Dry deck shelter

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Two DDS on the USS Kamehameha (SSN-624)
DDS aboard USS Dallas (SSN 700)

A Dry Deck Shelter ( DDS ) is a module that can be attached to submarines . It allows divers to easily enter and exit a submerged submarine.

technology

Fixing points for a DDS

In order to be able to transport a DDS, the carrier submarine must be specially equipped, among other things, the hatches must fit so that the divers can get from the submarine into the module. There must also be connections for electricity and pipes for the divers' compressed air and for pumping out the lock. Special devices for fastening the DDS must also be installed behind the tower .

The United States Navy's DDS are 11.6 meters long and 2.7 meters high and wide. They displace a good 30 m³ of water. It is transported by plane in a Lockheed C-5 Galaxy or by truck.

The shell made of HY-80 steel, which is coated with fiberglass-reinforced plastic , consists of three compartments: a round decompression chamber , a transfer chamber and a hangar for a swimmer delivery vehicle or 20 United States Navy SEALs with four Combat Rubber Raiding Crafts , one type inflatable assault boat .

In 2004 six DDS were in service. The first of these was built by Electric Boat in 1982 and the remainder by Newport News Shipbuilding between 1987 and 1991 . Life expectancy is around 40 years. The DDS are named DDS-01S to DDS-06P . S stands for Starbord ( starboard ), P for port ( port ). -01, -04 and -05 are hereby S . While the DDS are mounted exactly on the center line of the Los Angeles-class and Sturgeon-class submarines, four former missile submarines (two each of the Benjamin Franklin and Ethan Allen classes ) could carry two dry deck shelters , the distinction between P and S was important for this. The four Ohio-class submarines converted to Ship Submersible Guided Missile Nuclear can also carry two DDS.

Web links

Commons : Dry deck shelter  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Combat Rubber Raiding Craft (CRRC). In: americanspecialops.com. American Special Operations Forces, 2019, accessed August 6, 2019 .