Underwater vehicle recovery system

A recovery system used in conjunction with a submarine torpedo tube for recovering an underwater vehicle comprising:

• an outer cylinder, having a distal end and a proximate end, said proximate end being closed and said distal end being open with a mounting flange disposed thereabout for mounting said outer cylinder to said torpedo tube in said submarine;
• an intermediate piston, having a distal end and a proximate end, said intermediate piston being disposed concentrically inside said outer cylinder and sealed against said outer cylinder at said proximate end of said intermediate piston, said intermediate piston and said outer cylinder having clearance therebetween to allow said intermediate piston to be extensible through said torpedo tube, said intermediate piston being open at both ends;
• an inner piston, having a distal end and a proximate end, said proximate end being closed and said distal end being open, said inner piston being disposed concentrically inside said intermediate piston, said proximate end of said inner piston being sealed against said intermediate piston, and said inner piston and said intermediate piston having clearance therebetween to allow said inner piston to be extensible through said torpedo tube to the outside of said submarine;
• a recovery vehicle with a proximate end and a distal end, said recovery vehicle having a propulsion means, a guidance means and an underwater vehicle attachment means, said recovery vehicle being disposed within said inner piston to allow said recovery vehicle to exit said inner piston through said open distal end thereof and retrieve said underwater vehicle by attaching thereto;
• a piston extension means disposed between said outer cylinder and said inner piston for retracting and extending said intermediate piston and said inner piston;
• a tether connected to said proximate end of said recovery vehicle for communicating with said recovery vehicle and connecting said recovery vehicle with said inner piston;
• a tether winch disposed at the proximate end of said inner piston and connected to said tether for drawing said recovery vehicle into said inner piston after said recovery vehicle has exited said inner piston;
• a source means disposed within said underwater vehicle for providing a signal to broadcast the location of said underwater vehicle;
• and
• a homing means disposed within said recovery vehicle and electrically connected with said guidance means to receive said signal transmitted from said source means aboard said underwater vehicle to allow said recovery vehicle to be guided to said underwater vehicle by said guidance means working in cooperation with said homing means.