Diving Simulator
Italian Navy Submarines School

The diving training simulator, installed over the Submarine School, provides training and simulation of the following main plants:

• steering, diving, surfacing and submerged control, including casualty and emergency operations; trim, ballast, hydraulic and air mainfold;
• normal emergency and manual operation of the ship control system;
• effect on the ship performance by changing environment (depth, sea state, trim angle, speed).

The acquisition of a diving simulator for training purpose was dictate by the fact that a simulator is:

• available to be used whenever you need it, without engaging a real submarine in training activity;
• fit to simulate normal/abnormal and emergency condition training. Normally on a real submarine you don't practice (for safety reason) critical situation (such as flooding, control jamming or loss of propulsion) wich are too hazardous for a demonstration under actual operating conditions;
• much cheaper than a sea-bound submarine.

The training can be addressed either to single crew members or to platform team. It is performed by physical feel and visual indication and make crew fully familiar with operating procedures under a wide variety of conditions.

The simulator is essentially made by an oscillating module which provides a realistic response to helmsman and trim ballast control operations. It is configured as a submarine control room and is mounted on a hydraulically powered motion system. The module is coupled to a central computer through an electronic interface; this computer simulates the performance of the submarine. Trainees experience movement of the platform in response to changing plane angles and ballast conditions. The main components of the diving simulator are:

• two axes motion system
• crew station (module)
• instructor console
• central computer for control and simulation

Italian Navy finds the use of the diving simulator worthfull, due to the fact that effective training on an operating submarine is particulary difficult because of following reasons:

• safety: trainees errors may be dangerous for the whole submarine; some errors can be absolutely final;
• cost: training session needs the operativity at sea of the submarine;
• effectiveness: training session cannot be easily selected, repeated or freezed for discussion; moreover, hazardous situations cannot be simulate on board.