Method and apparatus for launching and recovering submersibles

A method of recovering a small self-propelled submersible from the water in which the submersible operates, comprising towing a drogue horizontally through the water by a cable extending downwardly and horizontally rearwardly from a moving recovery vessel to the drogue, controlling the speed of the vessel and the length of the cable so that the velocity, weight and length of the downwardly and horizontally extending cable maintain the drogue at a level below the surface of the water where comparatively stable conditions exist and where movements of the drogue are essentially independent of the vertical movements of the recovery vessel due to wave motion at the surface, said drogue having latching means therein which face rearwardly as the drogue is being towed horizontally, manoeuvering a submersible having a probe thereon horizontally at a little greater speed than the drogue and in horizontal alignment therewith to insert the probe horizontally into the drogue until the probe is latched to the drogue upon said horizontal movement, such that said latching resulting from horizontal movements is effective to prevent further relative motion between the probe and drogue, and drawing in the cable to move the submersible out of the water.

Apparatus for launching and recovering a small self-propelled submersible from the water in which the submersible operates comprising a drogue having an attaching end and a rearwardly facing receiving end, a cable connected at its free end to said attaching end and extending downwardly and rearwardly from a recovery vessel to the drogue, the drogue constructed of a shape with an apex and a rearwardly increasing outer cross-section to provide stable towing characteristics, the length of the cable and the buoyancy and shape of the drogue and cable constituting means for maintaining the drogue at a desired level below the surface of the water and for keeping the drogue independent of the vertical movements of the surface vessel due to wave movements at the surface of the water as the drogue moves horizontally through the water at said level, a horizontally extending prove connected to the submersible, and a releasable latch means having co-operating parts within the drogue and on the probe for inserting the probe horizontally into the drogue to releasably connect the submersible to the dorgue and the cable such that relative motion between the probe and drogue are prevented.

Apparatus for launching and recovering a small self-propelled submersible from the water in which the submersible operates comprising a drogue, a cable connected at its free end to the drogue and extending downwardly and rearwardly from a recovery vessel to the drogue, the drogue constructed of a shape with an apex and a rearwardly increasing outer cross-section to provide stable towing characteristics, the length of a cable and the buoyancy of the drogue and cable constituting means for maintaining the drogue at a desired level below the surface of the water and for keeping the drogue independent of the vertical movement of the surface vessel due to wave movements at the surface of the water as the drogue moves horizontally through the water at said level, a horizontally extending probe connected to and projecting outwardly and rearwardly from the drogue, a horizontally extending receiver connected to the submersible and a releasable latch means having co-operating parts within the receiver and on the probe for inserting the probe horizontally into the receiver to releasably connect the submersible to the drogue and the cable such that relative motion between the probe and drogue are prevented.