.
The acting commander of the Australian navy fleet, Commodore Simon Cullen, denied HMAS Rankin had battery problems.
"Rankin completed a successful deployment to New Zealand as programmed and dived for the bulk of her recent deployment without any limitations," he said.
But the insider, who cannot be identified, said the main battery had performed poorly during the exercise.
The New Zealand navy said at the time of the visit between February 11 and 24 that the submarine was conducting "a supported maintenance period whilst alongside at the Devonport Naval Base for the period of her visit".
But today a NZ Navy spokeswoman declined to say what had been involved in the maintenance: "The Australians are the ones who can answer that," she said.
The insider told the Herald Sun that Australian navy chiefs, including Cdre Cullen, had been told by Adelaide-based Pacific Marine Batteries that the sub's main battery was in a dangerous condition.
- NZPA