OPENING REMARKS 



Capt. C.T. Froscher 

 United States Office of Naval Research Branch Office 

 V 1 London, England - ..,- . . „ 



It is my pleasant duty to represent Admiral Owen, the Chief of Naval Research, 

 at this opening ceremony of the Seventh Symposium on Naval Hydrodynamics. 

 These symposia, sponsored primarily by ONR, have been one way for ONR to 

 fulfill its mission: ensuring maximum contributions of basic science to naval 

 effectiveness. 



I believe it particularly appropriate to note the new and increasing scope of 

 hydrodynamics. Hydrodynamics is today truly a dynamic field of science and 

 technology. Not too many years ago the naval architect could feel relatively 

 secure working in a realm that had changed little for decades. His world went 

 from a few meters above the surface to a few decameters below and to a speed 

 that seldom exceeded 40 knots. Today, through renewed basic research, you are 

 finding much that is new, even in that realm. 



At the same time a revolution in marine vehicles is taking place. They run 

 deeper and hover higher. They go faster arid in some applications (such as data 

 gathering platforms like FLIP) require better stability at rest. Their dynamics 

 below, on, and above the water's surface today involve scientific disciplines not 

 traditionally associated with marine applications. It is therefore most appro- 

 priate that two of your sessions at this symposium will be devoted to unconven- 

 tional propulsion. Yes, hydrodynamics is on the move; and in a very real sense 

 previous meetings in thds series have led the way. 



The first symposium, held in Washington in 1956, was devoted to general 

 surveys of various fields, covering critical reviews of the state of the art, and 

 interpretation of results for design applications. Even then, however, emphasis 

 was on ideas for new research in order to stiumlate increased interest in hydro- 

 dynamics, particularly in the United States. The future international character 

 of these gatherings was forecast in this first symposium, it being notable for 

 reviews on hydrodynamics by Professor Milne-Thomson of the Royal Naval Col- 

 lege, England, and on the contribution of ship theory to the seaworthiness problem 

 by Professor Weinblum of the University of Hamburg. 



Subsequent symposia, held at 2-year intervals, have each had atheme selected 

 either to stimulate important and needed research or to disseminate the results 



