Underwater towing vehicle ( Diver Propulsion Vehicle, DPV ) - a device related to scuba diving equipment and allowing the diver to travel long distances without spending significant effort on fins flipping .
In general, the towing vehicle is a streamlined body made of solid material, divided into compartments, where:
- Rechargeable battery ;
- Engine;
- Propeller shaft.
The entire structure in this case has neutral or close buoyancy
Content
Types of
Mayale (Human Torpedo)
This type of towing vehicle was a means of combat use against enemy ships located at the berth or in the roads .
The idea of the construction belongs to the Italian naval officers - lieutenants- engineers Teseo Thesei and Elios Toschi . The official name is “Slow Torpedo”, SLC [1] , however, due to the difficulties of controlling and maintaining neutral buoyancy, the device was nicknamed “Pig” [2]
For the first time this tool was used by the Italian fighting swimmers , then the design was copied by the British on the model of captured Italian "pigs".
The English version was called "Chariot" [3]
The secret of this weapon was transferred to the German command by the Italians, a torpedo designed by specialists of the German Navy became known as the Neger.
Features of the design and use of "pigs"
In the front (head) part of the torpedo hull there was a detachable explosive charge with a fuse, which was essentially a time bomb. In the upper part of the body was a seat for two people - a driver and a miner. An electric motor was used as a power plant.
The torpedo was delivered to the place of operation using a craft, usually a submarine , while the torpedo was attached externally to the hull of the boat. The driver and the miner dressed in wetsuits and equipped with oxygen rebreathers for breathing, removing the torpedo from the mounts and sitting on top of it, made their way underwater to the enemy ship and, attaching a detachable warhead to its bottom, activated the fuse clock. After that, riding on the same dashboard, it was necessary to get to the carrier ship. But often, due to design flaws, the “pig” had to be flooded, and the combat swimmers were forced to swim to the shore, where they either managed to get over to their own, or they were captured.
Scooter
Recreational diving tug . A propeller driven by an electric motor is used as a propeller . On the body on the sides are handles located in the manner of a bicycle steering wheel, on which there are buttons to start / stop the engine and speed control. The buttons are made in the form of plates, allowing you to click on them even with thick gloves.
The diver takes a horizontal position in the water, takes the arms outstretched, after which he starts the engine by pressing the button and the device pulls (tows) the swimmer along. This is the main drawback - a stream of water enters a person and slows him down, in addition, both hands are occupied.
Other types
- A fantastic underwater tug is shown in the movie Diamond Arm (in the fishing scene at White Rock). The diver twisted the handle, which is located on the side of the towing body - this handle drives the screws of the underwater vehicle. The effectiveness of such a device is negligible - the strength of two legs is replaced by the strength of one arm, while the cross section of the apparatus only increases drag.
See also
- Diving
- Torpedoes
Literature
- Caius Becker, Valerio Borghese. Underwater legions of the Fuhrer and Duce / Per. with him. L. S. Azarh, A. G. Bubnovsky, with Italian. S.V. Slavina. - M .: "Veche", 2005.
Notes
- ↑ ital. Siluro a Lenta Corsa
- ↑ ital. Maiale, pl. h. maiali
- ↑ English Chariot