COLLINS Class Submarine

BlueZone Group has been a supplier to the COLLINS Class submarine project from the original construction when SOURIAU through hull perpetrators were specified for many critical applications for electrical and fiber-optic connectivity through the submarine hull.

When the submarine entered service there was a need identified for specialised camera systems to support operations. UVS designed, sourced and supplied equipment for the RON II Camera System and the Special Forces Camera Control System for the COLLINS fleet.

FCI Jupiter Souriau

SOURIAU is focused on the supply of connection technologies for severe environments and has a presence in the world’s major aerospace/defence programs.

SOURIAU has completed successive acquisitions of the industrial, aeronautics, defence and space activities of SOURIAU, JUPITER and BURNDY.

M Series connectors are rugged screw coupling connectors in high corrosion resistant nickel aluminium bronze alloy shells. The design provides a very high reliability with dry mate sealing to 2,000 meters. M Series connectors are approved by VERITAS and LLOYD’S Register of shipping.

SOURIAU products are specified in demanding applications including the COLLINS Class submarines maintained by ASC Pty Ltd and operated by the Royal Australian Navy.

SOURIAU products are specified in demanding applications including the COLLINS Class submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy.

RON || Camera System for COLLINS Class Submarine

Designed by BlueZone Group for the Royal Australian Navy COLLINS Class submarines, the RON II Camera System provides video from a Kongsberg OE14-112 Camera fitted externally to the submarine pressure hull. The camera features zoom capability (both optical and digital) plus remote focus as well as rotate and tilt functions. The design enables flexible external viewing of the COLLINS submarine mast, periscope and general operations.

Seven systems in total were manufactured with the colour camera mounted onto the fin of each submarine and a monitoring and control unit installed in the bridge to allow for control of the Pan & Tilt functionality as well as for local viewing and recording of images. External outputs were also made available for routing of video to other internal submarine locations such as the sailors mess and Commanding Officer quarters.

The complete system design includes camera mounting bracket, underwater junction box, underwater connectors and rack mounted equipment. Materials for components in contact with sea water were selected to minimise the risk of dissimilar metal corrosion. Through hull penetrations were Souriau-type which are the standard connectors used with Collins Class wiring. Space constraints in the submarine Control Room required careful design engineering to ensure that the installation envelope was not exceeded for operation or maintenance of the rack mounted equipment.

BlueZone Group repairs and maintains Kongsberg cameras for many customers and is experienced in repair of the cameras at component level. This experience supports design and manufacture of system applications including Kongsberg cameras of all types combined with BlueZone Group software and hardware elements.

The RON II Camera shown mounted on the top of the COLLINS Class submarine fin

UVS Technicians with the completed RON II Rack installation in the constrained space of the COLLINS submarine control room

Special Forces Camera Control System for COLLINS Class Submarine

Working closely with the ASC, Australia’s national submarine builder and maintainer of the six Collins Class submarines, BlueZone Group developed a custom solution for monitoring of Special Forces personnel when deployed from the submarine.

The system included a number of cameras mounted outside of the submarine and a control console mounted in the submarine control room. Stringent conditions for mounting of all outboard components were required to be met to maintain submarine engineering standards. Restricted mounting options for the control console in the control room called for an innovative approach the console design and installation arrangement.

The Camera Control System was successfully installed and supported in submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy.

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