Navy, Army Divers Work to Raise Sunken Former Soviet Sub

[Woodmonkey]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (NNS) -- U.S. Navy expeditionary combat salvage divers and a contingent of U.S. Army divers are taking part in a unique real-world training mission that is honing their skills while benefiting the local community in Providence.

Nearly 100 active and reserve Sailors and Soldiers, including 50 divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 in Norfolk, and the U.S. Army Dive Company based at Fort Eustis, Va. arrived in Providence, June 1 for training salvage operations on the sunken former Soviet submarine K-77, also known as Juliett 484.

The former Soviet cruise missile submarine sank at its mooring here during a freak storm on April 17, 2007.

This salvage operation, comprised of a heavy Navy diving and salvage footprint and a contingent of Army divers, is an extremely unique opportunity for training on a complete joint salvage mission, and is being performed as part of the Department of Defense's (DoD) Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program. Through IRT, military units receive training by taking part in real-world, community-based projects.

"The Department of Defense would normally achieve readiness for our waterway clearance and salvage mission through baseline funding and normal training packages; however, this is a unique opportunity to get more effective training for nearly the same amount of money and benefit the local community at the same time," said Army Capt. Charles Denike, Army Diving Company commanding officer and Juliett Deputy Mission commander.

"So, instead of spending tax dollars by simulating a training environment, the Innovative Readiness Training program allows us to train in a complex joint, inter-agency real-world command and control, and diving and salvage project, ultimately maximizing the effectiveness of the taxpayers' dollars in a direct, measurable way in both our military program and in the local civil sector in the process. For Army, while Maritime Security is certainly a Navy mission, the opportunity here helps ensure the appropriate level of joint capability and capacity for potential future missions."

DoD involvement began in the summer of 2007, when Navy and Army divers conducted underwater surveys to determine how to safely recover K-77 from the Providence River. In April, the divers, supported by Naval Sea Systems Command engineers, continued necessary surveys and engineering calculations prior to the complex salvage operation. The project involves patching and pumping water from the submarine's pressure vessel, and repairing the submarine's ballast tanks, in order to ultimately raise it to the surface.

"This has been a unique experience in itself," said Sgt. Chaise Turner of the U.S. Army Dive Company. "You don't get the chance to dive on an old former Soviet submarine all the time."

"There's so much history behind it," added Navy Diver 1st Class (DV) Eric Riggenbach from MDSU 2. "I've dived on a few American submarines, but to see how a Soviet submarine was designed has been really interesting."

According to Cmdr. Dan Shultz, commanding officer, MDSU 2 and Juliett Mission commander, this project provides a valuable opportunity for both Army and Navy divers to hone their expeditionary diving and salvage skills in a real-world setting, skills that are vital in support of the nation's strategy for Maritime Security, including peacetime support to international humanitarian and disaster relief, engagement with international partners, as well as wartime missions.

"The ability of U.S. Navy and Army divers to clear waterways, ports and harbors is important to our nation's ability to help other nations open their own waterways and lanes for the movement of commerce," said Shultz. "This would also include our own ports and waterways critical commerce in the U.S., especially following a natural disaster or terrorist event."

Both the Navy and Army divers bring a vast range of experience in a variety of environments, but the shallow, murky water of the Providence River offers additional training value.

"A lot of the younger guys are getting the experience being in a zero-visibility situation with cold water and long dive times, as opposed to versus shorter times we're used to," explained Turner.

Riggenbach agreed. "This is probably one of the only opportunities we get to put hands on and operate certain equipment, that we normally only use on salvage ships."

Additionally, this mission provides the opportunity for the divers to train together in a joint setting, with Army and Navy divers integrated into one team.

"We've learned a lot from each other," said Riggenbach. "The Army does some things different than us, but they're very professional and hard working as we are. Whenever you get divers together, regardless of their service, we're still the same."

Supporting the divers are engineers from Naval Sea Systems Command's Supervisor of Diving and Salvage, and Sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Expeditionary Support Unit 2, who are providing logistics and communications support, as well as personnel to operate the Army Landing Craft Unit that serves as a diving platform.

The Source