Fig. 3.15 ASHEPAH is christened to begin its lile as an undenwater archeologist tor the Univ d Pennsylvania (Gen Dyn Corp ) 



throughs in technology were required to 

 build a safe and satisfactory submersible. 



The Navy's interest in submersibles was 

 more than casual: It now owned three (TRI- 

 ESTE, ALVIN, DEEP JEEP) and was 

 launched into the multi-million dollar DSSP. 

 The DSSP was not the only likely candidate 

 for submersible services and sales. Proposals 

 were circulating amongst various govern- 

 ment activities outlining the need for at 

 least one and, in several cases, two submers- 

 ibles in Navy test ranges as workboats for 

 repair, salvage and other duties. In fact, 

 specifications were being prepared in 1965 

 for construction of two ALVIN-Mke submers- 

 ibles called AUTEC I and // for the Atlantic 

 Undersea Test and Evaluation Center, in the 

 Tongue of the Ocean, Bahamas. One of the 

 best recommendations one can forward in 

 replying to a government Request For Pro- 

 posals is a demonstrated capability. When 

 such RFP's began appearing it would, so the 

 thinking went, be a strong selling point to 



offer a submersible with a successful track 

 record as a demonstrated capability. 



Would the funds be forthcoming? By 1965 

 the Federal government had already in- 

 vested $26 billion in a dramatic, daring and 

 exciting space program; why not the sea? It 

 was equally dramatic, mysterious and excit- 



Rg. 3.16 Now a Canadian survey submersible, AUGUSTE PICCARD began its 



career carrying 32.000 people to the bottom of Lake Geneva in 1964 and 1965. 



(Swiss Expo ) 



49 



