vehicle propulsion is supplied by three 10 Hp, 440 VAC, three-phase in- 

 duction motors. The hydraulically-operated actuators include pan-and- 

 tilt units on which are mounted the TV, 35 mm camera, strobe, and spot- 

 light; and a tool arm assembly with six motions in which a claw, hook, 

 grapnel, snare, scoop, or other tool can be used. 



A CURV system control cable assembly includes the power and in- 

 strumentation cable, a nylon support line, and cable floats. The portable 

 control van houses the control console and topside electronics. The con- 

 sole has TV, sonar, locator, compass, altimeter, and depthometer dis- 

 plays and vehicle controls. Support and handling equipment on-board the 

 support vessel includes a trainable over-the-side tracking hydrophone, 

 100 KVA generators, power conversion equipment, and handling gear such 

 as the articulating vehicle crane and support line winch. The support ves- 

 sel currently used for the CURV U system operations is the Navy Yard Tug 

 Medium (YTM)-759. 



A new support vessel has been developed for CURV III operations. 

 This vessel, the YFNX-30, is equipped with cycloidal propulsion units and 

 is larger and more seaworthy than the YTM-759 in order to meet the 

 harsher requirements of 7,000-foot operations. 



TYPICAL CURV III OPERATION 



The CURV IE system will utilize the same basic operational proced- 

 ures as CURV n when it becomes operational in FY 70. In typical opera- 

 tions CURV ni will be seeking to recover an object or perform work in the 

 vicinity of a cooperative target; i, e. , a target equipped with a pinger or 

 beacon. The YFNX-30 will hold position over the target. The CURV III 

 vehicle, which is approximately 10 poimds positively buoyant, will be 

 swvmg over the side using the crane and powered to the bottom. As the ve- 

 hicle descends, the cable will be payed out and the nylon support line tied 

 to it by hand. The first 1,000 feet of the cable will be made neutrally buoy- 

 ant with floats to enable vehicle maneuvering freedom. The vehicle's pas- 

 sive sonar will be used to home the vehicle in on a pinger-equipped target. 

 The support ship will be moved toward the target if the buoyed portion of 

 the cable is not long enough to reach the target area. 



During the final 300 feet of horizontal approach, the active sonar will 

 be used to determine the location, attitude, and configuration of the target. 

 At close range TV will be used to classify the target and conduct the work 

 task at hand. In the case of recovery this will involve maneuvering the 

 vehicle close to the target and attaching the claw or another tool. Then, 



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