In this report an experimental investigation of some cases of unsteady propulsion in non-uniform flow conditions is discussed. A not-so-deeply submerged rigid slender delta wing-like body is towed horizontally through a regular train of surface waves. At the same time the body is forced to carry out heaving and pitching oscillations at the frequency of encounter. The results are compared with theoretical predictions based on slender body potential flow assumptions. The experiments tend to confirm the theoretical prediction that energy can be extracted from the waves in such a way that it can be used efficiently for propulsion. The results are relevant to the theory of swimming of cetacean and fished in waves and to the theory of the resistance of ships in a wavy sea. The report contains some additional theoretical considerations and several suggestions for future work.
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