Subs head far north for ICEX 2009 - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Subs head far north for ICEX 2009

Scores of sailors are headed to the frigid waters off the northern coast of Alaska for an exercise that will test undersea tactics in Arctic conditions.

Ice Exercise 2009 begins later this month and will last roughly two weeks, depending on ice conditions, according to Lt. j.g. Megan Issac, spokeswoman at Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, in Norfolk, Va.

“Everything is based on the stability of the ice,” she said.

The attack submarines that will participate are on the way. Helena left San Diego for northern waters Friday and Annapolis left Groton on Monday.

Before the submarines arrive, a temporary research camp of huts and tents is set up on the pack ice about 200 miles from the north coast of Alaska, near Prudhoe Bay. A tracking range is also set up. In addition to the two participating submarines, researchers from the University of Washington’s Applied Physics Laboratory and personnel from the Navy’s Arctic Submarine Laboratory will take part.

The most recent ICEX was held in 2007. The attack sub Alexandria and HMS Tireless of the British Royal Navy participated. Two British sailors died and one was injured aboard Tireless in an onboard explosion and fire during the exercise.

Although a British sub will not be on hand this year, Issac said several Royal Navy officers will be at the camp.

During the Cold War, U.S. submarines began operating frequently under polar ice. The first submarine to make a submerged transit across the top of the globe and reach the North Pole was Nautilus in 1958.

The polar region has been subject to increased attention lately because of the effects of climate change and potential international competition for natural resources.