The first acts as a sonar of variable depth, importantly expanding the surface that the ship can comb at the moment. The second helps to identify and neutralize mines – it is thanks to Double Eagle Cormorans II that they are considered among the best mine destroyers in the world.
Underwater vehicles Double Eagle are manufactured by Swedish company Saab. Their past dates back to the late 1990s. Over more than 3 decades, designers have developed respective models with different parameters and tasks. respective NATO states usage Double Eagle drones – specified as Sweden, France and Finland, but besides Australia. In 2016, the first specified vehicle was equipped with the Polish navy. He boarded the Min ORP destroyer "Kormoran" – a prototype Kormoran II unit (project 258).
– Double Eagle Mk III is simply a remote-controlled sonar with variable depth of immersion (SPVDS) – explains cadmium. Peter Sikora, commander of the 8th Coast Defence Fleet. The device is 3 metres long and weighs about 500 kilograms. It reaches a maximum velocity of 7 knots and can go under water to a depth of 500 meters. During the mission, it is powered from the ship's deck, where it transmits a real-time image that it records. The vehicle moves in 2 ways – it crosses the way previously indicated, but the operator can change it at any time, or from start to finish it is controlled by that operator.
The heart of Double Eagle Mk III is the SHL-300 hydrolocation station. It works on akin principles as mounted on a podkill sonar. In short, it scans the seabed in search of mine-like objects. Findings should be yet identified. This can be done with another vehicle or by sending divers under water. As the sailors emphasize, sonar SPVDS strengthens the capabilities of the ship. How? Double Eagle Mk III works in parallel with the sub-kill sonar, walking from the side of the ship or before it. Even 1,000 metres distant from the home unit. This solution importantly increases the surface of the water at the time. Saaba vehicle besides allows to bypass thermocline. Under this name lies a layer of water, in which there is simply a fast change in temperature. specified a phenomenon may impede the operation of sonar under the hull of the ship. Meanwhile, Double Eagle Mk III is able to simply bypass the thermocline, go below and operate just above the seabed.
The Polish Navy besides has another version of the Saaba vehicle. The next 2 Kormoran II – ORP “Albatros” and ORP “Mewa” ships – alternatively of Double Eagle Mk III were equipped with a plan called Double Eagle Sarov. specified devices will besides be found on the decks of the 3 Cormorans presently built in the Gdańsk Shipbuilding Repair Yard.
Sarov is simply a vehicle with completely different characteristics and destiny. It is 3 metres long and weighs as much as 730 kilograms. It besides develops a velocity of up to six knots and descends to a depth of 300 metres. – It is utilized to identify and neutralize objects in water tone. It has been adapted to plant explosives of the Toczek kind under mines – explains cadmium. Sikora. Sarov operates in 2 modes. It can act as a remote-controlled ROV vehicle or semi-autonomic device. In the second case, it uses its own batteries, but inactive with the usage of a peculiar "reel" it sends on board the ship a image that it sees underwater.
Sarov has another advantage. Thanks to its own positioning system, it can keep a unchangeable position underwater. This is peculiarly crucial during tasks requiring advanced precision, and specified include the planting of explosives. The positioning strategy is useful primarily on the waters, where there are very strong currents. Here it is adequate to mention the North Sea, on which Polish mine destroyers operate comparatively often. The 206FM task ships regularly carried out tasks there in the composition of the Natov's SNMCMG1 mine team. The cormorans will shortly begin to embark on a akin mission.
In the future, the Double Eagle Sarov vehicle is besides expected to appear on the prototype Cormoran. It will replace the mentioned Double Eagle Mk III device.
