CNN.com - LR5: The world's most advanced submarine rescue craft

The LR5 is lowered into the water in this file photo

By Paul Sussman, CNN.com writer

LONDON (CNN) -- The British-designed LR5, which has been flown out to Norway to help efforts to rescue the stricken Kursk submarine, is, with the American DSVR (Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle), one of the most advanced submarine rescue craft in the world, according to the Ministry of Defence.

Based at the Royal Navy's Submarine Rescue Headquarters (SRH) in Renfrew, Scotland, it was loaded onto an Antonov cargo plane at 2:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) on Wednesday. At 12.30 p.m. the plane took off from Prestwick Airport, bound for the port of Trondheim in Norway, landing at around 4:00 p.m. local time.

"The Russians have given us permission to pre-deploy in Trondheim," said a Ministry of Defence spokesman. "As yet we have not been officially asked to take part in the rescue mission. The LR5 will be taken down to the docks to await loading onto the mother ship which is due to arrive later this evening.

"Once all the equipment has been loaded, the ship will sail and take up position approximately 100 miles from the site."

Roger Chapman, chairman of Rumic Ltd., one of the two companies responsible for operating and maintaining the LR5 (with Global Marine Ltd), said: "We'll get out there as quickly as we can. Even so, however, it's going to be a couple of days before we can get on site."

The 10 million submersible -- the "LR" stands for Leonard Redshaw, the former Vickers chairman who first came up with the idea for it -- is the only one of its kind in the world.

It was built in 1978 by Perry Slingsby Systems Ltd. of York, and has recently undergone a complete rebuild, as a result of which it has been given Lloyds certification for a further five years of service.

Ten metres long by three metres wide and weighing 21 tonnes, it is made of glass-reinforced polyester and is capable of operating up to a depth of 1,500 feet (457 metres).

The LR5: One of most advanced craft of its kind

Its two-man crew is housed in its forward section, with a rescue chamber located in the centre of the craft and a battery-driven propulsion system at the rear. Batteries last for up to eight hours before needing to be recharged at the surface.

The LR5 latches onto the stricken submarine by means of a watertight "transfer skirt" which attaches around the mouth of the vessel's emergency escape hatch, allowing up to 16 crewmen at a time to pass into the submersible and be taken to the surface.

A special "wedge" allows the skirt to be tilted so it can still lock-on to the submarine even if it is lying at an angle (the Kursk is currently lying on the seabed at 60 degrees).

A special database in Renfrew helps locate ships around the world that are suitable for transporting and launching the LR5. Several such ships have been pinpointed in the Barents Sea area, with one particular vessel -- flying the flag of the Isle of Man -- currently on its way to Trondheim to meet up with the recently arrived submersible.

Despite its advanced technology, however, and the expertise of its crew, it is not absolutely certain the LR5 will be of use.

Although the seal on its transfer skirt is compatible with most submarines it is still unclear whether it will fit the Kursk.

Roger Chapman says: "We are sending a spare skirt out to Trondheim. That will then be flown on to Russia where it can be tested on a similar vessel to check whether it is compatible. Until then we won't know for sure."

A more pressing problem is time.

"The transport ship in Trondheim will need to have a lot of stuff cut off its deck so we can fit our equipment on," explains Chapman. "And that takes time."

Fresh bid to reach stricken sub crew
Russians try again to hook up with stranded submarine
Damaged nuclear sub 'poses threat to environment'
Agonising wait of sailors' families
Russian submarine rescue bid under way

Ministry of Defence
Perry Slingsby Systems Ltd
Perry Slingsby Systems Ltd

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.