CABLE-CONTROLLED UNDERWATER RECOVERY VEHICLE (CURV III) 



CURV III (figure 3), a more modern and deeper depth version of the CURV II, is 

 capable of operating in water depths of 7000 feet (2134 meters). The CURV III system 

 is comprised of the vehicle, control cable, and control console. Although it normally 

 operates from the YFNX-30, the system is designed so that all major operational compon- 

 ents can be disassembled, air transported to a work site, and installed on any surface craft 

 that has adequate deck space. The vehicle normally carries a hydraulically-operated claw 

 for attaching and recovering items such as ordnance, from the ocean floor. For special 

 tasks, the claw is removed and replaced by a variety of grasping, cutting, or working tools. 

 The vehicle also contains the necessary equipment for searching, locating, and documenting 

 the lost item. Control of the vehicle and monitoring of the operations are done in the con- 

 trol van. The vehicle is 6.5 by 6.5 by 15 feet long (2 by 2 by 5 meters), and weighs 4500 

 pounds (2040 kilograms) in air. It normally operates to depths of 7000 feet (2 134 meters), 

 but can be modified for emergency operations to 10,000 feet (3050 meters). Its instrument 

 suite includes a Straza 500 active-passive sonar with transponder integration capability, 

 acoustic altimeter and depthometer, compass, two Hydro Products television cameras 

 with lights, and an EG&G 35mm still camera with strobe. 



CURV III is a versatile underwater vehicle that can be readily modified to accom- 

 modate a wide variety of underwater tasks. It has demonstrated its search and recovery 

 capabilities on the west coast as well as in the Atlantic Ocean, most notably during the 

 1973 rescue of the PISCES III submersible off Ireland. 



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Figure 3. CURV III. 



