Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle

A Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) is a type of Deep Submergence Vehicle used for rescue of downed submarines and clandestine missions. While DSRV is the term most often used by the United States Navy, some nations have other designations for their vehicles.

List of Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles

Chinese models

The People's Republic of China has three Dajiang (大江) class submarine rescue ships. Each ship is equipped with two DSRV. The lead ship of the Dajiang class is the Changxingdao (長興島, 861).

Japanese models

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force operate two DSRVs with dedicated mother ships.

• Chiyoda (AS-405) – Chiyoda(ちよだ, AS-405)
• Chihaya (ASR-403) – Chihaya(ちはや, ASR-403).

Korean models

The Korean navy operates a submarine rescue ship called Cheong Haejin. It has a dedicated mother ship. The model is based on a modified British design.

Russian models

Russia is believed to have one vessel of the Bester class and five of the Priz class, which was involved in the failed attempt to rescue the crew of the Kursk

• AS-28 – Project 1855 (Priz class)
• AS-34 – Project 1855 (Priz class)

United Kingdom models

The United Kingdom operates the LR5 submersible in a submarine rescue role.

United States models

The mode of deployment for these United States submersibles is: fly the vehicle to the port closest to the incident; attach the vehicle to a host submarine; the host submarine travels to the incident site; rescue. The DSRVs were originally designed to work with USS Pigeon and USS Ortolan, but those two vessels have since been decommissioned.

• DSRV-1 Mystic - Deactivation begun on 1 October 2008. Replaced with remotely operated tethered SRDRS.
• DSRV-2 Avalon - currently in "mothball" status, maintained by Lockheed Martin, Coronado, California

See also

• Escape trunk

External links

• Current submarine rescue services, Jane's Information Group