HMAS Dechaineux (SSG 76)
 HMAS Dechaineux with dancing dolphin | |
| Career (Australia) |  <tr valign=top><td>Ordered:</td><td>?</td></tr> |
|---|---|
| Laid down: | 4 March 1993 |
| Launched: | 12 March 1998 <tr valign=top><td>Commissioned:</td><td>23 February 2001</td></tr> |
| Status: | Active in service <tr valign=top><td>Homeport:</td><td>Fleet Base West</td></tr> |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | Surfaced: 3,051 tonnes Submerged: 3,353 tonnes |
| Length: | 77.8 metres |
| Beam: | 7.8 metres <tr valign=top><td>Draught:</td><td>6.8 metres</td></tr><tr valign=top><td>Propulsion:</td><td>1 × Jeumont Schneider main motor |
| Speed: | Surfaced: 10+ knots (18.5 km/h) Submerged: 20+ knots (37 km/h) <tr valign=top><td>Range:</td><td>11,500 miles (at 10 knots surfaced) |
| Complement: | 45 (8 Officers)<tr valign=top><td>Sensors and processing systems:</td><td>Thales underwater systems scylla bow sonar Thales Underwater Systems GEC-Marconi Kariwara, Thomson Marconi Narama towed array or Allied Signal TB 23 Kelvin Hughes I-band navigation radar Thales optronics CK043 search and CH093 attack periscopes Anechoic tiles fitted</td></tr><tr valign=top><td>Electronic warfare and decoys:</td><td>Edo ES-5600 ESM, Argo AR-740 Strachan and Henshaw SSDE</td></tr><tr valign=top><td>Armament:</td><td>Boeing/Rockwell integrated system McDonnell Douglas UGM-84 Harpoon 6 × 21 in (533 mm) tubes for sub harpoon and Gould Mark 48 torpedo - total of 22 carried 44 mines in lieu of torpedoes Fitted for but not with Land Attack Cruise missiles with combat system AN/BYG 1 US Mk 48 ADCAP Combat System AN/BYG 1 based on Raytheon's CCS Mk 2</td></tr><tr valign=top><td>Motto:</td><td>Fearless and Ferocious</td></tr><tr valign=top><td>Badge:</td><td>  </td></tr> |
HMAS Dechaineux (SSG 76) is a Collins class submarine laid down by the Australian Submarine Corporation at Osborne in South Australia on 4 March 1993, launched on 12 March 1998 and commissioned on 23 February 2001. HMAS Dechaineux is based at Fleet Base West in Western Australia.
Contents |
Name
The vessel is named for Captain Emile Dechaineux, who died as a result of wounds sustained in a kamikaze attack on HMAS Australia in 1944.
On the morning of 21 October 1944, HMAS Australia was part of a bombardment force supporting the Allied landing at Leyte in the Central Philippines. During the battle, a Japanese Dive-Bomber was engaged and hit by HMAS Australia and HMAS Shropshire. At first, the aircraft appeared to fly away from the ships, but it subsequently turned and dived into HMAS Australia, hitting the foremast and causing a large explosion and intense fuel fire. Captain Emile Dechaineux died of wounds received in the attack and was subsequently awarded the Legion of Merit (Degree of Officer) by the United States Government.
2003 Flooding Incident
In 2005, it was revealed that Dechaineux had almost sunk in February 2003, following the failure of a seawater hose at its maximum diving depth.[1] The engine room was flooded and a crew member almost drowned. The maximum depth was later reduced, but remains classified. Nevertheless there is some evidence to support claims that much-publicised teething problems with the Collins class have been resolved.[2]
External links
- Royal Australian Navy Site
- Royal Australian Navy's HMAS Dechaineux site
- Australian War Memorial Captain Emile Dechaineux site
| Collins-class submarine |
| List of ships of the Royal Australian Navy |
| | |
|---|---|
 Australian Army |  Royal Australian Navy |  Royal Australian Air Force | |
Categories
Collins class submarines | Royal Australian Navy ships | Submarines of Australia | Active naval ships of Australia