Gas Safe Shelter Concept from Nowegian Company
11 September 2001 09:30
Following the terror attacks in New York on the September the 11th, 2001, Military Defence has suddenly become a hot topic in most countries. With chemical weapons a seemingly closer threat than ever before, a Norwegian container company has caught international military attention. Uniteam, a Norwegian Shelter Systems supplier, have developed a new shelter concept, revolutionizing military shelter systems, being gas, splinter and EMP protected.
The new specialized shelter, marketed under the brand Gas Safety Shelter Product® (GSSP®), have two main functions for military forces. GSSP functions as means of transporting equipment on its way to areas of conflict, and as fully functional and equipped facilities to accommodate operational and utility functions at the Deployed Operating Base (DOB).
A new era in protection
The shelters are equipped with NBC Filtration, Overpressure Aggregates and Air Condition System, as well as shielding against Electro Magnetic Pulse (EMP).
The set up of NATO’s Immediate Reaction Forces (IRF) was the driving force to develop the new system. The concept is developed in close cooperation with the operational users at Ørland Main Air Station and the Norwegian Air Force Material Command, and was first displayed at the NATO Fighter Air Meet-97. A prototype was earlier field tested during an exercise in Turkey.
Safety and strike power
The 20’ GSSP containers are connected together with gas safe rubber gaskets, which gives controlled ventilation by means of over pressure. Arriving at the DOB, the sidewalls are removed, and the containers connected together to form the required functional units. Command Posts, Hospitals, and other large units can easily be erected in a minimum of time at the DOB.
The Crew access to the facilities is through a Contamination Control Areas (CCA). For safe circulation within the base a 10’ GSSP Unit is utilised, enabling a fighter pilot to get all the way from the Squadron Ops to his aircraft during chemical/gas attacks.
Furnishing
The furnishing can be altered to meet the defined capability and the equipment stays in the containers during transit. Workshops, and maintenance hangars for fighter AC, are transported in the shelters.
The hangars are of lightweight constructions to withstand wind speeds of 60m pr. second, and are mounted on GSSP containers to form a hangar of 1200 m² (for two Fighters).
A lot of attention
Military personnel, especially within NATO, have noted the GSSP concept. For the first time the problems of gas proofing units in the field has been solved in a convenient and economical manner. At the same time the mobile container base can be transported by air, rail, sea and road and require very short mounting time at the DOB.
For military personnel it is an advantage to be able to train on operating in the mobile facilities at their home base, before deploying for real time action. Thus the concept allows the personnel to familiarise with the concept before deployment to achieve swift operational capabilities at the DOB.
UNITEAM ASA has been the entrepreneurs of the project and coordinated the planning and production of the container. Several Norwegian companies have been involved in the production, both within ventilation, kitchen, electricity and sanitary equipment, as well as the factories UNITEAM co-operate with in Slovenia and Poland, which have manufactured and assembled the containers.
For more information on this company:
Uniteam International - Military Shelters and Military Mobile Hospitals
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