Following the recent search for the submersible Titan which went missing whilst on a dive to the wreck of the Titanic,herein we shall discuss how An Independent Navy For An Independent Nation could contribute to such an operation.
Whether launched from the United Kingdom,Bermuda or an Africa class flying ship,with an endurance of twelve hours at five hundred knots a Perseus aircraft (at least forty of which could have been paid for with the thousands of millions of pounds spent on Nimrod,Sentinel,Reaper,Airseeker,Crowsnest,Poseidon,Wedgetail,Protector and Envoy) could quickly reach the search area and conduct a surface search with it's active and passive multispectral sensors and deploy a pattern of sonobuoys to detect noises from the submersible.
Beneath the waves at least one of the six Cachalot class and two Defence class submarines (which could have been built with the money spent on seven Astutes) could be in the search area within days,both having the ability to listen for sounds from the submersible and the latter also having the ability to manipulate items on the sea bed.
On the surface several of the twenty-four Duke,Royal Duke and Falkland class frigates (which could have been built for far less than the cost of six Daring class air defence destroyers,five River class patrol vessels,refits for Type 23 submarine defence frigates,repairs for Type 45 destroyers,eight Type 26 submarine defence frigates,five Type 31 point defence "frigates" and Type 32 mystery frigates) would likely be within a few days sailing of the search area with hull mounted and towed array sonars and Merlin or Hermes helicopters which could be helpful in search operations.
At least one of the Hecate class hydrographing sloops is likely to be in the North Atlantic area with it's hull mounted and towed sonars being able to locate items on the sea bed and its tethered submersible being able to investigate and manipulate them.
Two of the four Assistance class icebreaking tugs shall routinely carry a submarine rescue party to support underwater warfare with the Northern Division,whilst the other two shall routinely carry a ship repair party to support vessels on more distant stations,but due to their slow speed it is unlikely that they could cross the Atlantic quickly enough to be of any use.
However,His Majesty's Rescuing Tug Ranger on station at Bermuda shall be within about a day's sailing time of the Titanic wreck site and her heave compensated crane shall be able to lift the Titan but although designed to accommodate tethered submersibles,a salvage party and a submarine rescue party she shall not routinely carry them and they must be flown out to Bermuda before departure,a flight of around six hours for an aircraft such as the Centaurus.
