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| Project 18271/Bester-1 deep-submergence rescue vehicle "AS-40" - August 22, 2014 |
INDEPENDENT FACTORY SEA TRIALS OF BESTER-1 DEEP-SUBMERGENCE VEHICLE COMPLETED
November 21, 2014
http://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12000949@egNews
The crew of the Bester-1 deep-submergence rescue vehicle has successfully completed a phase of independent factory sea trials and will participate in sea trials of the new "Igor Belousov" rescue ship in late November of this year.
Following joint testing of the "Igor Belousov" rescue ship, which is scheduled for the first half of 2015, the Bester-1 rescue vehicle will become a fully functional component of the ship's suite of search and rescue equipment.
With the vehicle's acceptance into the Russian Navy's search and rescue forces inventory, the Navy's ability to render assistance to submariners involved in an accident will significantly expand.
The crew of this unique and modern submersible consists of six men. The crew has completed all required preparations and on-the-job training aboard a similar Northern Fleet submersible.
The Bester-1 deep-submergence rescue vehicle is unique in terms of its characteristics.
Distinguishing features include: vehicle control systems; level of accuracy in navigating and maintaining position while at a given depth; integrated automated control system; more powerful and practically new propulsion and steering systems; new system for guiding, landing and attaching the vehicle to a disabled submarine; and new chamber for mating to a submarine escape hatch, through which the crew can evacuate, when the submarine is listing at up to 45 degrees.
All previous rescue vehicles built in our country and abroad could only render assistance to the crew of a distressed submarine that was listing at up to 15 degrees.
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Project 18271/Bester-1 "AS-40" was towed from Admiralty Shipyards to Kronshtadt on October 30 and then back to Admiralty Shipyards on November 10. This 12-day period may be the "independent factory sea trials" referenced in the above press release.
