After the sinking of the USS Thresher in 1963, it was
realized that submarines traveled much deeper than any of the potential
rescue platforms could possibly reach. In 1964, the project to build
Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs) was born, and the first
DSRV was launched in 1970. Today, two DSRVs, Mystic (DSRV-1)
and Avalon (DSRV-2), are available to assist submarines
in need. They can be deployed at a moment's notice and can be carried
by sea, air or land to reach the site. Once onsite, the DSRV uses
sonar to find the wreck, attaches to the sub's hatch and can carry
up to 24 crew, in addition to the DSRV crew of two pilots and two
rescue personnel. The DSRVs are 49 feet long, displace 38 tons,
can travel at speeds of 4 knots and dive up to 5,000 feet.
Check
out a test of DSRV from Navy/Marine Corps News!
Contact:
CyberScientist@onr.navy.mil