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HMS Turbulent submarine crew hit by heat exhaustion | HMS Turbulent submarine crew hit by heat exhaustion |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Crewmen on a Royal Navy nuclear submarine were overwhelmed by heat exhaustion after a failure on board, it has emerged. | Crewmen on a Royal Navy nuclear submarine were overwhelmed by heat exhaustion after a failure on board, it has emerged. |
Temperatures inside the submarine hit 60C after the air conditioning on HMS Turbulent was blocked, affecting 26 crewmen. | Temperatures inside the submarine hit 60C after the air conditioning on HMS Turbulent was blocked, affecting 26 crewmen. |
The incident in the Indian Ocean in 2011 has been revealed for the first time by the former commander. | |
The problem was traced to coolant inlet pipes which were blocked by barnacles. | The problem was traced to coolant inlet pipes which were blocked by barnacles. |
Crew 'suffering' | Crew 'suffering' |
The problem happened about three hours after the submarine with its crew of 130 had left Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates on 26 May 2011. | The problem happened about three hours after the submarine with its crew of 130 had left Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates on 26 May 2011. |
Former commander Ryan Ramsey, 44, from Plymstock in Devon, told the BBC: "In a very rapid amount of time the temperature on the submarine rose massively. | |
"The crew were suffering badly, I was really worried about my people. | "The crew were suffering badly, I was really worried about my people. |
"There were some amazing acts of heroism on board and people only survived thanks to the medic and his team." | "There were some amazing acts of heroism on board and people only survived thanks to the medic and his team." |
While the crew tried to trace the cause of the problem, Mr Ramsey decided to dive to try to reduce the heat. | While the crew tried to trace the cause of the problem, Mr Ramsey decided to dive to try to reduce the heat. |
"I knew the water would be cooler the deeper we went, so we must be able to reduce the temperature in the submarine," said Mr Ramsey. | "I knew the water would be cooler the deeper we went, so we must be able to reduce the temperature in the submarine," said Mr Ramsey. |
"Engineers found the solution pretty quickly and ended up blowing air through the cooling system which got rid of most of the crustaceans." | "Engineers found the solution pretty quickly and ended up blowing air through the cooling system which got rid of most of the crustaceans." |
Twenty-four hours later the air conditioning had returned to normal. | Twenty-four hours later the air conditioning had returned to normal. |
Mr Ramsey said the Royal Navy had now incorporated the problem into its submarine training. | Mr Ramsey said the Royal Navy had now incorporated the problem into its submarine training. |
He served as commander of HMS Turbulent between 2008 and 2011 and left the Royal Navy in March after 25 years with the service. | |
HMS Turbulent was decommissioned in 2012 having reached the end of her Royal Navy career. | HMS Turbulent was decommissioned in 2012 having reached the end of her Royal Navy career. |
The Ministry of Defence was unavailable for comment. | The Ministry of Defence was unavailable for comment. |