536 
bathymetric profiling was conducted. Little information on the Vega 
or her present operational status, equipment, or mission is available.®” 
Also in 1970, it was reported that yet another Soviet diesel naval 
submarine (unnamed) was being converted into a diver lockout ves- 
sel.33 In 1972, it was reported that this submarine could accommodate 
four divers in a special three-compartment pressurized section of the 
vessel. Another four divers could be accommodated elsewhere on 
the vessel as a backup crew. The divers in the pressurized section 
presumably could be deployed while the submarine was submerged 
down to depths of 100 meters or more using a _ helium-oxygen 
breathing mixture.** Curiously, since 1972 there have been no further 
reports of this submarine. Presumably it is attached to the Soviet 
Navy. It is apparently the only submersible vessel in the Soviet Union 
which can be used for diving activities. 
In addition to manned vehicles, the Soviet Union has also developed 
a few, small unmanned submersibles since 1967. These include the 
Krab-series of platforms constructed by the Institute of Oceanology 
and capable of being deployed by cable to depths down to 2,000 
meters. Other vehicles include the Manta series, used as test platforms 
for underwater control systems, Skorpena, iused for ocean layer stud- 
ies. All of these fairly rudimentary platforms, are cable controlled 
or tethered. Some are equipped with television, cameras, and manipu- 
lator systems for gathering small samples. The control system of the 
Manta series is somewhat unique in that the operator sits on a gim- 
balled seat in front of a television feedback monitor. The operator 
is therefore oriented in the same plane as the submersible to provide 
for more accurate control of the platform.**°’ This same remote- 
control concept has been used in the Soviet series of lunar probes 
which have involved the use of small robot vehicles (Lunokhod). 
More recently, it was announced that the Russians are building 
a new unmanned submersible, Kayman-II. This is a towed vehicle 
which is equipped with television to study the ocean floor, observe 
the behavior of fish, and to inspect fishing equipment.*® 
VEHICLES PLANNED OR UNDER DEVELOPMENT 
In addition to the undersea research vehicles discussed above, a 
substantial number of vehicles have been designed but never con- 
structed. A summary of the major characteristics and presumed status 
of these vehicles, as described by Boylan,*® is provided below in table 
eH 
32 Ibid. 
8 Yermolayev, V. Kransnaya Zvezda (U.S.S.R.). Aug. 19, 1970, p. 4. 
34 Chertkov, V. Pravda (U.S.S.R.). March 19, 1972, p. 6 
> Boylan, L. Underwater Activities in the Soviet Union. Op. cit. 
36 Snegov, S. Kazakhstanskaya Pravda (U.S.S.R.). Sept. 26, 1972, p. 4. 
*7 Unsigned. Soviets develop robot sea bottom vehicle. Undersea Technology, August 1972, 31:11. 
88 Unsigned. Ocean Science News. Nov. 14, 1975, p. 1. 
$9 Boylan, L. Underwater Activities in the Soviet Union. Op. cit. 
