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: | 8.00 m (26.25 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 (pilot and co-pilot) |
| 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 that was rated to dive up to 600 m (2,000 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, in La Spezia, since 1980, up to 2002, when was replaced by DRASS Galeazzi SRV-300.
Characteristics
MSM-1 USEL was the first submersible vehicle for underwater research and work of completely Italian conception.
Basic design of MSM-1 USEL was of ESCO of Milano.
The pressure hull is made of HY-80 steel and subdivided in two compartments: a cylinder with emispherical bottoms located aft, and a sphere forward, each other connected by means of a cylindrical tunnel.
The afterbody is tapered and finishes with the propeller cone.
Suitable aft stability plans, 2 vertical and 2 horizontal, are arranged forward to the propeller.
History
- MSM-1 was update (MLU - MidLife Update) in 1989, with about one year works, by MARITALIA of Fiumicino: after these works was named MSM-1S USEL.
- max depth was established near Cinqueterre (La Spezia), with -480 m (1,570 ft)
Museum
Since 8 September 2015 MSM-1S USEL was delivered to Museo Tecnico Navale (Naval Technical Museum) [2] of La Spezia [3] and now is preserved for the public.