NEW SEAHORSES FOR THE SEALS

摘要

Under development are the Dry Combat Submersible (DCS) and the Shallow-Water Combat Submersible (SWCS), designed to replace the current submarine-launched submersibles in use and one large submersible that was to enter service but was disabled by a battery mishap. SEALs currently use the Mk8 Mod 1 SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV), a free-flooding minisub that can be carried on the back of a submarine and launched with SEALs or other special operations forces on board. The crew and passengers use breathing apparatuses such as scuba gear and proceed to a drop-off point ashore. A larger craft that was designed to transport SEALs to a drop-off point warm and dry was the Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS), which could carry two pilots and 16 SEALs. The craft was completed in 2000 and deployed in 2003, but suffered some technical problems, and follow-on units were canceled in 2006. The single operational ASDS suffered a fire in 2008 and was damaged beyond economical repair.