Assembly at Naval Repair Facility, 

 San Diego, 1958 



THE FLOAT* 



The float functions as the "balloon" structure of 

 TRIESTE. It also serves as a platform for several of the 

 bathyscaph's systems to be described later. When filled 

 with aviation gasoline, the float exerts a lifting force of 

 several tons from which may be subtracted the structural 

 weight of the craft to give the craft's useful payload. 



The float has the shape of a cylinder with tapered ends 

 (sausage). It is made of 0. 2 -inch-thick mild steel plate 

 in the cylindrical section and 0. 12 -inch-thick steel plate 

 in its extreme end sections (the ballast tanks). It is divided 

 into twelve different compartments internally, through the 

 use of transverse bulkheads made of 0. 12 -inch-thick mild 

 steel plate. Its weight empty is 16 tons. 



*The repetition in this report is the result of an attempt to 

 make the major sections self-contained. 



11 



