[PSUBS-MAILIST] Re: SCUBA backup for psubs

[VBra676539@aol.com]

Pat,

No, we never carried separate rigs. Several boats I ran were Lock-Outs, and of course had umbilicals and hats and what not. Mighty hand if you get tangled up and need to get out and cut some ropes (it happened to me twice but we got loose without getting wet). Our working depths were just too way-the-hell-and-gone deep compared to psubs to take it into consideration.

George Kittredge favors the military style hood for an escape package. He made the first blow and go ascent from an American sub (after WW II) down in, I believe, Australia or somewhere. 147 foot free ascent. Pretty good for the time. Since then a new style (British originally) has been put in service. It's basically a bag over your upper body with a window in it and straps to sit in (parachute?). A free ascent was demonstrated in the Med to introduce this thing from -- get this -- 600 feet plus!

George never goes in his K600 without one, and I think I'll go that way. You get the ascent rate of a ballistic missle and lessen chances of embolism and such. I'll have to add that to my list of things to ask George when I talk to him next. Where did he get his and what did it cost?

Best Regards,
Vance