F-1 



EPAULARD 



Operating: Depth : 6,000m (19,685 ft) 



Dimensions (LxWxH) : km x 1.1m x 2m (13 ft x 3.6 ft x 7 ft) 



Weight (Dry) : 3t (3.3 tons). 



Speed: 1 and 2 knots (selectable) (2 and i+km/hr) 



Structure: Detailed information not available. Electrical components 



will be housed in a pressure-resistant body, syntactic foam will provide 



positive buoyancy. 



Power: Pressure-compensated, lead acid batteries providing 20KWH. A 



typical mission to 6,000m will last over a period of 12 hours and will 



entail: descent-l^g hours, traverse-8 hrs (at 2 knots), ascent-1^ hours, 



retrieve and refit for next dive-1 hr. 



Command/Control : An BOkg (1T6 lb) descent weight and ascent weight 



will be used to expedite vehicle travel time to and from the bottom. 



Propulsion along the bottom will be provided by a 3-blade propeller. A 



12m (UO ft) long, 80kg guide chain will be dragged on the bottom to 



control vehicle altitude. The vehicle's course will be pre-set prior to 



launch. Ascent/descent weights will be dropped by echo sounding information 



(acoustic command, internal timer or magnesium weak link will provide the 



same function in an emergency) . Tracking of the vehicle will be based 



on interrogation of a vehicle-mounted transponder which will also transmit 



depth information. Four command signals can be transmitted to the vehicle: 



heading (can be coded in 5 degree increments); speed (emergency forward, 



stop, reverse); weight drop, and photographic function. Vehicle will 



answer that it has received these commands. Vehicle will measure and 



relate to surface its: heading, depth, altitude and weight condition. 



Various alarms (sent in code) will automatically be transmitted to surface; 



these include flooding, position malfunction, sonar malfunction. When an 



obstacle is detected vehicle will automatically stop and reverse. 



System is designed to operate over low relief bottom. 



Instrumentation: 35mm still camera, strobe light, radio beacon (for 



surface) pressure/depth gage, transponder, echo sounder, obstacle avoidance 



sonar. 



Launch/Retrieval : Vehicle will release a buoy with 20m (65 ft) of 



attached line as it approaches the surface. Support ship will hook 



line for retrieval. 



Status : Under construction. Scheduled for sea trials in April 1979- 

 Builder: CNEXO 



Base Oceanologique de la Mediterrance 



La Seyne Sur Mer 



France 

 and 



Society EGA 



Meudon 



France 



