F-9 



UFSS 

 (UNMMNED FREE-SWIMMING SUBMERSIBLE) 



Operating Depth: H57m (l,500 ft) 



Dimensions (LxWxH) : 6m x Im x Ira (20 ft x i+ ft x ^4 ft). 



Weight (Dry) : Information not available. '• 



Speed: 5 knots (9km/hr) 



Structure: A flooded, low drag pressure hull (volumetric coefficient 



of drag of .007 at operating speed) encloses all necessary pressure 



vessels. 



Power: Lead and batteries (l25nm range) and, subsequently, lithium 



thionyl chloride batteries (l,000nm range). A stern-mounted free propeller 



provides propulsion. Rudder and dive planes provide pitch/yaw control. 



Command/Control : An onboard microcomputer will be programmed to direct 



and guide the vehicle during its mission. Periodically it will surface 



to obtain OMEGA fixes. Acoustic tracking and telemetry will be used from 



the support ship to obtain data and to transmit override commands to the 



vehicle. 



Instrumentation : Not specified. The vehicle has a l.U cu m ( 50 cu ft ) 



payload capability to accommodate a variety of instriiments. 



Launch/Retrieval : Not specified. 



Status : Under construction. First at sea tests scheduled for July 1979. 

 Builder : U.S. Naval Research Laboratory 

 Washington, D.C. 



