For years there has been a rumor that the US Navy has a secretive submarine base where they test submarines at a land-locked lake in Idaho. Is this true? Yes, sort of.
There is a US Naval Base in Idaho. It's way up North.
Below is a zoom-in of the Idaho panhandle. There are three large lakes in the panhandle. These lakes from North to South, are Priest Lake, Pend Oreille (Pronounced "Pon der ay"), and Lake Coeur d'Alene (Pronounced "Core duh lane").
The large middle lake, Pend Oreille, is one we are interested in.
At the Southern end of Lake Pend Orielle is the town of Bayview, Idaho.
Bayview hosts a US Naval base, Naval Sea Systems Command, Acoustic Research Department. It's not a very large base.
I'm just going to Block Quote the text from their web page and paste it here.
The NSWCCD Acoustic Research Detachment (ARD) is located on Lake Pend Oreille, which is Idaho’s largest, deepest (1,150 feet), and quietest body of water providing an ideal environment for acoustic testing without the attendant problems and costs of open ocean operations. The ARD operates and supports unique Large Scale Submarine Models, Test Ranges, and acoustic test facilities utilized in conducting Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) of submarine acoustic stealth technology. These state-of-the-art facilities support a wide variety of research and technology development programs ranging from submarine propulsor development to the calibration of full-scale acoustic transducers. Detachment personnel supporting the experiments form a highly capable and versatile workforce providing ARD customers a timely and quality outcome. They work closely with project scientists, engineers and technicians throughout the Carderock Division and other Navy and private organizations, to plan and conduct operations and experiments on the lake.So there you go. They perform submarine flow, performance, and noise research using large model submarines. Now for a couple more pictures. The submarine models are officially called "Large Scale Vehicles" (LSV) and are named after local fish species.
The results obtained during past experiments have been extremely valuable to the Navy, especially in the area of submarine propulsor design, sonar dome development, submarine construction cost avoidance, and the development of several critical submarine design features. Future plans include critical support of current and future Navy submarine design in the area of structural acoustics, hydroacoustics, propulsor development, target strength reduction, and related experiments using the unique capabilities of the ARD. The Large Scale Vehicle-2 (LSV-2), a large model of the VIRGINIA Class submarine, is being used extensively in the area of propulsor research. Large scale buoyant submarine models support testing in the area of submarine structural acoustic and hydroacoustic technology. Target strength testing is conducted using the Intermediate Scale Measurement System (ISMS), which provides a unique acoustic test capability unsurpassed by any other available facility.The site's technical programs typically support analytical efforts of the NSWCCD and contribute directly to the development of advanced submarine designs. These programs support the Fleet, Navy systems commands, and other defense agencies. The ARD also support private industry and research efforts of academia and our allies.
Below: Years ago, a small-scale test model was used to performance and sound test the USS Sturgeon (SSN-637) class submarines. Note the fairwater planes on the sail. Definitely a model of an older ship.
Below, Kokanee LSV-1. Kokanee is a 1/4 scale mock-up of USS Seawolf (SSN-21). It is a battery-powered unmanned submarine. It's about 90 ft long and weighs in at 150 tons.
Below, Cutthroat, LSV-2. Cutthroat is a 1/4 scale model of the USS Viginia (SSN-774). Another battery-powered unmanned submarine, Cutthroat is 111 ft long and weighs in at 205 tons.
A shot of Cutthroat as she was being transferred into the water.
The Navy has a floating platform in the middle of the bay, which is probably used in conjunction with the testing. I would assume it provides for telemetry and to gather noise signatures.
I don't live too far away from this place.
Below: A close-up of the platform. Looks Navy-ish to me, especially with the big gantry cranes. It never moves.
These vessels may not be not manned, but they are equipped with a lot of instrumentation. This thing is definitely a research platform - look at all those sensor wires!!! Cool stuff!
Over the years, I've heard many wild rumors about this submarine base. Among them:
- Submarines - (like full-size warships) operate in the lake.
- Submarines navigate submerged all the way up from the Pacific Ocean like salmon to reach the base. We already know how that would turn out if it were attempted.
- There are sunken submarines in Lake Pend Oreille. Possible. They may have lost a model ship or two. Not a disaster.
There is also a test platform for the Zumwalt class destroyer, the Advanced Electric Ship Demonstrator (AESD). This has been used to test pump propulsion systems and the unusual hydrodynamic shape of the hull. Surface ships need to be quiet as well.
An interesting facility.
1 comment:
A bunch of years ago my granddad told me about what he called Farragut Naval Base (now Farragut State Park (I think)). He also spent part of his basic training there, and told me there were submarines in the lake, even back in WWII. I visited the park some time after meeting my wife but can't remember what year. Inside the park station (could be ranger station) they had a bunch of pictures from the basic training classes. When I can arrange to come up to visit I hope to go back there and see if I can find his picture. Good write-up and pictures. Thank you.
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