Deep-submergence vehicle


A deep-submergence vehicle is a deep-diving manned submarine that is self-propelled. Several navies operate vehicles that can be accurately described as DSVs. DSVs are commonly divided into two types: research DSVs, which are used for exploration and surveying, and DSRVs, which can be used for rescuing the crew of a sunken navy submarine, clandestine missions, or both. DSRVs are equipped with docking chambers to allow personnel ingress and egress via a manhole.
The real-life feasibility of any DSRV-based rescue attempt is hotly debated, because the few available docking chambers of a stricken submarine may be flooded, trapping the sailors still alive in other dry compartments. The only attempt to rescue a stricken submarine with these so far ended in failure as the entire crew who survived the explosion had either suffocated or burned to death before the rescuers could get there. Because of these difficulties, the use of integrated crew escape capsules, detachable conning towers, or both have gained favour in military submarine design during the last two decades. DSRVs that remain in use are primarily relegated to clandestine missions and undersea military equipment maintenance. The rapid development of safe, cost-saving ROV technology has also rendered some DSVs obsolete.
Strictly speaking, bathyscaphes are not submarines because they have minimal mobility and are built like a balloon, using a habitable spherical pressure vessel hung under a liquid hydrocarbon filled float drum. In a DSV/DSRV, the passenger compartment and the ballast tank functionality is incorporated into a single structure to afford more habitable space.
Most DSV/DSRV vehicles are powered by traditional electric battery propulsion and have very limited endurance, while few are/were nuclear-powered, and could sustain much longer missions. Plans have been made to equip DSVs with LOX Stirling engines but none have been realized so far due to cost and maintenance considerations. All DSVs are dependent upon a surface support ship or a mother submarine, that can piggyback or tow them to the scene of operations. Some DSRV vessels are air transportable in very large military cargo planes to speed up deployment in case of emergency rescue missions.

List of deep submergence vehicles

Trieste class bathyscaphe

, owned by the Office of Naval Research is operated under agreement by the National Deep Submergence Facility at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, where it conducts science oriented missions funded by the National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and ONR. Alvin has a maximum depth capability of and operates from R/V Atlantis, an AGOR-23 class vessel owned by the ONR and operated by WHOI under a charter party agreement. The NSF has committed to the construction of a replacement sub with enhanced capabilities and depth capability to replace Alvin, which will be retired upon its completion.
s are three person research submersibles built by International Hydrodynamics of Vancouver in British Columbia with a maximum operating depth of capable of dive durations of 7 to 10 hours. A total of 10 were built and are representative of late 1960s deep-ocean submersible design. Two are currently operated by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the first production vehicle is on display in Vancouver. Pisces VI is undergoing retrofit.

Sea Pole class bathyscaphe

Bathyscaphe series designed by the People's Republic of China, and there are three derivatives known to exist by 2010:
Shenhai YongshiDSV built in China and can dive to 4500m.

Ictineu 3

  1. 11,000 m
  2. Bathyscaphe Trieste11,000 m
  3. Deepsea Challenger11,000 m
  4. Archimède9,500 m
  5. Jiaolong7,500 m
  6. DSV Shinkai 65006,500 m
  7. Konsul6,500 m
  8. DSV Sea Cliff6,000m
  9. MIR6,000 m
  10. Nautile6,000 m