HMCS Corner Brook (SSK 878)

Encyclopedia : H : HM : HMC : HMCS Corner Brook (SSK 878)

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Career
Type:	Long-range diesel-electric hunter-killer (SSK) submarine
Builder:	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead
Laid down:	February 1987
Launched:	February 22 1991
Commissioned:	May 8 1992 (RN) March 2003 (CN)
Decommissioned:	1994 (RN)
Fate:	in active service
General characteristics
Displacement:	2,185 tons (surfaced) 2,400 tons (submerged)
Length:	70.26 m
Beam:	7.6 m
Draught:	5.5 m
Propulsion:	Diesel-electric (37 MW) 2 Paxman Valenta 16 RPA diesel generators, 4,070 hp (3,035 kW) 2 GEC, 5,000 kW motor-generators
Speed:	12 knots (surfaced) 20+ knots (submerged)
Diving depth:	200 m
Range:	10,000 nautical miles at 12 knots
Complement:	53 officers and crew
Armament:	6 x 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes, 18 Mark 48 torpedoes

HMCS Corner Brook (SSK 878) is a long-range hunter-killer (SSK) submarine of the Canadian Navy, the third ship of the Victoria class. She is named after the city of Corner Brook, Newfoundland. She was purchased from the Royal Navy, and is the former HMS Ursula (S42).

Design

HMCS Corner Brook's displacement is approximately 2,200 tons surfaced and 2,400 tons submerged. Covered in anechoic tiles to reduce her detection by active SONAR (SOund NAvigation Ranging), the submarine is 70.3 meters long, 7.6 meters across the beam and has a deep diving depth in excess of 200 meters. The main hull is constructed of high tensile steel sections stiffened by circular internal frames. Equipment located outside the main hull is covered by the Casing, which also gives the crew a safe walkway when the submarine is surfaced. The Fin, which helps support the masts, serves as a kind of keel and provides a raised conning position.

Specifications

HMCS Corner Brook has six torpedo tubes and can carry up to eighteen Mark 48 Mod 4 heavyweight torpedoes for use against surface and sub-surface targets. She is also capable of carrying sub-harpoon missiles and laying mines.

HMCS Corner Brook's SONAR sets allow her to locate and track ships and other submarines “passively”, that is without transmitting on active sonar and thus giving way her location. She is fitted with RADAR (RAdio Detection And Ranging) for general navigation, attack and search periscopes (incorporating video recording and thermal imaging), and an Electronic Support Measures suite. The ship has two diesel generators, each capable of producing up to 1,410 kilowatts, and one main motor. The generators are used to charge two main batteries, each consisting of 240 battery cells. These batteries are used to power the submarine, which can reach a submerged speed of up to 20 knots.