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Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle - DSRV



Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles perform rescue operations on submerged, disabled submarines of the U.S. Navy or foreign navies.

DSRV’s are designed for quick deployment in the event of a submarine accident. DSRV’s are transportable by truck, aircraft, ship, or by specially configured attack submarine. At the accident site, the DSRV works with either a “mother” ship or “mother” submarine. The DSRV dives, conducts a sonar search, and attaches to the disabled submarine’s hatch. DSRV’s can embark up to 24 personnel for transfer to the “mother” vessel.

 DSRV’s were developed as a result of the USS Thresher submarine accident in 1963, when all hands were lost. At the time, submarine operating depths greatly exceeded the capabilities of rescue vessels. The Deep Submergence Systems Project contracted with Lockheed Missiles and Space, Co. to produce a deep diving rescue submarine, the first of which was launched in 1970.

General characteristics
Builder Lockheed Missiles and Space, Co., Sunnyvale, Calif.
Powerplant Electric motors, silver/zinc batteries, one shaft, 15 shaft HP, four thrusters, 7.5 HP.
Length 49 ft 15 m
Beam 8 ft 2.4 m
Displacement 38 tons 34.5 metric tons
Speed 4 kts 7.4 km/h
Maximum depth 5,000 ft 1,524 m
Sonar Search and navigation
Ships Mystic (DSRV-1), Avalon (DSRV-2)
Crew Two pilots, two rescue personnel and the capacity for 24 passengers

Jirka Wagner

 

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