SUBSEA DEFENSESubsea Defense & the Changing Paradigm ofSubmarine ProgramsTechnology and dynamic mission pro? les have driven change in the defense in-dustry, Hydro Group Plc Managing Director Doug Whyte, explores the chang-ing paradigm of submarine programs, an evolving market he has experienced ? rst-hand, with over 30 years at the helm of his own innovative subsea design and manufacturing group.About the Author: Doug Whyte, Hydro Group Plc Managing Directory original business part- connector systems for the onboard de- nectors that feed through the hull to the service, such as the UK’s Astute ? eet.ner, Mike Redstone, pre- gaussing units, following on with similar heart and operations of the boat. An ex- The Astute Class Submarine is cur-viously worked for Vick- projects for its sister boats Victorious, ample is periscopes, which are referred rently the most advanced and powerful Mers Slingsby which was Vigilant and Vengeance. to as masts, which penetrated the hull attack submarine ever operated by the involved quite extensively with the Min- The modus operandi for UK subma- of the submarine. Watch the old black Royal Navy at over 7500 tonnes sub-istry of Defense (M.O.D.). At that time, rines during the cold war was to run and white war movies – when the Com- merged, capable of speeds more than 30 in the late seventies, close involvement silent, run deep and to capture signal, mander shouts “Up periscope!” and half knots, powered by Rolls Royce PWR2 with the M.O.D. was commonplace. In noise and signature data from the enemy of the Atlantic comes rushing in! Now, reactors. The duration range for deploy-addition to central of? ce, located at Ab- known as the “Take” and, of course, to with advanced technology, the mast is ment is only limited by the amount of bey Wood, our main contact of? ces were deliver a nuclear strike from their un- external to the hull and all of the data and food on board so it can stay at sea for Bath and D.E.R.A. at Portland – now known position somewhere near to Rus- communications are fed via cables and months at a time. It is armed with land all gone. The ? rst submarine contract sia. The UK was ahead of its ? eld in so- connectors using ? ber optics, which is attack missiles and Spear? sh torpedoes. with which we were involved was the nars, so most submarine platforms had Hydro Group’s area of expertise. Today, Its sonar system 2076 is the world’s Vanguard Class SSBN which deployed cable and connector systems ? tted. mine counter measures, (MCMs) towed most advanced and is ? tted with Hydro the 16 Trident D5 missile system and it Sonar development has moved on at arrays, active and passive sonars and Group’s cables and connectors.began trials in 1992. Hydro Bond En- considerable pace and comprises more anti-surface ship missiles are necessary Bearing in mind the cost of the nuclear gineering and Hydro Cable Systems highly technical equipment, external to requirements of the new construction for defense program, controversial as it is, were involved with outboard cable and the hull, which requires cables and con- modernization of current submarines in the construction of a nuclear submarine 48 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • NOVEMBER 2014MR #11 (42-49).indd 48 10/28/2014 10:41:03 AM