The USS Hawkbill {SSN—666) with Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle-1 

 on the surface after a successful underway hookup at a depth of 270 feet. 



submersibles. Submarine Development Group (SUBDEVGRU) One, which 

 operates Navy submersibles Trieste II, Sea Cliff, and Turtle, and extensive 

 saturated diving systems, is conducting an 18-month operational evaluation 

 of the vehicle. 



Originally built to operate at a maximum depth of 3,500 feet, DSRV-1 

 is being readied for certification to 5,000 feet as the result of model tests 

 and further research on spherical hull design which show that the deep- 

 depth limit can be achieved with no increase in structural weight. DSRV-2, 

 already certified for a 5,000-foot depth capability, commenced builder trials 

 at sea in 1971. It should be accepted by the Navy in April 1972 and 

 complete its operational evaluation late in 1973. SUBDEVGRU One will 

 ultimately operate both DSRVs from a Rescue Unit Home Port authorized 

 for construction at North Island, San Diego. 



Navy has concentrated much of its expertise in underwater construction 

 in an operational unit under the Facilities and Engineering Command 

 (NAVFAC) of the Naval Material Command. This new unit, as part 

 of the Chesapeake Division of NAVFAC, has undertaken a number of tasks 

 including, in 1971, the recovery, repair, emplantment, and cabling to shore 

 of much of the new NATO Azores Fixed Acoustic Range (AFAR) equip- 

 ment. Effort on AFAR also included extensive utilization of the deep-recovery 

 vehicle CURV III. The 24 separate dives made by CURV III in a 42-day 

 period amply demonstrated the reliability and maintainability of that system. 



During 1971, emphasis was placed on development of various advanced 

 components for a 20,000-foot remote unmanned work system and on sea- 

 floor construction tasks. For example, underwater "dry-make" and "wet- 



73 



