3. MOBILE UNDERSEA SUPPORT LABORATORY 
The hostile interaction of the ocean surface with the air is the major limiting factor to effective ocean 
support activities. A specially configured nuclear submersible vehicle capable of operating in the 
1,000-foot depth range will be of great value in eliminating this difficulty for a wide variety of underseas 
tasks. 
The Mobile Undersea Support Laboratory will possess long endurance and a high degree of mobility 
and maneuverability necessary for support and work missions. As a submerged support ship, it can 
carry submersibles to mate with Fixed and Portable Continental Shelf Laboratories, seamount 
stations, and other deeper ocean habitations for the purposes of effecting routine logistics, crew 
rotation, and emergency support. A broad suit of operational instrumentation, manipulators, lights, and 
observation ports, plus a diver lock-out capability will permit observing fish population densities, 
resource exploration and development, salvage tasks, and insurance investigations. 
Much beneficial technology from the construction of this submersible will be applicable to possible 
future naval and commercial undersea capabilities. It will serve as an ideal test bed for instrumentation 
and equipment development. 
NATIONAL PROJECT 
3. Mobile Undersea Support Laboratory 
Fundamental Technology Subsystem and Component Development 
Survey equipments Fish population surveys in selected areas 
Navigation Mineral surveys in selected areas 
Anchoring and mooring Study of deep scattering layer 
Environmental data acquisition Upwelling using waste heat from reactor 
plus Circulation patterns in selected areas for 
Most of the advanced fundamental technology de- — Fish migration 
velopments associated with the Fixed and Portable — Pollution dispersal 
Continental Shelf Laboratories, but with the added data 
and experience gained from moving from one marine 
environment to another on a routine basis. 
Use of submersibles as part of an integrated fishing 
system 
Submerged salvage preparation 
Selected drilling for oil 
Broad ocean data collection completely submerged 
and using submersibles 
Expected Benefits Operational Systems 
Scientific s 
Whenever the observer is remote from the area 
under examination, the question arises as to the 
meaning and validity of the samples and measure- 
ments taken. Thus, this mobile undersea labora- 
tory will provide the following advantages: 
Physical Oceanography Bottom based fishing system 
Raise confidence factor in oceanographic measure- Continental shelf mine 
ments since by use of submersibles associated with Bottom based oil field 
the mobile laboratory one can actually view the 
instruments working. 
In general, the possible system developments and 
benefits will be similar to those listed under the Fixed 
Geological Oceanography and Portable Continental Shelf Laboratories, the 
Can take selective samples and-thereby provide main difference being that this mobile laboratory will 
a more effective means to obtain needed data. provide.information in selected areas which pertain 
es tothe resource (oil, gas, ore, fish) of interest. 
Biological Oceanography 
At present, conventionally acquired biological 
data is in doubt because of the difficulty of knowing 
what samples are actually being taken. 
VI-229 
