#83) Latest News from Mark Derksen at Manassas

Following is an interesting report from Mark Derksen, Senior Staff Systems Engineer, on what's been happening recently in Manassas, VA. Mark's last report was published on April 13, 2011 (See Blog Post #23 - Click Here). Note, at the end of his e-mail below, Mark has included a link to a 17 minute Royal Canadian Navy video featuring an HMCS Victoria Class Submarine with Librascope's FCS installed.

Hi Carl,

There are still a few of the “remnant of Librascope” left here in Manassas. They still count our years of service based on our hire date at Librascope. Grant Corcoran retired at the end of last year. Those that are left (that I can think of anyway) are:

Kevin Kofler
Brent Derksen
Scott Maurer
Nick Thomas
Steve Mitchell
Mark Derksen

Based on age, my brother Brent will likely be the “last man standing” from Librascope.

As far as the Librascope legacy CBRN (formerly NBC) business area goes, at the end of last year we delivered 19 “Able Sentry” systems (a derivative of the original BAWS system) to Japan consisting of 190 Remote Sensors and 19 Base Stations. This makes a total of 46 BAWS-type systems delivered to Japan since 2006 under 8 separate contracts. There is now talk of back fitting the earlier systems to be the same as the latest systems.

Regarding the Librascope legacy International Submarine area, we delivered new Combat Systems (Weapons and Sonar) to Brazil for their German 209 submarines and successfully fired U.S. built torpedoes on two separate exercises. We also delivered systems (Weapons and Sonar) to the Spanish Navy for their new S80 class submarines. I was the lead SE for the Weapons portion and they are shooting a German built torpedo. I had a great time traveling to Spain, Germany and UK on this program. We also continue to supply the Canadian Navy with updated systems for their Victoria class submarines and recently had a successful warshot firing in Hawaii.

Mark

PS Below is a link to a video produced by the Canadian government regarding the SINKEX exercise as part of RIMPAC12 in Hawaii. The focus is on the Victoria class submarine with our Fire Control System installed. In the video you can see our consoles and displays with the screens fuzzed out. Some may recognize the TMA screens that utilize Harold Klein’s algorithms. Starting at about 13:31 into the video you will be able to see my brother, Brent, standing behind the weapons operators with a clipboard. Feel free to post this video link since it is in the public domain mostly as PR to the Canadian public.

http://vimeo.com/54048119

#23) News from Mark Derksen at Manassas

The other day, I received the following e-Mail from Mark Derksen at Manassas. As you can see, he has been busy working on some important and interesting programs.

Hello Carl,

I guess the few of us remaining here could be considered the “remnant of Librascope” because technically we are still the same company in a new location.  I think there are probably 10 – 12 of us still here.  Things are going well and I’m keeping busy.

I have been working International Submarines since 2006 and am the Weapons SME (Subject Matter Expert).  My main focus has been the Spanish S80 submarine and I have also been working the Brazil 209 upgrade that is now undergoing sea acceptance tests.  The S80 is still a couple of years from being launched.  I am also just now starting a weapons upgrade to the Walrus class submarine for the Royal Netherlands Navy.

I originally came here as the SME of the NBC (now called CBRN) programs and successfully completed the MICAD program in early 2001.  Subsequent to that the BAWS program gained new life internationally and I supported systems for the Czech Republic, Germany, Canada, and the largest by far, Japan.  I spent a fair amount of time in Japan training the Japanese soldiers.  I transferred back to International submarines when S80 started because of my previous weapons experience on U.S. submarines and the Australian submarine.

I hope you’re enjoying your retirement and are doing all the things you wanted to do before you retired.

Later,

Mark