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UC3 Nautilus

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UC3 Nautilus
UC3 Nautilus in early sea trials
History
NameUC3 Nautilus
Launched3 May 2008
FateAs of 12 August 2017, seized by the police
StatusConfiscated, awaiting destruction[1]
General characteristics
TypeMidget submarine
Tonnage40 GT
Length17.76 m (58 ft 3 in)
Beam2 m (6 ft 7 in)
Propulsion
Speed6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph)
Crew4–8

UC3 Nautilus is a privately built Danish midget submarine. It was built over a three-year period as an art project by Peter Madsen and a group of volunteers, and cost approximately US$200,000 to build (1.5 million DKK). The submarine was Madsen's third submarine design, and at the time of launch on 3 May 2008, was the largest privately built submarine in the world.[2][3]

On 11 August 2017, Nautilus sank in the bay of Køge, in what investigators determined was a deliberate act.[4][5] The following day, Danish police had the submarine salvaged and brought onto land as part of the investigation of the death of Swedish journalist Kim Wall, who was last seen alive on board.[6] As part of the conviction of Madsen for Wall's murder, the submarine was confiscated and it is awaiting destruction.[1]

Launch

On the day of its launch on 3 May 2008, UC3 Nautilus displaced only 32 tons and was still incomplete. It was named at a well-attended ceremony on the west side of Refshaleøen and towed to the floating installation art barge Illutron (formerly M/S Half Machine) in the Kongens Enghave, where further outfitting and installation of equipment took place over the next several months. By August 2008, Nautilus could sail on its own, as the main diesel engine drive train and steering was completed. On its maiden voyage, the submarine was driven by former crewmen of the now-defunct[7] Royal Danish Navy submarine division.[8] The objective was to sail Nautilus and evaluate her maneuverability, and the appraisal was favourable. In October 2008, Nautilus was submerged for the first time.[8]

Specifications

Nautilus can be crewed by up to eight people for surface operation and four when diving. The submarine moves at five to six knots, depending on conditions and whether it was submerged. It has two 1,500 litres (400 US gal) tanks for fresh water and fuel. Trim is carried out normally with an electric pump, or with compressed air as fall-back if the trim-pump fails. The main ballast tanks of 8,000 litres (2,100 US gal) are filled and emptied with compressed air and can flush up to 400 litres (110 US gal) of water in/out per second. It can descend to periscope depth in approximately 20 seconds.[8] The boat has a design crush depth of 400–500 m (1,300–1,600 ft), and has dived to about 100 m (330 ft).

There are 16 portholes (8 on each side, 2 oversized) for direct observation. The periscope has five video cameras, providing 360-degree panoramic vision on video screens in the forward control room. The engine room has two diesel engines, one of which is for direct propulsion. The other drives a three-phase electric generator providing power for the onboard air compressor and battery charger. There are more than a tonne of large 12-volt batteries on board, supplying the DC electric motor which can be operated alone or in tandem with the main engine on a chain-coupled drive for turning the 80 kilogram, five-bladed brass propeller. Joystick-controlled electric servos operate the rudder (aft) and hydroplanes (front).

Nautilus is much smaller than the Danish Kobben-class submarine. It is about half as long and half as wide, and moves at about half the speed. In early 2009, an automatic snorkel system was installed so that the submarine can sail submerged on diesel power, and in August it sailed out from Køge submerged.[8]

The submarine can be operated by a single person from the control room. All controls and indicators are accessible from the captain's seat for controlling buoyancy, pumps, engines, air pressure, communication, video, and other electric systems. However, as of July 2010, the engine crew still needed to perform manual changeover from surface to dive-ready configuration, setting valves correctly for snorkel and diesel engine exhaust. Nautilus can function on her diesel engine for up to eight minutes underwater without her snorkel. The engine requires a steady supply of air to operate, unlike the electric motor, and using it while submerged drops the air pressure to the equivalent of 3,000 m (9,800 ft) above sea level, as the engine ingests air from the crew compartment unless the snorkel is used.[8]

Missions

On a 2009 trip around Refshaleøen, Nautilus was visited by a group of submarine fans from Subsim. Video game developers from Ubisoft were also on board to find inspiration for their submarine game, Silent Hunter 5.[8]

Nautilus was used by her builders and various others for recreation and expeditions.[8] One such expedition was the attempted launch of the rocket and spacecraft HEAT 1X Tycho Brahe, built by Madsen's non-profit organization Copenhagen Suborbitals. On Tuesday 31 August 2010, the submarine pushed the launch platform Sputnik, carrying the craft from Copenhagen towards the launch site near Nexø, Bornholm.[9]

In January 2011, Nautilus returned to Refshaleøen to be taken on shore for upgrades, then expected to last several months.[10] On 28 April 2017, Nautilus was launched again following repairs and upgrades.[11]

Sinking in 2017

See also: Murder of Kim Wall and Peter Madsen § Sinking of UC3 Nautilus and murder of Kim Wall

On 11 August 2017, Nautilus was scheduled to sail from Copenhagen to appear in the afternoon at an exhibit on Bornholm, but Madsen sent a text notifying the crew that the trip had been cancelled.[12][13][14] Nautilus was reported missing early the following morning. Danish police visited a crew member to establish who was on board, and a large search operation was launched using helicopters and ships in the port of Øresund, just outside the harbour of Copenhagen.[15][13]

Nautilus left Refshaleøen around 19:00 with Madsen and Swedish journalist Kim Wall aboard.[16][17] At 11:00, it sank and Madsen was rescued by a private boat. Danish police charged him with murder, suspecting him of scuttling Nautilus to destroy evidence.[16][18][19][20] Madsen was convicted of Wall's murder in April 2018,[21] and the submarine was confiscated. It will be destroyed by authorities.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Efter livstid til Peter Madsen: Ubåden konfiskeres" [After life imprisonment to Peter Madsen: The submarine has been confiscated] (in Danish). Nordjyske Stiftstidende. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Verdens største privatbyggede ubåd søsættes i København ("The world's largest privately built submarine launched in Copenhagen")". Jyllandsposten (in Danish). Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  3. ^ "Klar til dykning ("Ready for diving")". Berlingske Tidende (in Danish). Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  4. ^ "Ubåden »UC3 Nautilus« er sunket: Passagererne er kommet i land og er i god behold". Berlingske (in Danish). Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Submarine in missing journalist case sunk on purpose, Danish police say". The_Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  6. ^ Nielsen, Anders Holm (12 August 2017). "Kranskib hæver sunket ubåd op til overfladen" [Crane ship brings sunken submarine back to the surface]. dr.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Tumleren Class Submarines (1989–2004)". Danish Naval History. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "Nyt om undervandsbåden Nautilus ("News about the submarine Nautilus")". Ingeniøren (in Danish). Archived from the original on 3 September 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Jensen, Mette Buck. Reaching Nexø Archived 3 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine Ing.dk (Danish), 1 September 2010. Retrieved: 1 September 2010.
  10. ^ "En sten fra mit hjerte – vi er hjemme igen". Ing.dk (in Danish). 20 January 2011. Archived from the original on 22 January 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ Vissing, Emilie Holt (12 August 2017). "Peter Madsen aflyste torsdag aften planlagt ubådstur over sms" [Peter Madsen texts cancellation of planned submarine trip Thursday evening]. jyllands-posten.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  13. ^ a b Fajstrup, Marianne (12 August 2017). "Drabssigtet ubådskaptajn sendte mystisk SMS til sin besætning" [Submarine captain charged with homicide sent mysterious text to his crew]. b.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Ven til drabssigtet ubådsejer: Der er intet suspekt ved SMS'er" [Friend of homicide charged submarine owner: Nothing suspicious about texts]. b.dk (in Danish). 12 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  15. ^ Forsvaret leder efter privat ubåd: Frygter den er sunket i Øresund DR.dk (Danish), 11 August 2017.
  16. ^ a b "Drabssigtelse i sag om ubåd" [Homicide charge in submarine case]. mynewsdesk.com (in Danish). 11 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  17. ^ "Danish submarine owner arrested over missing journalist". BBC. 12 August 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  18. ^ "Kim Wall: Danish submarine was 'deliberately sunk'". BBC News. 13 August 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  19. ^ "Svensk journalist forsvundet: Ubådsejer sigtet for drab" [Swedish journalist disappeared: Submarine owner charged with homicide]. ekstrabladet.dk (in Danish). 11 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  20. ^ Koerner, Claudia (12 August 2017). "Submarine Builder Arrested On Suspicion Of Killing Journalist After Vessel Sinks". buzzfeed.com. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  21. ^ Orange, Richard (25 April 2018). "Peter Madsen sentenced to life for murdering journalist Kim Wall". the Guardian. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
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