The data below is included for archival purposes.
The most current data that we have is available via our new searchable
database of ships at:
http://oceanic.cms.udel.edu/ships/
Alliance Ship Information
Last updated: 7 July 1994 - www@saclantc.nato.int
Leading Particulars
The leading particulars of the vessel are as follows:
Length overall: 93 m
Length between perpendiculars: 82 m
Moulded beam: 15.20 m
Depth, moulded (midships weatherdeck): 8.70 m
Draft, summer freeboard: 5.5 m maximum
Draft, design full load, moulded: 4.9 m
Light ship displacement: 2450 t
Full load displacement: 2920 t
Gross tonnage: ca. 3180 t
Net tonnage: ca. 960 t
Segregated ballast tankage: 315 cu m
Fuel oil tankage: 315 cu m
Lube oil tankage: 5 cu m
Fresh water tankage: 100 t
Shaft power (ABS max. continuous): 2970 kW
Sustained sea speed: 16.3 kn
Range at 11.5 kn: 7200 n.mi minimum
Living Spaces
Accommodation is provided for a maximum complement of 50, comprising 10
officers, 17 crew and 20 scientific staff. Suites are provided for the Master,
Chief Engineer, Chief Officer, First Engineer and Electro-Technical Officer
with single berth cabins for 5 other officers. All officer accommodation is
located on the Officers' Deck with the exception of that for the Electronics
Officer (Nav) which is located on the Bridge Deck. The accommodation for the
crew consists of 20 single berth cabins located on the Crew Deck.
The accommodation for the scientific staff consists of a suite for the Chief
Scientist, 11 single berth cabins and 4 double berth cabins. The suite consists
of a dayroom, bedroom and toilet facility and is located on the Officers' Deck.
The single and double berth cabins all have attached toilet facilities and are
located on the Tween Deck.
The two dining rooms are located on the Tween Deck, the Officer/Scientist Dining
Room on the port side and the Crew Dining Room on the starboard side, with the
Galley in between. The Officer/Scientist Dining Room has a seating capacity of
24 and is arranged for both cafeteria and table service meals. The Crew Dining
Room has a seating capacity of 16 and is arranged for cafeteria service meals.
In addition, space is provided for an Officer/Scientist Lounge, a Crew Lounge
and a Gymnasium. The Officer/Scientist Lounge, located on the Weather Deck can
be arranged as a Lounge, a Conference Room or a combination of the two. Both
lounges are fitted with satellite and domestic television, videocassette
systems, high fidelity sound and audiocassette systems. A Gymnasium is located
on the Tween Deck.
Work Spaces
Ship Operating Spaces
These consist of the Bridge, a Secondary Control Station and the Chart and Radio
Rooms, all located on the Bridge Deck; and the Machinery Control Room, located
on the Lower Deck between the Diesel Generator Room and the Propulsion Motor
Room. The machinery rooms themselves are arranged for unmanned operation 15 h
per day.
The Bridge is fitted with all the control, communication, instrumentation and
alarm equipment needed for the safe and efficient operation and navigation of
the vessel in accordance with IMO requirements. In addition, a Secondary Control
Station, located at the aft end of the Bridge Deck, provides visibility of the
primary working and helicopter transfer areas and is fitted with similar
control, instrumentation and alarm equipment as the Bridge. This allows control
of the propulsion and steering during operations in these areas and also
functions as a secondary control position.
The Chart Room, located on the port side of the Bridge Deck, contains the
Precision Location Navigation System in addition to normal navigational
equipment. The Radio Room is located on the starboard side of the Bridge Deck
and is divided into two spaces with a communicating door.
The Machinery Control Room contains the remote control and monitoring equipment
necessary for the start-up, operation and shutdown of the propulsion machinery,
electrical plant and auxiliary machinery as required for various operational
states of the vessel, and by regulations for unmanned machinery spaces. The room
is acoustically enclosed and air conditioned.
A small Ship's Office for use by the Deck and Catering Departments is located on
the Weather Deck. The Engineering Office, located on the Tween Deck adjacent to
the entrance to the machinery spaces, also serves as the fire fighting station
for the vessel. Both offices have easy access to the port side passageway. A
well-equipped emergency compartment is located on the Weather Deck, with good
access to both the inside and the outside of the vessel.
Scientific, Laboratory and Deck Facilities
The main Scientific Laboratory is used as the scientific operations centre as
well as for the setting up of the instrumentation and recording equipment for
sea trials. Its area of 150 sq m includes a separate compartment for the Real
Time Computer installations. The laboratory is located on the Weather Deck,
together with an Environmental Equipment Maintenance Laboratory, an Acoustic
Equipment Maintenance Workshop, an Amplifier Room and a Divers' Shop. A Tactical
Coordinator's Office is located on the same Deck with surface and submarine
communication systems installed. A Forward Deck Laboratory and an Oceanographic
Winch Room are located further forward.
The primary Deck working area, located aft on the Weather Deck, is used for
handling towed arrays and other acoustic/oceanographic equipment astern and for
launching free floating and bottom-anchored sensor arrays. Special purpose
equipment in the area includes waterfall (2) towing winches, a U-frame, a towed
body winch and a Chum winch. In addition, two mooring capstans and two cranes
are provided, together with space for two containerized mobile laboratories.
The secondary working area, located forward on the Weather Deck, is used for
launching equipment over the port side while the vessel is stopped. Special
purpose equipment in the area includes an A-array frame, a data winch and a
large drum winch. A crane is also provided with space for one container. A large
passageway between the primary and secondary working area provides an extension
to both these working areas on the port side of the Weather Deck.
The helicopter transfer area on the Crew Deck is used to receive and transfer
equipment from a hovering helicopter for launching meteorological balloons and
for the stowage of two high-speed workboats. Provision is also made for locating
two containers on this Deck.
Other Facilities
A medical facility, located on the starboard side of the Tween Deck, consists of
a surgery and a two berth hospital. The single berth scientist cabin adjacent to
the surgery can be used as an isolation room, if required. There is also a
laundry on the port side of the Tween Deck.
Propulsion System
Electric Propulsion Plant
This is manufactured by AEG and comprises the following:
2 Main propulsion generators: a.c. 3-phase, 60 Hz, 660 V, 1800 kW each
1 Auxiliary propulsion generator: a.c. 3-phase, 60 Hz, 440/260 V, 967/400 kW
2 Propulsion motors: d.c. 750 V, 1470 kW, 130/160 rpm each
1 Main propulsion switchboard
2 Thyristor (SCR) panels
2 Auxiliary control panels
The electric propulsion system is completely independent of the other electrical
systems but also powers the bow thruster. It operates at 660 V when the main
propulsion generators are used, and at 440/260 V with the auxiliary propulsion
unit. Changeover from 660-440/260 V occurs automatically on connection of the
auxiliary propulsion unit, but selection of 440 or 260 V is manual. The control
systems are designed to ensure that the auxiliary systems are always supplied
with the correct voltage.
The system gives complete four quadrant control on the d.c. motors, using fully
controlled, three-phase current rectifier units on both the motor fields and
armatures. The motors can be operated and controlled from the Machinery Control
Room, Bridge or Secondary Control Station.
Generators
The AEG Type DKBL 634/06, 1799 kW, 60 Hz, main propulsion generators are
self-excited, brushless, a.c. synchronous machines operating at 1200 rpm. They
have IP 44 enclosures with a top mounted, double tube, sea water cooler and are
constructed for continuous full power operation at 0.7 power factor. Each
generator is driven by a Grande Motori Trieste diesel engine. These generators
are used to power the propulsion system in States 4D and 4E.
The AEG Type DKBH 4504/04 auxiliary propulsion generator is dual-rated at 1300
kVA, 0.75 pf for 440 V and 680 kVA, 0.6 pf for 260 V. It is a self-excited,
self-ventilated, brushless, a.c. synchronous machine operating at 1800 rpm. It
has an IP 23 enclosure and is driven in tandem with the silent ship services
generator by a Kongsberg gas turbine. The generator is used at the higher
voltage for States 4B and 4C and at the lower voltage for States 3 and 4A.
Propulsion Motors
The propulsion motors are AEG Type GC 312/128/8 KZ 90/24, low ambient noise, low
vibration machines developing 1470 kW and requiring 2150 A at 750 V d.c. at full
power. They have separate field windings fitted with discharge protective
devices and are designed for fully reversable operation from static regulators.
The motors have IP 44 enclosures and top mounted, double tube, air/seawater
coolers. Each motor has two flanged fitted friction bearings and is resiliently
mounted and coupled to the propeller shaft. The motors are designed for full
100% torque operation from 0-130 rpm and for 100% power operation using field
weakening from 130-160 rpm.
Ship Service and Scientific Electrical Systems
General
The electrical systems and equipment have been designed and installed in
accordance with RINA, ABS and IEC 95 requirements. Grounding in accordance with
MIL STD 1310 D and VDE 0875-0877 has been used to reduce the probability of
electromagnetic interference. All equipment has been selected and installed for
minumum electromagnetic radiation and radiated ambient noise levels.
System Design
The electrical system has been designed to provide power only to those items
designated for use in the particular noise operating state. The power available
also changes with the operating state. For States 4D and 4E, three 440 V, 60 Hz,
450kW diesel generators are used. For States 2, 3, 4A,B and C, one 440 V, 60 Hz,
600 kW generator can be used. For State 1, only the 1050 Ah, 220 V d.c. battery
bank is available.
Highly stable electrical power for the scientific laboratories and services is
provided by three AEG solid state 62.5kVA inverter units, supplied from the 1050
Ah battery bank. This power is distributed at 120/208 V and 220/380 V from the
scientific services distribution switchboard using 50 kVA transformers.
Deck Handling Equipment
Leading particulars of the Deck equipment available for scientific use is
described below:
Towing Winch
The winch comprises two separate drums mounted in a `waterfall' arrangement.
Drum capacity (each): 3000 m of 50 mm cable and 600 m of 90 mm diameter towed
array
Drum diameter: 2000 mm
Winch pull: 15 t for each drum reeling in on an intermediate layer
Winch first step speed: continuously variable from 0-0.5 m/s at maximum pull
Winch second step speed: from 0-1 m/s at 50% maximum pull or less
Towed Body Winch
Direct pull: 5 t
Speed: 0-60 m/min (5 t); 0-120 m/min (2.5 t)
Static pull: 1 t
`U' Frame
The U-frame fitted at the stern is hinged so that it operates over the transom
on the centre-line under the control of hydraulic rams. The frame is 6 m high
above the working area and has a width of 6.5 m between the uprights of the
frame. The upper horizontal bar is extended outboard each side to cover the full
width of the stern. The movement of the U-frame allows equipment to be handled
from a position 4 m forward of the transom to an outboard position with the
U-frame at an angle of 45 deg to the vertical.
Load capacity: 10 t with a snap load not exceeding 50 t
Width between uprights: 6.5 m
Height: 6 m
Maximum outreach: 45 deg from vertical
Chum Winch
The Centre-supplied Chum winch is fitted on the QuarterDeck on an `as required'
basis.
Maximum pull: 2.4 t (at 1 m/min)
Minimum pull: 1.2 t (at 30 m/min)
Working load: 0.8 t
Speed: 0-30 m/min
Drum capacity: 500 m of 18 mm diameter cable
A-Array Frame
The A-Array frame is mounted on the port side of the Well Deck. It is similar to
the U-frame except that it has a 3 m span at its upper horizontal bar which is
extended at the forward end to provide support for a large travelling sheave of
1.75 m diameter. The frame is hinged so that it can operate over the side of the
vessel under the control of two hydraulic rams.
Maximum vertical buckling load: 16 t
Maximum angle of handling outboard: 47 deg
Maximum angle of handling inboard: 5 deg
Data Winch
This winch is used in conjunction with the sheave mounted on the centre span of
the A-Array frame.
Direct pull: 16 t
Speed: 0-24 m/min (16 t); 0-60 m/min (8 t)
Large Drum Winch
This winch is used in conjunction with the sheave mounted on the forward
extension of the A-Array frame.
Direct pull: 3000 kg
Speed: 1.2-60 m/min
Ship Cranes
Two identical cranes form part of the original ship fit. One is located forward
on the Well Deck. The second is located on the starboard side of the Quarterdeck
aft. The major characteristics are listed below:
Maximum lifting power (SWL): 2 t
Lifting speed at the hook: 30 m/min
Extension of jib: 13 m (maximum); 2 m (minimum)
Height at maximum extension of jib: 5 m
Rotation under load: 360 deg
Centre-Supplied Crane
This crane, located on the port side of the Quarterdeck forward, has the major
characteristics given below.
Maximum SWL: 5 t
Lifting speed: 29-90 m/min with constant tension
Extension: 11 m (maximum); 3 m (minimum)
Workboats
Two of these are fitted for general experimental and logistics purposes.
Watercraft R6 rescue boat: 60 x 2.4 x 0.35 m
Hawker Siddeley P6 diesel engine: 73 BHP at 4000 rpm
Speed: 15 kn (light); 6 kn (loaded)
Capacity: 6 persons
Navigation and Communication Systems
Note: The Centre is currently (April 1994) in the process of issuing a
Competitive Tender for the upgrade of the entire Navigation System.
Precision Location and Navigation System (PLNS)
This computerized integrated navigation system calculates ship position using
one or more of the following navigation aids:
GPS Navstar satellite receiver
Dual channel transit satellite receiver
Single channel transit/omega receiver
Loran receiver
Decca navigator receiver
Doppler sonar log
Electromagnetic log
Anschutz standard 4 gyrocompass
The system can steer the vessel along predefined survey lines and from one line
to the next, under the automatic control of an auto-pilot. During an experiment,
with the navigation system in automatic survey line operation, steering can be
controlled by the PLNS computer from the Scientific Operations Centre, at which
time the computed position will be displayed on the Bridge. Adequate facilities
are provided to allow the Officer of the Watch to navigate independently of the
computer and to override the computer steering facility.
Radio Communication Systems
There are two independent systems for ship communications and for scientific
trials. The ship system, which uses radios complying with SOLAS rules, plus an
Inmarsat system, is under the direct and sole control of the Electronics
Officer. The scientific trials system provided for the trials team includes
facilities for
Communication during experiments, including extensive telemetry facilities,
plus voice communications in the HF, VHF, and UHF bands;
Communication with the Centre and other NATO authorities in respect of
support activities, including voice, teletype and telemetry.
Information Management System (IMS)
This computer system, provided for data gathering, logging and distribution
purposes, uses hardware components similar to the navigation computer. Data are
automatically gathered over electronic interfaces from a number of systems
including the navigation computer and its eight navaids, the towing winch, the
engineering alarm and monitoring system, the radio communication system, and the
watertight door system.