91 



One of the major tasks within this category involves the location, identifica- 

 tion, and, if feasible, the neutralization of underwater ordnance. In Section 

 2.1 a brief description ot the PAP-104's capability to locate, identify, and 

 neutralize explosive ordnance was given. Over 128 of these vehicles have 

 been constructed and delivered to various NATO Navies. Initial detection of 

 underwater ordnance relies upon surface techniques; the ROV is dispatched 

 after surface detection has found a potential target. 



The U.S. Navy (Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego) has embarked on the 

 development of a mine neutralization vehicle (MNv) of its own design. The 

 prototype vehicle (Advanced Development Model) was constructed by NOSC and 

 is intended to be deployed from a minesweeper. The MNV will be used to classify 

 and neutralize sea mines previously detected by sonar. A high resolution 

 scanning sonar and TV system will allow relocation and classification of the 

 target mine. The umbilical cable is automatically stored, played out and 

 reeled-in by the handling system as the situation requires, power for the 

 vehicle is from the surface ship. In April 1978 a contract was awarded to 

 Honeywell Marine Systems Center and Hydro Products to develop two engineering 

 development models of the MNV. Further details of the vehicle are not available 

 owing to military classification. 



3.2.4 Retrieval 



Probably the most frequent tasks military vehicles conduct is within this 

 category. The objects retrieved include drill bits, torpedos, bombs, ships 

 and manned submersibles. In virtually all instances the vehicles are used 

 to attach lift lines from a surface ship to the object since they do not 

 have the grasping capability nor the lift capability required to bring the 

 object to the surface. Some examples of the scope of work conducted by the 

 U.S. Navy's CURV vehicles are given below to indicate the nature and scope 

 of retrieval tasks. 



3. 2. 4. a Explosive Ordnance 



In early 1956 an H-bomb was lost in the sea off Spain when two U.S. Air Force 

 aircraft collided. The bomb was located by a manned submersible in 869m 

 (2,850 ft) of water. Owing to the danger of entanglement within the shroudlines 

 of a parachute attached to the bomb, the Navy's CURV I - instead of a manned 

 vehicle - was dispatched to attach lift lines. Two lift lines were successfully 

 attached, on the third attachment dive CURV became entangled and it was necessary 

 to retrieve both it and the bomb concurrently. 



While CURV's H-bomb retrieval was undoubtedly the most dramatic of ordnance 

 retrievals, the bulk of its work has been the more mundane task of retrieving 

 torpedos in Navy test ranges. Since the first operational days in the mid-sixties, 

 the CURV vehicles have retrieved hundreds of torpedos from a variety of shallow 

 and deep depths. In such retirevals the vehicle "homes" on an acoustic pinger 

 in the torpedo and once the torpedo is visible on TV, attaches a lift device 

 from the surface. This work continues to be the bulk of the U.S. Navy's ROV 

 employment. 



