Annual submarine-rescue exercise wraps up

The Royal Australian Navy has successfully completed its annual submarine search and rescue exercise off the coast of Western Australia, along with international participants from Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.

CAPTION: The LR5 submersible is lowered in the water from MV Stoker during night operations off the coast of Rottnest Island in Western Australia as part of Exercise Black Carillon 21. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Damien Pawlenko.

Navy’s submarine abandonment, escape and rescue system has been certified for another year as part of Exercise Black Carillon 21, which ran between 17 October and 10 November 2021.

The system is based around a submersible vehicle, provided by Perth based JFD Australia, designed to be transported by sea, land or air to locate a disabled submarine and rescue its crew.

The system requires Navy personnel and private companies to work together each year in Exercise Black Carillon to prove that they can meet the appropriate requirements and be ready to go at short notice.

Navy’s submarine search and rescue operates within the global, International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison Office where member nations can be called upon by other members to assist with submarine search and rescue operations.

International naval participants from Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam participated this year, gaining their ‘Commander Rescue Forces’ qualifications.

Royal Australian Navy Commander Submarine Force, Captain Doug Theobald, paid tribute to the hard work of the naval and industry personnel involved in the exercise.

“While a submarine incident at sea is unlikely, Royal Australian Navy submariners are trained and equipped to deal with all possible eventualities,” Captain Theobald said.

“As part of Exercise Black Carillon we have demonstrated the capability to perform search and rescue for our own submarines as well as other nations.

“As a member of the global submarine search and rescue network, I am particularly pleased that members of our partner navies in Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam also had the chance to participate this year and I look forward to enhanced engagement with regional partners in the future.”

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