Recompression chambers for Type 45s
A recent successful trial has confirmed that the British Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers can now deploy recompression chambers for submarine rescue, it was announced on 27 September.
The Submarine Escape Rescue and Survival Team (SMERAS) from Gosport conducted the trial on HMS Dauntless.
The ability to fit recompression chambers to the Type 45 flight deck expands the deployment options for the navy's two recompression chambers; until now only Type 23 frigates were able to deploy the emergency stores which are held at six hours’ notice to move in HMNB Devonport in Plymouth.
Each recompression chamber is housed in an ISO container, weighs 13.6 tonnes and can accommodate 11 people. It shrinks the size of the damaging gas bubbles that are formed in the tissues of divers – or submariners who have undertaken an emergency departure from their boat – who rise to surface too quickly.
Steve Micallef, SMERAS Warrant Officer, said: 'In the unlikely event of a submarine being in distress, our preferred method of rescue is clearly on the surface, or via the NATO Submarine Rescue System from HMNB Clyde in Scotland.
'If submariners have to leave their boats underwater, they could possibly suffer from the bends, or decompression sickness. So being able to have a broader range of surface ships to carry our two recompression chambers quickly to the scene provides us with more options, should our services ever be required.'
More from Defence Notes
-
![Ireland spells out $2.3 billion shopping list in five-year defence spending plan]()
Ireland spells out $2.3 billion shopping list in five-year defence spending plan
Ireland’s multi-annual investment in capital defence spending is set to rise from €300m in 2026 to €360m in 2029–2030 with major upgrades across land, air, maritime and cyber domains.
-
![US National Security Strategy prioritises advanced military capabilities and national industry]()
US National Security Strategy prioritises advanced military capabilities and national industry
The 2025 NSS has emphasised investment in the US nuclear and air defence inventory and national industry, but it leaves multiple unanswered questions on how the White House will implement this approach.
-
![Canada set to look away from its neighbour and across the Atlantic for partners]()
Canada set to look away from its neighbour and across the Atlantic for partners
While non-EU UK struggles to join the Security Action for Europe initiative, which provides loans for defence programmes, Canada has become the first country outside Europe to get access – and did so for a nominal fee.
-
![NATO experiments with solutions to integrate networks, AI and uncrewed systems]()
NATO experiments with solutions to integrate networks, AI and uncrewed systems
During the latest edition of the NATO DiBaX, the alliance tested multiple capabilities to inform requirements for future efforts.
-
![Leonardo unveils plans for Michelangelo air defence dome]()
Leonardo unveils plans for Michelangelo air defence dome
The new multi-layered defence system will harness AI to neutralise airborne threats and protect Europe from Russian aggression.
