BUTEC
Encyclopedia
BUTEC, the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre is a small range used to evaluate the sensors and aural emissions of British submarine
s. It is operated on behalf of the Royal Navy
and the Ministry of Defence
by QinetiQ
. During the 1970s the range was used to test torpedo
es and other equipment designed for submarine operational use.
BUTEC is located in Inner Sound
between the island of Raasay
and the Applecross
peninsula
on the west coast of the Scottish
mainland. The range consists of a noise range to the east of the isle of South Rona
, and a torpedo testing range located in the centre of the Inner Sound between the isle of Raasay
and Applecross on the mainland. The noise range is about a mile long and divided into blocks 50 yards wide (A-Z) within which is a large array of sensors. A submarine is expected to move through the middle of the range (blocks M or N) repeatedly as the shore-based scientific team on Rona analyse the sound of the submarine. If the boat does not achieve its expected aural signature, it is not permitted to start active patrols.
The main logistics/administrative centre (Shore Support Base) is located at Kyle of Lochalsh
and there are outlying installations on the island of Rona
for the noise range and a Range Terminal Building near Applecross.
The torpedo testing range is covered by a Statutory Instrument which bans any underwater activity by fishermen within the range area and trawling activities are also banned within the whole of the Inner Sound area.
Upcoming range activities are published in the local newspaper West Highland Free Press
. When firings are taking place, safety vessels are places around the range area. Firings are done by submarines, helicopters, aircraft and boats. The torpedoes are equipped with acoustic tracking and measuring equipment in place of warheads. Other trials are carried out here including the use of sonars and exercises by Minehunters.
There was controversy when a high-powered sonar
device was tested on the range in 2002, which had been blamed for the deaths of whales and dolphins
and that had been banned in the USA.
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s. It is operated on behalf of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
by QinetiQ
QinetiQ
Qinetiq is a British global defence technology company, formed from the greater part of the former UK government agency, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency , when it was split up in June 2001...
. During the 1970s the range was used to test torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
es and other equipment designed for submarine operational use.
BUTEC is located in Inner Sound
Inner Sound, Scotland
The Inner Sound is a strait separating the Inner Hebridean islands of Skye, Raasay and South Rona from the Applecross peninsula on the Scottish mainland....
between the island of Raasay
Raasay
Raasay is an island between the Isle of Skye and the mainland of Scotland. It is separated from Skye by the Sound of Raasay and from Applecross by the Inner Sound. It is most famous for being the birthplace of the poet Sorley MacLean, an important figure in the Scottish literary renaissance...
and the Applecross
Applecross
The Applecross peninsula is a peninsula in Wester Ross, Highland, on the west coast of Scotland. The name Applecross is at least 1300 years old and is not used locally to refer to the 19th century village with the pub and post office, lying on the small Applecross Bay, facing the Inner Sound, on...
peninsula
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
on the west coast of the Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
mainland. The range consists of a noise range to the east of the isle of South Rona
South Rona
Rona , sometimes called South Rona to distinguish it from North Rona, is a small island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, north of Raasay and northeast of Skye. It has a total area of .-Geography and geology:...
, and a torpedo testing range located in the centre of the Inner Sound between the isle of Raasay
Raasay
Raasay is an island between the Isle of Skye and the mainland of Scotland. It is separated from Skye by the Sound of Raasay and from Applecross by the Inner Sound. It is most famous for being the birthplace of the poet Sorley MacLean, an important figure in the Scottish literary renaissance...
and Applecross on the mainland. The noise range is about a mile long and divided into blocks 50 yards wide (A-Z) within which is a large array of sensors. A submarine is expected to move through the middle of the range (blocks M or N) repeatedly as the shore-based scientific team on Rona analyse the sound of the submarine. If the boat does not achieve its expected aural signature, it is not permitted to start active patrols.
The main logistics/administrative centre (Shore Support Base) is located at Kyle of Lochalsh
Kyle of Lochalsh
Kyle of Lochalsh is a village on the northwest coast of Scotland, 63 miles west of Inverness. It is located at the entrance to Loch Alsh, opposite the village of Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye...
and there are outlying installations on the island of Rona
South Rona
Rona , sometimes called South Rona to distinguish it from North Rona, is a small island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, north of Raasay and northeast of Skye. It has a total area of .-Geography and geology:...
for the noise range and a Range Terminal Building near Applecross.
The torpedo testing range is covered by a Statutory Instrument which bans any underwater activity by fishermen within the range area and trawling activities are also banned within the whole of the Inner Sound area.
Upcoming range activities are published in the local newspaper West Highland Free Press
West Highland Free Press
The West Highland Free Press was founded in the Scottish Highlands in 1972 as a left-wing weekly newspaper, but with the principal objective of providing its immediate circulation area with the service which a local paper is expected to provide...
. When firings are taking place, safety vessels are places around the range area. Firings are done by submarines, helicopters, aircraft and boats. The torpedoes are equipped with acoustic tracking and measuring equipment in place of warheads. Other trials are carried out here including the use of sonars and exercises by Minehunters.
There was controversy when a high-powered sonar
Sonar
Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...
device was tested on the range in 2002, which had been blamed for the deaths of whales and dolphins
Cetacea
The order Cetacea includes the marine mammals commonly known as whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Cetus is Latin and is used in biological names to mean "whale"; its original meaning, "large sea animal", was more general. It comes from Ancient Greek , meaning "whale" or "any huge fish or sea...
and that had been banned in the USA.
External links
- QinetiQ BUTEC Range Operations