Surfacing Rescue Container Concept Design for Trident Submarines: Rethinking Submarine Search and Rescue

Abstract

In the wake of the KURSK tragedy, world navies have focused their full attention to the submarine rescue problem. While many rescue systems exist, none have been able to sufficiently address the gamut of scenarios that place submariners in peril. One rescue strategy utilizes a submarine escape capsule commonly referred to as a surfacing rescue container (SRC). Although SRCs have been used in several submarine designs over the last four decades, the United States has never adopted the underlying strategy. This paper recognizes the SRC concept as one of the most effective means of rescue, and proposes a modular SRC concept design (LSRC) that utilizes a modified Trident II D-5 missile tube as its host. The design is intended for use onboard the US Navy's next-generation ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) but may be back-fitted on current US Navy Ohio Class and UK Royal Navy Vanguard Class submarines with significant alterations. Technical analyses include a minimum weight design approach for internally stiffened right circular cylinders exposed to external hydrostatic pressure, an analytical and numerical structural analysis of imperfect ring stiffened cylinders with end-caps, and a seakeeping analysis for SRCs of cylindrical shape.