URF – A Skilled Lady
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| The URF is one of the prides of the Swedish Navy and quite unique throughout the world. Quite extraordinary Sweden has constructed a submarine with the purpose of rescuing the crew of a submarine in distress. The
URF can hold up to 35 people which cover most of the submarines, and at least submarines of Scandinavian standards. In these submarines the number of crewmembers never exceeds
35.
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The URF is worked by two submarine pilots and a crew of four to seven people according to the assignment. It is split into sections by water and air tight hatches, so the pilots for example can work independently of the technical division and the middle division, which is the division that takes up the main part of the submarine and is meant to hold the rescued crewmembers.
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 Here is all the necessary equipment for a rescue operation ranging from oxygen masks to first aid kit, fresh water and crackers. The
URF can function in up till 30 hours before the batteries need to be recharged.
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| With the help of a specialised technique the URF
is able to hook onto and almost suck into a distressed submarine, so that the hatchet of the
URF swallows the hatchet of the distressed submarine. This establishes a passageway between the inside of the two submarines and the crew can be transported onto the
URF. Before then the pressure is equalized, so the pressure difference doesn’t hinder the operation.
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| Until now the URF hasn’t been in a real rescue situation but it came close when the Russian submarine Kursk wrecked. In that case the effort didn’t get on the way before it was too late. In return the
URF is a well-tested lady as far as exercises are concerned, and she can be used by most types of submarines and therefore also by most countries. On Sorbet Royal she was shown to all the participating countries and observers, who were very interested in the details and opportunities of the
URF. The URF is the only one of its kind in the world and despite her age (she is from 1978) a technologically sophisticated and efficient lady.
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