APPENDIX B 

 VESSEL CHARACTERISTICS 



DRV ALVIN 



ALVIN, a deep-diving occanographic research submersible owned by the Office of Na- 

 val Research, was built by the Applied Sciences Division of Litton Industries (formerly the 

 Electronics Division of General Mills, Inc.). The Naval Ship Systems Command assisted in 

 the preparation of performance specifications for its design and construction. 



ALVIN was placed in service on 5 June 1964 at the Woods Hole Occanographic Institu- 

 tion. The vehicle is 23 feet long, has an 8-foot beam, displaces 16 tons, and has a draft of 7 

 feet in "surfaced" condition. She is designed to have a top speed of 3 knots, a cruising speed 

 of 1.5 knots, and a submerged range of 10 to 15 miles. Her design operating depth is 6,000 

 feet with a safety factor of more than 2.6. The 7-foot-diameter pressure sphere is made of 

 high-strength steel, 1.33 inches thick. There is room in the pressure sphere for a pilot and 

 two observers, together with instrumentation and life-support equipment which will provide 

 an endurance of 24 hours or more. Four viewing ports permit the pilot and observer to see 

 ahead of and beneath the vehicle. The power for the vehicle comes from three banks of lead- 

 acid batteries located in packages, which may be dropped in an emergency. 



Additional facts include: 



Total battery capacity: 60VDC, 27Kwh; 30VDC, 13.5Kwh 



Maneuverability: Superior control of vertical and longitudinal, pitch and 

 yaw motions. 



Normal Instrumentation: 

 Closed circuit TV 



Two 35-mm outside cameras, with strobe 

 Scanning sonar 



Fathometer (without graphic recorder) 

 Depth and temperature instrumentation 

 Outside incandescent lights 

 Gyro 



Magnetic compass 

 Underwater telephone 



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