NAVY CAPABILITIES IN OCEAN ENGINEERING 



Navy capabilities to perform undersea missions in search, rescue, sal- 

 vage and construction constitute a major part of ocean engineering. 

 The word capabilities as used here implies those existing and those in 

 development. 



UNDERSEA VEHICLES 



Undersea vehicles comprise the core of present Navy development effort 

 to provide the operating forces with undersea search, rescue, and salvage 

 capabilities. Undersea vehicles, manned and unmanned, are being con- 

 sidered for use in underwater construction. Undersea vehicles in this con- 

 text are noncombatant submersibles, including bathyscaphs, search vehi- 

 cles, rescue vehicles, and salvage/recovery vehicles. 



The ability of submersibles to make effective use of the sea depends on 

 such key operational characteristics as depth, mobility, speed, endurance, 

 sensors, tools, and payload. Man's accomplishments in understanding the 

 ocean's water and sea floor have been limited by vehicle mobihty and 

 sensing equipment. Man's accomphshments in working in the ocean have 

 been limited by vehicle mobility and work machinery. The manned sub- 

 mersibles currently in operation or under construction represent a number 

 of approaches for providing the capability to observe and work underwater. 



The Navy has been an extensive user of deep submersibles. This use 

 started in 1958 when the TRIESTE commenced operations for the Navy 

 at San Diego, California. TRIESTE and its successor, TRIESTE II, dem- 

 onstrated the capability and usefulness of undersea vehicles. TRIESTE II 

 is now operated by Commander Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet. In 1964 

 the Navy launched ALVIN, which is operated for the Navy by the Woods 

 Hole Oceanographic Institution. As the applications for these submersibles 

 have grown in number, the Navy has increased its participation in the 

 sponsorship of submersible design and construction. Navy requirements 

 in development of undersea search, rescue, and salvage have taken on 



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