MSM-1
| History | |
|---|---|
 Italy | |
| Name | MSM-1 USEL (Unità Soccorso E Lavoro) |
| Namesake | Woodstock (Peanuts) |
| Builder | Cantieri Navali Ernesto Breda, Marghera (Venezia) |
| Launched | 1977 |
| Commissioned | 1980 |
| Decommissioned | 2002 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Deep submergence rescue vehicle |
| Displacement | 12.0 tons |
| Length | 8.0 m (26.2 ft) |
| Beam | 1.9 m (6.2 ft) |
| Height | 2.7 m (8.9 ft) |
| Propulsion | Hydraulic motors |
| Speed | +5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) max speed; 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph) cruise speed |
| Endurance | 8 hours at 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph); 120 hours in emergency with only 2 pilots on-board |
| Test depth | 600 m (2,000 ft) (operating); +900 m (3,000 ft) (collapse depth) |
| Capacity | 8 rescuees |
| Complement | 2 |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Notes | pressure hull was made of HY-80 steel |
MSM-1 USEL (Unità di Soccorso E Lavoro - Rescue and Work Vessel) was a deep-submergence rescue vehicle (DSRV) that was rated to dive up to 600 m (1,969 ft).[1] It was built by Cantieri Navali Ernesto Breda/Fincantieri for the Marina Militare. The sub was capable of descending to 600 metres (2,000 ft) below the surface and could carry 8 passengers at a time in addition to her crew. MSM-1 USEL was hosted by mother ship Anteo at La Spezia from 1980 to 2002. That year MSM-1 USEL was replaced by the DRASS Galeazzi SRV-300.
Characteristics
MSM-1 USEL was the first submersible vehicle for underwater research and work of completely Italian conception. The basic design of MSM-1 USEL was done by ESCO of Milan. The pressure hull is made of HY-80 steel and subdivided in two compartments: a cylinder with hemispherical ends located aft, and a sphere forward, interconnected by a cylindrical tunnel. The afterbody is tapered and finishes with the propeller cone. Aft stability planes, two vertical and two horizontal, are arranged forward of the propeller.
History
MSM-1 was updated (MLU - MidLife Update) in 1989 by MARITALIA of Fiumicino. Work took a year to complete and the vessel was renamed MSM-1S USEL. The DSRV's maximum depth was established near Cinqueterre (La Spezia) at 480 m (1,575 ft).
Museum
Since 8 September 2015 MSM-1S USEL has been held by the Museo Tecnico Navale (Naval Technical Museum) [2] of La Spezia[3] and now is preserved for the public.
- ^ "A Bordo Dell' Anteo". Betasom - XI Gruppo Sommergibili Atlantici. 21 July 2016.
- ^ "Naval Technical Museum La Spezia - Marina Militare". www.marina.difesa.it.
- ^ "Museo Tecnico Navale". www.ilmarenelcuore.it.
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