Jun29

Day eight of ten serials began the day of the Mass Medical Casualty Exercise and is progressing for approximately the next thirty six hours.

It involves the “bottoming” of a simulated nuclear powered submarine requiring the rescue of up to eighty “casualties”. Submarine rescue vehicles from the United Kingdom (LR5) and Italy (SRV300) are being coordinated by the UKCRF (United Kingdom Coordinator Rescue Forces) in their rescue efforts.

Once removed from the “distressed submarine” the “casualties” are then taken to either the Motor Vessel (MV) Fennica or the Italian ship Anteo to receive initial medical assessment and treatment.

The serial commenced with the usual warm weather for most of the day, beginning to change with gathering clouds and imminent thunderstorms.

No injuries or mishaps as the serial progresses.

The following types of serials were performed today with the Coordex continuing throughout the night.

SURVEYEX – The approach and survey of distressed submarine by divers.

MATEX – The mating and de-mating of a submarine rescue chamber with a distressed submarine

RESCUEX – The rescue of personnel from a distressed submarine

PODEX – The posting of a POD to resupply essential life support stores by passing the POD through either an escape trunk or torpedo tube.

VENTEX – The ventilation of a distressed submarine from the surface through a salvage air system

SPAGEX – The Submarine Parachute Assistance Group exercise

MEDEX – Medical assistance exercise

COORDEX – Choreographed process of rescuing personnel from a distressed submarine with two or more assets.

The Mass Medical Casualty Exercise commenced with the “bottoming” of the Dutch submarine HNLMS DOLFIJN in 72 metres of water.

The rescue vehicles LR5 and the SRV300 alternately then commenced the rescue of the “casualties”

As of 5 pm, twenty-four personnel had been recovered by the LR5 and transferred to the FENNICA and eighteen by the SRV300 and transferred to the ANTEO.

Thirty eight personnel remain on the distressed submarine. The serial is continuing until all eighty personnel are recovered and treated.

They are ahead of schedule and it is already providing both engineers and doctors with significant insight into conducting real world around the clock operations on a scale never before attempted.

A simulated VENTEX was conducted between the Italian submarine LONGOBARDO and the Spanish ship NEPTUNO. LONGOBARDO bottomed in 27 metres of water for seven hours during which time the NEPTUNO conducted a fifty five minute Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) inspection of LONGOBARDO.