Abstract: Arcuate-winged submersible vehicles having improved hydrodynamic stability and maneuverability for use in, for example, underwater payload delivery and data acquisition. In one embodiment, a submersible vehicle includes a body having a pair of outwardly projecting at least partially arcuate wings, an adjustably positionable wing steering flap hingeably attached to each wing, at least one wing flap actuator coupled to the hull and to the wing steering flaps to controllably adjust the position of the wing steering flaps, an adjustably positionable hingeable tail steering flap attached to the hull, and at least one tail flap actuator coupled to the hull and to the tail steering flap to controllably adjust the position of the tail steering flap. The arcuate wings provide improved stability and maneuverability characteristics of the vehicle. In alternate embodiments, a vehicle may include arcuate wings having a swept leading edge or a swept trailing edge, or both.

Abstract: A method of ROV tether storage without the use of electrical rotary slip rings, and a tether storage drum. The heart of the Tether Storage System (TSS) invention involves the rotating beam with a powered tether sheave and guide plate on a circular track. The concept of a rotating beam with a powered tether sheave and beam drive motors in a single unit is uniquely different than any other tether storage and handling system. Rotating the sheave about the TSS frame's vertical axis is also unique. To accomplish this, preferably a drive motor is mounted at each end of the beam. A drive wheel on each motor reacts against the channel track to rotate the beam. Rollers at each end of the beam support and guide it. The tether is stored in a large circular basket below the sheave in the cylindrical frame. A guide plate attached to the sheave beam rests on top of the tether in the storage basket.

Abstract: A regulated pressurized system for use in an ambient fluid environment such as water and for mounting to an underwater vehicle, having at least one compressed fluid supply such as air in a tank. A pressure regulator is connected by tubing to the air tank, the regulator capable of regulating an outlet air pressure relative to an ambient pressure of the water. At least one main housing has at least one pressure relief valve connected by a tube to the pressure regulator. At least one electric control system is preferably provided contained within the main housing. A plurality of first peripheral housings are provided, each first peripheral housing having a first tube coupled to the main housing with the tubes having electric wires routed therethrough and interconnecting at least one first peripheral electric device to the main electric control system.

Abstract: A TMS, cage type or top hat type incorporates a deployment frame. The TMS may be operated by a winch from a surface vessel. The TMS delivers a main ROV and a smaller mini ROV. The main ROV is fully functional to accomplish the necessary task subsea. However, in the event there is an operational failure of the main ROV, the mini ROV can be deployed. The mini ROV may have fewer functionalities than the main ROV, but can at least offer video and lighting to allow monitoring of a particular location subsea. All the necessary positioning capabilities are available on the mini ROV.

Abstract: An underwater apparatus for performing subsurface operations adapted to be operated from a remote location above the surface of a body of water is disclosed. The apparatus includes a linelatch system that is made up of a tether management system connected to a flying latch vehicle by a tether. The tether management system controls the amount of free tether between itself and the flying latch vehicle. The flying latch vehicle interfaces with various underwater structures. Also disclosed are methods of transferring power and/or data between two or more underwater devices using the linelatch system of the invention.

Abstract: The amphibious robot mine locator may be used in water-based and land-based environments to locate mines and other hazards. In a water-based environment a diver controls movement of the amphibious robot mine locator. In a land-based environment movement of the mine locator is via remote control. Mine locator includes a pair of oppositely rotating propellers which propel the mine locator through the water with a ruder being provided to control the direction of movement of amphibious robot mine locator as it travels through the water. There is also a control panel which includes the controls for allowing the diver to steer amphibious robot mine locator and control the depth of mine locator. When amphibious robot mine locator switches to a land-based mode of operation, the propellers function as wheels rotating in the same direction to move amphibious robot mine locator along a programmed path to continue its search for mines and other obstacles and hazards.

Abstract: A remotely operated ROV service vessel. The remotely operated vessel utilizes dynamic positioning. The vessel is remotely controlled by radio telemetry, preferably modular in construction, and may be semi-submersible. The vessel contains a radio telemetry package, one or more generators, an umbilical winch for lowering and raising an ROV, space for receiving and storing an ROV, and ballast control.

Abstract: A local remote operated vehicle for installing an elongated element (1)--such as a submarine cable--on a sea bed from a laying vessel or cable ship (2),--includes a guideweight/tracking gear (4) suspended from the ship and riding on the element (1). The gear (4) includes a garage (10) for hosting a local ROV (11) linked to the garage with a tether cable (12) long enough to enable the towed local ROV to monitor the element touchdown area (6).

Abstract: A thermophotovoltaic electric generating system provides high thermal to electric conversion efficiency by use of a sequence of matched radiation emitters and radiation collectors. The radiation emitters comprises ceramic materials which emit thermally stimulated quantum radiation in at least one characteristic wavelength bands when heated above a threshold temperature. By employing a sequence of selective emitters such as rare earth metal oxide, more than 50% of the radiation emitted from the surface can be concentrated in two or more characteristic wavelength bands. A sequence of corresponding photovoltaic device selectively absorbing and efficiently converting the radiation at the characteristic wavelength bands for high electric conversion efficiency in each zone, respectively. An overlying layer of the photovoltaic collector selectively absorbs at least one of such characteristic wavelength bands.

Abstract: An underwater and land travel system comprising an underwater and land travel vehicle which is capable of being reliably and safely moved from on the land into the water and which may also be used for viewing the sight in the water with delight and safety irrespective of the weather or the like.

Abstract: A submersible unit having thrusters for changing a diving position based on a total work quantity, which is the sum of a first work quantity and a second work quantity. A proportional controller generates and outputs the first work quantity based on a difference between a position quantity indicating a desired target diving position and a diving position. A network controller uses a neural network data processing system to learn movement characteristics of the submersible unit based on the first work quantity and a diving position sampled over a plurality of times. The network controller generates a second work quantity using control coupling coefficients learned by minimizing an evaluation quantity determined from a difference between the learned movement characteristics and target movement characteristic values.

Abstract: A method for recording operational data relating to submarine operations is provided including means for playing back the recorded data thereby proing a near real time playback and analysis for the submarine's crew and/or shore based facilities.

Abstract: An autonomous underwater vehicle system for ocean science measurement and reconnaissance is about six feet long and 13 inches in diameter and includes various improvements which make turn-key, networkable, autonomous or tethered operation in aquatic environments possible.

Abstract: A submarine has a forward pressure hull, an aft pressure hull, and a third pressure hull vessel which is connectable to each of the forward and the aft pressure hulls, wherein the submarine is provided with an array of tubes suitable for launching missiles, the tubes being disposed between the forward and the aft pressure hulls, generally around or adjacent to the center of buoyancy of the submarine.

Abstract: A towed array handling system is provided for installation within the enled sails of future submarines. The system has a large diameter reel which provides storage for the entire array and tow cable when not deployed. The area within the enlarged sail is sufficient to allow for a dual winch and reel system for separately storing and deploying single line and/or multi line arrays. The reel applies the full tension of the streamed array as it is deployed and retrieved. When locked, the reel applies the full array streaming tension during high speed tow. The towed array is ducted from the winch to a mid ships tow point via a guide path through a ballast tank which contains only two bends. The upper sheave at the bend closest to the winch is free wheeling and the lower sheave is part of a transfer device which pulls the array from the winch during the initial phase of deployment. The guide duct is aligned with the winch to provide even spooling of the array, especially the multi line array, onto the winch.

Abstract: A submarine hull has integrally defined fuel tankage tubes surrounding an ner skin, and a structural foam core in the interstitial annular space not occupied by the tubing. An outer skin completes the structure, both inner and outer skins are of composite construction.

Abstract: A method of providing protection to a substrate or an object near a substrate includes placing a material between the substrate or object and a source of sound waves, the material being a viscoelastic matrix reinforced with rods or fibrous materials. The method is particularly useful when the substrate is an underwater craft or when the object to be protected is a sonar antenna.

Abstract: A submergible towed body system carries an acoustic transmission/reception evice under the surface of the water and relays signals between the acoustic transmission/reception device and a surface platform. An elongated support frame has upper and lower horizontal frame sections maintained in a parallel spaced apart relationship by a plurality of vertical frame supports. A float is attached on top of the upper horizontal frame section and a tow point depends from the upper horizontal frame section. Attached to the upper and lower horizontal frame sections is a combination tilt and pan mechanism that allows the acoustic transmission/reception device to pan through a prescribed horizontal angle and tilt through a prescribed vertical angle. Circuitry is mounted between the upper and lower horizontal frame sections and aft of the tilt and pan mechanism for electrically connecting the surface platform to the acoustic transmission/reception device.

Abstract: Apparatus for interconnecting an unmanned underwater vehicle and a free-fting communications pod includes a communications cable depending from the pod and extending to a buoy of less buoyancy than the pod, such that the cable carries communication signals between the pod and the buoy and extends generally vertically in a column of water between the pod and the buoy, the buoy being in communication with a distal station.

Abstract: A transport vessel hull is provided for withstanding great pressure differential between the environments inside and outside the hull, and includes an enclosed hexahedral housing having a substantially diamond-shaped cross section with a long diagonal oriented horizontally and a short diagonal oriented vertically. A support structure is contained within the housing for bearing the loads resulting from the pressure differential across the hull, and includes a plurality of vertical frame members connected at the upper and lower ends thereof to the housing on either respective side of the short diagonal to form a plurality of high strength-to-weight ratio trusses.

Abstract: A vibrationally and acoustically insulated structure includes a structure using enclosing a source of internally generated noise and vibrations. The structure further includes a vibration and acoustic insulating device positioned over a portion of the internal surface of the housing and having a vibration damping portion and acoustic absorbing portion. The vibration damping portion, such as a constrained damping layer having a continuous damping layer and a segmented constraining layer of individual rigid segments, reduces vibrations transmitted through the structure housing. The acoustic absorbing portion includes an acoustic barrier layer adjacent the constrained damping layer, an acoustic absorption layer adjacent to the acoustic barrier layer and one or more mounts for mounting the acoustic absorption layer and acoustic barrier layer to the constrained damping layer. The acoustic absorption device reduces the reverberating acoustic waves within the structure housing.

Abstract: A structure for a pressure and buckling resisting hull has an undulated shell body with flat, plural, polyhedral faces, shell caps at the ends, and transition sections attaching the shell caps to the shell body. The shell body polyhedral faces may be generally triangular or generally trapezoidal and are truncated triangular in shape for reducing material stress and for increasing buckling resistance. The top-to-base length ratios of the truncated triangular shapes are selected to optimize structural performance so that differences between maximum stress-depth and buckling-depth curves are minimized. Transition sections are conoidal in shape or are formed by portions having alternating flat triangular faces with curved triangular faces. Buckling strength and material stress are reduced or increased by using transition sections which are longer or shorter than the polyhedral faces in the shell body.

Abstract: A hybrid boat and underwater craft and method for operating an underwater craft having positive buoyancy, a three-point stabilization system and vertical thruster and a system for enhanced buoyancy at the surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device used to maneuver a vehicle consisting of a tubular y with suction circumferential slots adjacent its forward end and exhaust circumferential slots adjacent its aft end on both the outer and inner peripheral surfaces. Fluid is conveyed between the forward slots on one surface of the tubular body to the aft slots on the other surface of the body to produce asymmetrical pressure on the tubular body while traveling through a fluid medium.

Abstract: In brief summary, the invention provides an unmanned undersea vehicle sys comprising a mother vehicle and a daughter unmanned undersea vehicle. The unmanned undersea vehicle has an erectable observation mast for obtaining environmental information. A communication link interconnects the mother vehicle and the unmanned undersea vehicle for transferring command information from the mother vehicle to the unmanned undersea vehicle and unmanned undersea vehicle status information from the unmanned undersea vehicle to the mother vehicle.

Abstract: An agile water vehicle for travel above and below the water surface, incls a hull having therein a helmsman's compartment, a payload compartment, and a propulsor unit. A rudder assembly is fixed to the hull and includes a cylindrically-shaped (or slightly tapered) tubular member having a rudder thereon and extending therefrom, the tubular member being rotatable. A wing assembly is fixed to and spaced from a bottom portion of the hull, the wing assembly comprising a pair of wings extending widthwise of the axis of the hull, and a flap adapted for disposal in each of the wings and extendible therefrom, the flaps being operable for pivotal movement upwardly and downwardly from the wings. The propulsor unit, the rudder assembly, and the flaps are operable from the helmsman's compartment. A pair of propulsors are disposed on the wings and are rotatable around the spanwise axis of the wings. A pair of differential flaps are mounted on a rotatable axial cylinder or ring with a fixed divider plate therebetween.

Abstract: An underwater apparatus release mechanism disposed on an unmanned underwa vehicle. A launcher body is joined to the underwater vehicle with a fixed release guide thereon. A shroud is positioned over the front of the underwater apparatus which is disposed on the fixed release guide. A holddown strap is fastened about the shroud, underwater apparatus, and fixed release guide assembly and releasably joined to the launcher body by to release pins. The release pins are joined to a sliding plunger. The plunger is in turn connected to a solenoid which can cause movement of the plunger to release the holddown strap. Hydrodynamic forces cause the shroud and underwater apparatus to slide along the fixed release guide until they are free of the underwater vehicle.

Abstract: An external storage system for a submersible vessel, e.g. a submarine, includes an outer skin formed as a fairing member of the vessel. The internal volume of the external storage system, bounded by the outer skin and the hull of the vessel is occupied by support members appropriate for the selected load and syntactic foam. The syntactic foam provides structural support for the outer skin and load support members, an additional attachment bond between the hull, skin, and load support members, and the buoyancy required to compensate for the additional weight of the external load. The syntactic foam also provides certain acoustic advantages.

Abstract: A cargo submarine has a cargo section (2) between tapered peripheral buoyancy sections (2-5) and an on-board cargo-handling components (32-49) capable of rapid loading and unloading of large volumes of cargo. A hydrodynamic tower (14) conveys fresh air in and exhaust gasses out while traveling submerged sufficiently deep to avoid wave undulation. Dual electronic controls (51-57) in a tower bridge (27) and in a main bridge (50) are provided for large vessels. A crane (32) with automatically-adjustable weight balancing and electronic controls is telescoped from within the vessel. A shore ramp (47) and a ship ramp (44) are provided for fast and convenient motorized or manual handling of commercial or military cargo at beaches and shores without docks. Special hydrodynamic configuration and contouring result in less drag-per-length coefficient of marine vessels, resulting in less ton-mile propulsion costs than for optimized displacement-hull ships.

Abstract: An underwater vehicle has a generally longitudinally extending housing terminating in at least one blunt end. Adjacent to and inboard of the blunt end of the longitudinally extended housing there is provided a compartment, and disposed in the compartment there is provided a folded, flexible bladder secured to a portion of the housing adjacent the blunt end and having a tapering configuration when pressurized or inflated. At or after launch of the underwater vehicle, or selectively at any other time in which it is desired to do so, an inboard mounted water pump which communicates with the interior of the bladder is operated to pressurize the bladder with regard to the surrounding ambient water, causing the tapered bladder to unfold and be extended outboard of the housing blunt end, thus streamlining the underwater vehicle.

Abstract: There is presented an underwater body and intake scoop, the underwater body aving a wall defining a major portion of the body, the wall being exposed to water during movement of the body through a water environment. The intake scoop includes a recess in the wall of the body, the recess having forward and aft edges extending substantially width-wise of the body and interconnected by generally length-wise extending side edges to form, in plan view, a multi-sided recess with the side and aft edges being rounded to facilitate reduction of turbulence and cavitation. A bottom surface of the recess slopes from the forward edge inwardly of the wall. The recess is in communication with a conduit extending to the interior of the body.

Abstract: A decoy capable of assuming the shape of a water craft comprises a maneuvble vessel, having a tubular body portion which defines an enclosed interior region. The vessel further has an opening formed in the body portion and a hatch door which covers the opening. An energy source powers the operation of the vessel, and a drive module propels the vessel under the water. A selectively deployable bladder is stored within the vessel in its interior region and is selectively deployable from a stowed position in which the bladder is contained within the interior region of the vessel to a deployed position in which the bladder exits the vessel through the opening and is inflated with gas for assuming the shape of a water craft. An inflation system inflates the bladder with gas when deploying the bladder. The decoy can also be provided with electromagnetic, infrared and acoustic decoy projectors for projecting the characteristics of the water craft.

Abstract: Cable is stored a receptacle by a coiling mechanism. In the coiling mechanism, an arm receives the cable at an axis, and supports the cable as it passes from the axis to a feed end located at a point radially spaced from the axis. A cable driver forces the cable into the arm at the axis and toward the feed end. And an arm driver assists rotation of the arm about the axis while the cable is being forced into the arm at the axis.

Abstract: A submersible or submarine vessel having a unique pressure hull formed from a plurality of truncated spherical cells having at least one opening, wherein said cells are connected together in a generally loop array with said openings in confronting relation to define a interconnected internal space for utilization by personnel, equipment, or machinery. When said connected cells define a loop array having an open central area, dome means enclose the central area permitting utilization thereof, or, a further spherical cell or cells are disposed in the central area with access thereinto from a cell in the loop array for utilization, whereby at all times convexly curved spherical surfaces are exposed to high hydrostatic pressures, thereby to provide a maximum strength pressure hull.

Abstract: A hydraulic system which includes a pump for supplying hydraulic fluid to a load by a fluid supply line and receiving hydraulic fluid from the load by means of a fluid return line. The pump, as well as a drive motor therefore is enclosed within a pressure vessel, having a gas interior which forms an acoustic impedance mismatch so that the pump is acoustically isolated from the surrounding water medium. The fluid return line is connected to a reservoir having a moveable piston which separates the reservoir into two compartments, one filled with oil and the other with gas. The reservoir is sealed so that its internal pressure which is relatively low, for example between 10 and 100 psia is completely independent of the pressure of the surrounding water medium and maintains the return line pressure at that same low value.

Abstract: An unmanned underwater vehicle recovery device being joinable with the brh of an existing torpedo tube. The recovery device comprises a plurality of concentric tubes which telescope through the torpedo tube to the exterior of the hull of a submarine to provide a mechanism for aligning the recovered unmanned underwater vehicle with the torpedo tube launchway. A recovery vehicle is held within the recovery device by a deployable tether. During recovery the recovery vehicle is launched from the recovery device in the torpedo tube of the submarine. The recovery vehicle travels out and mates with a coupling at the rear of the unmanned underwater vehicle. The tether is retracted and joined recovery vehicle/unmanned underwater vehicle is pulled into the torpedo tube launchway. The concentric tubes are retracted and the unmanned underwater vehicle is left in the torpedo tube.

Abstract: An underwater vehicle with unconventional configuration is disclosed, wherein the lateral boundary of the vehicle is parallel to the straight moving direction of the vehicle. There is an internal passage tunnel disposed inside the vehicle, connecting the front end and the rear end of the vehicle. The front and rear openings of the tunnel extend to the entire cross section of the vehicle. Looking from the outside, the vehicle is like an elongated tube with very thin walls. In operation, the water in the front of the vehicle is transported to the rear of the vehicle exclusively through the internal passage tunnel. Very little disturbances will be imparted to the surrounding water. This vehicle is highly efficient even at high speeds, hence is extremely suitable for high speed and long range operations.

Abstract: A self-propelled torpedo with four stabilizer fins having an "X" orientat when the torpedo is running submerged through water. Each stabilizer fin has a fixed leading section and a trailing rudder section with a rigid trailing edge. Bands of tape are wrapped fore and aft around each rudder section to provide opposed trailing extensions of tape which are adhered together and slitted to form a trailing extension of flexible material with separate strips along the full length of the rigid trailing edge. The trailing extension of flexible material provides for shedding trailing edge vortexes downstream for reducing the transmission of vortex energy upstream to the rudder.

Abstract: A submarine trails one fiber optic cable and an undersea vehicle is contred by this first cable. A missile/torpedo trails a second cable that is to be coupled to the first cable. The second cable has a segment suspended vertically underwater between a buoyant pod and a sea anchor type buoy. The undersea vehicle, or Autonomous Undersea Vehicle, (AUV) hunts for the pod by conventional homing components, and cable capturing arms on the vehicle direct the cable's movement relative to the vehicle into a pod mating position that achieves optical coupling of the two cables. In one embodiment two arms are pivotably mounted to the vehicle's sides so one arm captures the suspended cable segment directing it into a slot so a male socket in the underside of the pod mates with a female socket in the slot. Another embodiment accomplishes the same result with a device in which the arms are formed as the offshoots of a forked cable pickup device in the nose of the AUV.

Abstract: A submarine trails one fiber optic cable and an undersea vehicle is contred by this first cable. A missile/torpedo trails a second cable that is to be coupled to the first cable. The second cable has a segment suspended vertically underwater between a buoyant pod and a sea anchor type buoy. The undersea vehicle, or Autonomous Undersea Vehicle, (AUV) hunts for the pod by conventional homing means. A forked cable pickup device in the nose of the AUV captures the suspended cable segment directing it into a slot so a male socket in the underside of the pod mates with a female socket in the slot.

Abstract: An acoustic isolation structure providing an acoustically isolated opening nd comprising coaxial inner and outer annular structural members defining an irregular annulus between them. Acoustical isolation material is provided within this annulus to acoustically uncouple the two members. Radially overlapping structural rings extending from the members into the annulus limit lateral movement of the inner member and preserve the generally coaxial relation of the members.

Abstract: In a method and a device for tracking an object (2a), especially a subsea object, while utilizing a mother vessel (1) or an intermediate craft (101) equipped with sonars (3a) for the transmission and reflection of searching rays (3b, 3n) which on a display on the vessel (1) indicate one or more objects (2a) in the subsea search area, there is provided a searching unit (2) which is controlled from the vessel (1), and which comprises at least one transponder/responder (10, 13) or the like, for the transmission of signals corresponding to the searching rays (3b). The signal(s) is registered on the display on the mother vessel (1) and is used for guiding the searching unit (2) towards a selected object (2a) along the searching rays (3b, 3n) of the sonars.

Abstract: A submarine trails one fiber optic cable and an undersea vehicle is contred by this first cable. A missile/torpedo trails a second cable that is to be coupled to the first cable. The second cable has a segment suspended vertically underwater between a buoyant pod and a sea anchor type buoy. The undersea vehicle, or Autonomous Undersea Vehicle, (AUV) hunts for the pod by a conventional homing transmitter, and a fork-shaped cable capture probe on the vehicle direct the cable's movement relative to the vehicle into a pod mating position in which a male plug portion in the underside of the pod mates with a female socket in a slot formed at the vertex of the fork. An interlock mechanism between the male socket and female socket holds the pod and AUV in engagement wherein optical coupling is achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus for ejecting a tethered underwater device, such as a communiions instrument package, from a naval vessel such a submarine is taught. The system incorporates a relatively long hydraulically operated launch tube thereby permitting slow acceleration of the device to achieve the desired muzzle velocity resulting in a reduced acoustic pressure wave upon launch.

Abstract: In a semi-submersible ship, magnifying panoramic view windows are provided that are watertight, strong, highly durable, and resistant to impact and optical occlusion. A laminated transparent sheet is formed that is surrounded by a ribbed gasket. A steel frame provides uniform compression on the gasket and prevents it from extruding away from the transparent sheet. Bolts are used to attach the transparent sheet to the hull of the ship.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for interconnecting an unmanned underwater vehicle V) and a free-floating pod, the apparatus comprising a communications cable extending between the pod and a less buoyant buoy, the buoy being in communication with a distal station, a mobile UUV in communication with a control vessel, connector structure on the UUV adapted to intercept the cable and adapted to slide along the cable toward the pod, and complementary engagement structure on the UUV and the pod adapted to cause the UUV to engage the pod in a preselected orientation and azimuth, to place the control vessel in communication with the distal station.

Abstract: A submarine is equipped with a conventional main hydraulic system and has least one hydraulic actuator located outside the vessel's pressurized hull where it is susceptible to contamination of its hydraulic fluid. The actuator is operated from an isolation system that includes a slave piston driven by a power piston from the main hydraulic system to keep a desired pressure in the secondary system by operating the power piston only as required for this purpose. Both power and slave piston positions are related and a two position limit switch is tripped by switch actuators linked to these pistons for operating the power and slave pistons. This isolation system prevents any contaminants in the external system from contaminating the internal system.

Abstract: The invention is a Self Propelled Underwater Device With Steerable Fin Stabilizer having a unique hull of generally tubular configuration and having a substantially conical shaped rear portion. The hull comprises a plurality of hollow interlocking tubular sections with one section including the rear portion; adjacent tubular hull sections include peripherally spaced apart threaded portions respectively disposed internally and externally thereof for mating relationship upon relative circumferential motion of the adjacent sections, the adjacent sections are further configured to provide an abutting joint when fully mated with watertight sealing means between the mated sections. The vehicle includes a plurality of steerable stabilization fins mounted on the hull about the rear conical portion at spaced apart locations with hull slots for receiving the respective fins when stowed.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a convertible the capable of being transformed to change from a conventional mode of propulsion to a nuclear mode of propulsion. The submarine includes an aft section delimited by a pressure tight hull and two transverse bulkheads in which are located electric energy production and storage installations using batteries and diesel-generators. The aft section can be transformed to convert the submarine to the use of an anaerobic energy source by substituting for these installations, installations adapted to the anaerobic source of energy while preserving the integrity of the pressure tight hull and bulkheads, without internal substitution causing any substantial modification in the weight or centering of the aft section.

Abstract: A diving boat wherein an air tank, water tank and navigating apparatus are provided, air within the air tank is fed into the watertight boat body and excess air produced thereby is discharged into water outside the boat body through an automatic balance type pressure regulating valve so that the air pressure within the boat body may be kept substantially the same as the water pressure outside the boat body.