View source for Mystic-class deep-submergence rescue vehicle

{{short description|Class of US Navy submersible for rescue operations on submerged, disabled submarines}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2013}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = File:USN DSRV Mystic3.jpg
| Ship caption = U.S. Navy Deep-Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) ''Mystic''
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
| Builders = [[Lockheed Missiles and Space Company]]
| Operators = {{navy|United States}}
| Cost = $164.9 million [1972 prices] (program cost),<ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iA3zHyjh-wcC&pg=PA854|title=Department of Defense Appropriations for 1972: Hearings Before the Subcommittee ... Ninety-second Congress, First Session ...|date=1971|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|pages=854|language=en|chapter=Part 5: Procurement Lockheed Aircraft Corporation}}</ref> (${{format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|164.9e6|1972}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars{{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}})
| Built range = 1970
| In commission range = 1971–2008
| Total ships completed = 2
| Total ships cancelled = 10
| Total ships retired = 2
| Ship test depth = {{convert|5000|ft|m|abbr=on}}
}}
|}

[[Image:DSRV 1.jpg|thumb|Arrival of the DSRV ''Avalon'' at [[Brest, France|Brest]] airport aboard a [[Lockheed C-5 Galaxy]] [[Airlift#Strategic airlift|strategic airlifter]]]]

'''''Mystic'' class''' is a class of [[Deep-submergence rescue vehicle|Deep-Submergence Rescue Vehicle]]s (DSRVs), designed for rescue operations on submerged, disabled [[submarine]]s of the [[United States Navy]] or foreign navies. The two submarines of the class were never used for this purpose, and were replaced by the [[Submarine Rescue Diving Recompression System]].

==Features==
DSRVs are designed for quick deployment in the event of a submarine accident. DSRVs are transportable by truck, aircraft, ship, or by specially configured attack submarine. At the accident site, the DSRV works with either a "mother ship" or "mother submarine". The DSRV dives, conducts a [[sonar]] search, and attaches to the disabled submarine's hatch. DSRVs can embark up to 24 persons for transfer to the mother vessel.

The DSRV also has an arm to clear hatches on a disabled submarine and a combined gripper and cable cutter. The gripper is able to lift 1,000 pounds (450&nbsp;kg).

==Background==
[[Image:DSRV-Mystic.jpg|thumb|300px|The U.S. Navy's ''Mystic'' secured to a [[Los Angeles-class submarine|Los Angeles class attack submarine]]]]
The Deep Submergence System Project was established in June 1965 in the aftermath of the loss of  [[USS Thresher (SSN-593)|USS ''Thresher'']] in 1963.

At the time, submarine operating depths greatly exceeded the capabilities of rescue vessels. [[Lockheed Missiles and Space Company]] was contracted to produce a deep diving rescue submarine. In an effort to win the design and construction contracts for a DSRV, the company built ''Deep Quest'' prototype. She was launched in June 1967;<ref>{{cite web|title=Artifact spotlight : Deep Quest|archive-date=25 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325165020/http://www.navalunderseamuseum.org/media/6c06204b6731dd48ffff833effffe906.pdf|url=http://www.navalunderseamuseum.org/media/6c06204b6731dd48ffff833effffe906.pdf|publisher=Naval Undersea Museum}}</ref> in March 1970, she was used to find a US Navy [[Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat]] which [[List of accidents and incidents involving military aircraft (1943–1944)#1944|had crashed on 12 January 1944]], in the ocean near [[Naval Air Station San Diego]].

The first DSRV was launched in 1970.<ref name="blindmansbluff">Sontag, S.; Drew, C.; Drew, A. L. (1998). ''[[Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage]]''. Harper. {{ISBN|0-06-103004-X}}.</ref> While it has been alleged that the stated goal of the DSRV project was unrealistic, and that it was a front for research on undersea [[espionage]], including cable tapping,<ref name="blindmansbluff"/> the DSRVs have a demonstrated rescue capability, and have conducted numerous practice rescue missions.

[[DSRV-1 Mystic|DSRV-1]] was launched in San Diego, California, on 24 January 1970.  Testing culminated in an operational evaluation that saw a complete, simulated submarine rescue mission.  DSRV-1 was named ''Mystic'' during Fleet Acceptance Ceremonies in 1977.

The second, and final, vessel in the class, [[DSRV-2 Avalon|DSRV-2]], was subsequently launched and named ''Avalon''.

==General characteristics==
{|
|''Builder'':||Lockheed Missiles and Space Co., [[Sunnyvale, California]]
|-
|''Power Plant'':||Electric motors, silver/zinc batteries, one shaft, 15 shaft horsepower (11&nbsp;kW), four thrusters, 7.5 horsepower (6&nbsp;kW).
|-
|''Length'':||49&nbsp;ft (15 m)
|-
|''Beam'':||8&nbsp;ft (2.4 m)
|-
|''Displacement'':||38 tons (39 metric tons)
|-
|''Speed''||4 knots (7&nbsp;km/h)
|-
|''Maximum depth'':||5,000&nbsp;ft (1500 m)
|-
|''Sonar'':||Search and navigation
|-
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|''Ships'':
|Mystic (DSRV 1)
|-
|Avalon (DSRV 2)
|-
|''Crew'':||Two pilots, two rescue personnel and the capacity for 24 passengers
|}

== List of vessels ==
* {{annotated link|DSRV-1 Mystic|DSRV-1 ''Mystic''}}
* {{annotated link|DSRV-2 Avalon|DSRV-2 ''Avalon''}}

==See also==
* [[List of submarine classes in service]]
* [[Bathyscaphe]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4100&tid=500&ct=4 USN Fact File]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBFYIW-EARM&t=83s Deep-Submergence Rescue Vehicle - US Navy 1973]

{{Mystic class deep submergence rescue vehicle}}
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Mystic''-class deep-submergence rescue vehicle}}

[[Category:Submarine classes]]
[[Category:Mystic-class deep-submergence rescue vehicles| ]]
 [[Category:Cold War submarines of the United States|Mystic class]]
[[Category:Lifeboats]]
[[Category:Lockheed Corporation]]
[[Category:Auxiliary search and rescue ship classes]]