Training Half Dry.

Great courage and a high degree of cunning are qualities required of submariners, but enabling them to remain a credible threat to enemy forces calls for training standards rarely expected of other seamen. Furthermore, as nuclear-powered submarines (SSN/SSBN) often remain at sea for very long periods, both onboard and shore-based training has become essential.

Simulators and other training aids play a major part in the attainment of high standards, but they must also be adaptable. This is to ensure that changes resulting from submarine modernisation programmes may be introduced without having to scrap simulators and buy anew. Thus, when the Tactical Tomahawk land attack cruise missile is introduced in torpedo-launch form on Royal Navy SSNs in a few years' time, provision must be made for the modification of command team trainers.

US Navy Innovates

In the meantime, a significant reduction in available at-sea training time for US Navy submariners is obliging an increased reliance upon simulation and computer based training (CBT). To this end, the US Naval Air Warfare Center's Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) in Orlando, Florida has developed the Submarine Skills-training Network (SubSkillsNet). This is a family of configurable simulations available to all US Navy submarines and hosted in electronic classrooms at all submarine training sites.

The SubSkillsNet is a powerful tool that can be used to teach a fixed skill set to individual sailors as well as provide team training in a simulated at-sea environment. It can be used onboard, ashore, or wherever the need and space accommodations come together. `Vesub' is another new development driven by NAWC, in this case to provide a virtual environment for submarine ship handling training. This makes use of a helmet-mounted display, head tracker and other advanced systems to deliver ship-handling training in a virtual environment.

Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems -- Undersea Systems is a source for onboard and shore-based submarine training equipment that enables physically separated acoustics and combat control subteams to work as a co-ordinated group. The system includes reconfigurable full team trainers that reproduce the modes and capabilities of at-sea combat conditions, while the `train as you fight' onboard trainer uses operational equipment. The latter ensures high fidelity, littoral warfare and strike mission training.

Muse Technologies is also contributing to the improvement of US Navy training by the development of its MuSE 2000-based software. This provides users with a greater understanding of undersea exercise data, employing 3D-visualisation technology that enables them to view naval exercises from any perspective. Officers can stop, advance or reverse time, so that the results of a tactical encounter may be closely scrutinised to reveal details that might otherwise be overlooked.

The increased demands on today's submarine have led Sippican to develop the Submatt target. The submarine mobile acoustic training and field programmability system enables commanders to plan and conduct exercises at any time to test sonar and fire control teams. Deployed from the trash disposal unit while underway, the Submatt can be programmed to automatically manoeuvre in response to active sonar interrogations.

Training systems devised by the Applied Physics Laboratory of the Johns Hopkins University have been in use for about 30 years. These support Trident-equipped and other nuclear submarines, the courseware in CD form being accessed on a PC to facilitate onboard training. A Trident launcher system team trainer has been developed and the menu permits practicing a range of hazards, the user selecting an animated view of the submarine, together with appropriate instruments and control panels. The Johns Hopkins submarine ship control training programme includes provision for surface training for entering and leaving dock.

Teaching Survival

Safety is a key issue in submarine operation and the Emergency Vision Assurance System (Evas), developed to provide flight crew with clear vision in a smoke-filled cockpit, has been adapted to provide a similar function for submarine crews. A device to train crews in the use of an inflatable vision unit is available. While the Evas is a unique device, safety of a more general nature is but one of the subjects that can be practised on trainers produced by market leaders such as STN Atlas, Alenia Marconi Systems (AMS) and Thales Training & Simulation (TT&S).

Submarine control, command team, ship bridge and machinery control trainers are among the devices available from TT&S following its acquisition of Link-Miles in the late 1990s. In addition to the Royal Navy, customers for the TT&S trainers include the navies of Australia, Brazil, India, the Netherlands and Norway. Generally speaking, submarine training devices are sourced from the country that also builds the vessels; those from French yards being supported by simulators produced by DCN.

STN Atlas has concentrated on the development of complete submarine simulators, a full replica of the operations control centre being used for initial and further training, while diving operations are practised on a special device. The company recently formed a strategic alliance with Canada's Atlantis Systems International for the marketing and development of the latter's naval tactical trainers. The Canadian company's track record includes the production of a fire control and tactical team trainer replicating an Oberon submarine.

A recent sale negotiated by STN Atlas features a submarine attack trainer to be installed at the Hellenic Navy's Salamis Naval Base. The sale of three S-209 submarines to the South African Navy could also lead to more trainer business for the German company, which is to supply an integrated sonar system for them.

A contract for the supply of training devices in support of the Canadian Navy Victoria (ex-Upholder) class submarines should have been awarded as these lines go into print, with MacDonald Dettwiler and CAE bidding for the task. An adaptation of the former's PC-based Naval Combat Operator Trainers supporting the new Canadian Patrol Frigate and Tribal class update modernisation programme is being offered to provide submarine training.

However, CAE, teamed with Computing Devices Canada, may have a head start, having been selected to conduct the Victoria class submarine command team trainer options analysis study.

Outsourcing Training

A revolution in the provision of submarine training for the Royal Navy is certain to result from the award of a private finance initiative (PFI) contract in support of the new Astute class submarines. CAE and Alenia Marconi Systems working with Flagship Training were selected last year as the preferred bidder for the Astute class training service. Although the contract has not yet been awarded, it calls for the provision of comprehensive training services for up to 40 years, the value of which is estimated to be at least $ 319 million.

Having supplied every command team trainer for Royal Navy submarines, as well as for many of its surface vessels, AMS brings considerable experience to the party, while CAE is the controls and instrumentation integrator for the Astute class submarines. However, a PFI will present a challenge to the contractors who will need to obtain finance from a consortium of banks for the provision of hardware.

A new training centre will be built in Scotland to house the many simulators and to provide classroom training facilities. It is envisaged that AMS will provide the command team trainer, weapon handling trainer and other devices, while CAE will be contributing the manoeuvring room trainer, submarine control trainer and other learning aids. Flagship Training will develop training courseware and be responsible for construction of the training centre building.