Originally Posted by
Donkey497
For clarity [& speaking as someone used to the type of kit used for oil & gas surveys shown in the ramform pic]- I never meant the dumb [cable, towing wire etc.] part of the array but the active & semi-active parts like the connectors, sensor heads & other "interesting bits" that you could use to effect a field repair.
Ignoring the tow cable, and the connecting cable, the working part of the array is huge. It also does not like being bent round sharp corners, which is why the reel is large diameter. You might manage to lay it out round the upper deck, if you had a hundred or so spare sailors and were not worried about damaging it further.à
Even if you could hand the array you then have to get at a few hydrophones or whatever halfway down a drain pipe sized tube several hundred meters long , filled with special goo. After you are finished you need to refill the tube with goo ( no bubbles allowed) and reseal it so it stays watertight at great depth. All this is difficult enough in a factory, near impossible on a warship.
Finally you have to get your "mended" array back in the water without breaking it again. After that you can see if it now works.
The skipper of the T23 no doubt asked his WEO for options and then did the only practical thing and went home for a new array.
N