The total number of blocks lifted onto the ship structure now stands at
22 with Block 417 lifted into place earlier this month. Block 417 will
eventually carry the MK 45 Mod 4 5 inch 62 calibre gun, the gun magazine
and ammunition. In the coming month another four key blocks are expected
to be lifted onto the ship structure, this includes Block 503, the stern
of the ship, Block 709 that will hold the Aegis SPY radar array faces,
the mast and Block 601, the bow of the ship. |
|
Hull mounted sonar
The three-tonne hull mounted sonar (HMS) array for Hobart was
delivered in Adelaide this week after passing a listening exercise, designed
to prove the transducers are functioning properly. A transducer is a device
that converts electrical energy to acoustic energy and vice versa.
When Hobart is operational, the hull-mounted sonar will work in close
conjunction with the towed variable-depth sonar as part of the ships’
integrated sonar system to provide a comprehensive picture of the underwater
environment.
The HMS sonar array is now a finished product ready for delivery after
a team effort by Australian, UK and US suppliers. The HMS array was tested
at the Broens facility in South Australia. The array frame was populated
with transducers from Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems in the United States
before being attached to the array mount provided by Tods Defence in the
UK which provides the interface to the ship.
The array will be installed at the bow of the ship and will be protected
through life by the Sonar Dome.
Major ship systems energised
The Main Reduction Gearbox for Hobart was made live recently
following collaborative work between the Production, Test and Activation,
Engineering and Fabrication sub-contracts teams, as well as specialist
machining contractor Furminite.
This enabled gearbox rotation for the machining activity and represents
one of the first major ship systems to be energised.
|
