Military Programs 



Undersea Search, Rescue, Recovery, and Man-in-the-Sea 



This program of advanced ocean technology is intended to improve 

 the Navy's deep ocean operational capability for rescue, search, salvage, 

 exploration, and diving operations. This need, first highlighted by the loss 

 of the Thresher in 1963, was required for search and salvage by the Navy 

 in 21 operations in 1967, primarily for aircraft. 



For FY 1969, $81.5 million are proposed primarily for the Deep Sub- 

 mergence Systems Project (DSSP), with specific mission requirements for: 

 - — submarine location, escape, and rescue; 

 — object location and small object recovery; 

 — ^large object salvage ; 

 — "man-in-the-sea" ; 



— the nuclear powered, deep-ocean research and engineering vehicle- 

 NR-1. 

 The Submarine Location, Escape, and Rescue Program will develop 

 the capability for : 



— ships to locate a submerged, disabled submarine ; 

 — personnel escape from disabled submarines at depths to 600 feet; 

 — rescue parties to extricate personnel from sunken submarines in any 

 weather, using Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRV), 

 small submarines, which can either be transported by air or car- 

 ried submerged on the deck of a "mother" submarine. 

 A contract for the first DSRV was let in FY 1966, and for the second 

 in FY 1968. The first unit is expected to become operational in 1970. The 

 long-range plan calls for world-wide capability with three rescue units 

 consisting of two DSRV's and one surface support ship (ASR). This full 

 rescue force, including modifications to the units of the submarine force, 

 is scheduled to be available by 1975. A contract for the first two Catamaran- 

 type ASR's was placed in August 1967, using shipbuilding funds from FY 

 1967 and 1968. (SeeFigure VII.l.) 



The Small Object Location and Recovery Project will enable the Navy 

 to locate and recover small objects at depths down to 20,000 feet 

 in conjunction with the overall salvage mission of the Navy. The Deep 

 Submergence Search Vehicles (DSSV), unmanned search and recovery 

 devices, and support ships will not be completed before 1974. Development 

 of advanced sensors and power plants, and design of the DSSV will com- 

 mence in 1968; programs leading to construction of the first DSSV will 

 commence in 1969. 



The Large Object Salvage System Project will provide a system capable 

 of recovering large objects, including intact submarine hulls, from depths 



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