Stewart and Poudrier 



Although still in the prototype testing stage, this system opens the 

 way to production of a series of modules having varying lifting 

 capacity under various conditions of use which can be kept in stock 

 for issue as required. Long shelf life can be obtained by careful 

 sealing of the hydride container, and is inherent in the sea water 

 battery-rupture disc actuator. Field personnel will need only select 

 the unit of proper capacity and attach it to be towed astern of their 

 instrument package. 



In addition to the application of these recovery systems to prevention 

 of instrument loss, they may have other useful applications in small 

 object recovery. Since they are neutrally buoyant, they could be 

 easily handled by a diver, by a small manned submersible, or CURV. 

 We believe that the equipment developed under this project can be of 

 very real value to the oceanographic office, and are implementing 

 their use as rapidly as possible. The total value to the field of 

 military oceanography is dependent upon the use that other activities 

 can make of them. We would like to encourage the exchange of informa- 

 tion on the subject of loss prevention, and will make available to 

 anyone interested the details of the work presented here. 



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