Mystic-class deep-submergence rescue vehicle
The Mystic class was a class of two Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles ( deep sea rescue submarines ) of the United States Navy. They were designed to rescue the crew of sunken submarines.
History
Planning for deep-diving rescue submarines began after the nuclear submarine USS Thresher (SSN -593 ) was sunk in 1963. Lockheed Missiles & Space received the order for three units but ultimately only two were built. The Mystic ( DSRV -1 ) was launched in 1970 by the stack, the Avalon ( DSRV -2) in 1971.
During a dive boat took part in exercises or has been overhauled and serviced, the other stood in readiness.
The Avalon was decommissioned in 2000, the Mystic 2008. They are replaced by the Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System 's Rescue Capable System.
Technology
The boats were made of so-called HY -140 steel, which enabled them to safely reach depths of up to 5,000 feet ( 1,500 meters). HY -140 means that the steel has a yield strength of 140,000 psi guaranteed has (HY = High Yield = " high yield strength "). Were driven the 15-meter savior of electric motors, which were fed by zinc-silver batteries. The speed of the boats was four nodes.
Application profile
In the case of the sinking of a submarine and if there is still hope that the hull of the submarine is undamaged, one of the Mystic class boat by plane ( Lockheed C-5 Galaxy) could be transported to the next port. There, the DSRV had been loaded onto a ship or attached to a submarine. This would have brought it to the crash site, where it can dock to sunken U- boat and was able to rescue survivors. Even submarines of other navies can transport DSRVs.
Others
The Mystic class occurred in Tom Clancy's novel The Hunt for Red October, with the eponymous film. In the novel, the entire crew of the eponymous submarine of the Typhoon - class sheltered with the Avalon in four dives down to the mutinous officers, while the Mystic carries the crew of the USS Ethan Allen sank to deceive. In the film, only the Mystic plays a role in allowing the American protagonist, unnoticed ferry on the titular ship.