TO: B. Malin 

OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY DIVISION 

OPTO-MECHANICAL DESIGN ENGINEERING 

Memorandum ME 74 

NRO APPROVED FOR RELEA$E 

DECLASSIFIED BY: CIIART 

DECLASSIFIED ON: 25 JULY 2012 

DATE: December 20, 1971 

FROM: L.B. Molaskey./ 

SUBJECT: Improved Viewing Capability for Bathyscaph Trieste II 

During my recent experience with the Trieste ~I operation off Hawaii, 

it was very apparent that one of the most serious operational limitations 1s 

the pilot's viewing range out of the ball when operating on the ocean bottom. 

Although the Trieste is equipped with a window, lights, viewing optics, television, and sonar, its ability to search the bottom is limited to a range of 

less than 30 feet from the ball in a 1200 con~ alo03 the veh~cle axis • . ~~ . 

The search method currently employed .is to maneuver the bathyscaph 

along the ocean floor with the trail ball (a 250 pound b~ll tethered on a 

light cabl~) extended about 35 feet. This places the pilots about 30 feet 

from the bottom. Sonar is used to locate large solid targets up to a range 

of about 3,000 feet. The scaph is then maneuvered toward the target until 

visual contact is made (30 feet) or until the sonar reflection disappears 

because the target is outside the inner edge of·the viewing cone of the sonar 

(inside the minimum range). At that point a visual search is conducted. 

Recognition of a target, as compared to rocks, other debris, or physical contours of the ocean bottom is very difficult with sonar. The result is that 

each potential target must be investigated visually. The improvementachleved 

by increasing the visual capability so that target discrimination can be 

achieved at a greater range is therefore an area function • 

• 

I have recently reviewed Engineering Report #10706, "Undersea Laser 

Sensor", prepared for ·the U.S. Navy in May 1971 and think that the principal 

described therein could be applied to the Trieste. I also understand that 

some recent work in solid state detectors at OTD could be used to improve the 

reliability of such a system. . 

I don't know if the Trieste has any development money to use for 

such an item but I do know that they would be very receptive to an unsolicited 

proposal and would help pursue the funds required if convinced that the improvement is feasible. I have discussed this matter with Lt. Cdr. Bartels, 

Officer in Charge of Trieste, and Cdr. Mooney and Capt. ·Packer of Submarine 

Development Group I, all of whom expressed interest in any device which would 

improve their viewing range. 

Recognizing that the best proposals address specific problems with 

detailed solutions that are tailored to the hardwa~e involved I requested and 
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Memorandum ME 74 (continued) -2-

NRO APPROVED FOR RELEASE, 

DECLASSIFIED BY: CIIART 

DECLASSIFIED ON: 25 JULY 2012, 

December 20, 1971 

obtained the following details of the Trieste and its equipment: 

NOTE: Assume that one or two sensor systems, composed of a sensor 

head which is external to the pressurized ball, mounted to the "pan and tilt 

platforms" which are located on both sides and just forward of the ball and 

a viewing and control station which is located in the ball. 

Sensor Head Design Requirements 

Form Factor - 10 inch dia. x 36 inches long. 

MOunting - Clamped to 10" dia. via quick coupling device capable of activation 

underwater by divers at a depth of 30 feet. 

Weight - No firm requirement but should be minimized as consistent with application and·maintenance. 

Vibration - Not known - should be consistent with environment - handling, test, 

and operation on surface and below. 

Shock - Same as vibration. 

Temperature - a. 

b. 

Operating 30 to HO°F' 

Storage 0 to 140°F 

Pressures 

• 

- Operation at P = 13,500 PSI· external water pressure 

Test - Must be capable of withstanding 10 cycles of pressure 

change. Nine cycles from one atmosphere to l3.5K PSI held for 

10 minutes. Final cycle from one atmosphere to 13.5 K PSI held 

for one hour - no leaks or permanent deformation. MUst operate 

at both pressures. 

Wave Motion - 10,000 pounds per square feet of exposed area. 

-f4 Power Available - .24 -2 VDC 

120 +29 VDC 

-5 * - 115 V 60 cycle single phase 

* - 115 V 400 cycle single phase 

*This power is available from a converter but is in limited supply. 

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Memorandum ME 74 (Con~inued) -3-

NRO APPROVED FOR RELEASE 

DECLASSIFIED BY: C/IART 

DECLASSIFIED ON: 25 JULY 2012 

Decembe~ 20, 1971 

(All power is from two battery sets aboard the Trieste. The 24v system has 

a total mission capacity of 5,000 amp hr. The l20V system has a total capacity of 952 amp hr. These batteries operate all systems aboard. Propulsion 

system l20V •. Life support and instrumentation 24V.) 

Connectors - Electro Oceanic heavy duty series. Maximum of two leads per 

connector pin - as many pins as required. 

Diagnostics - None on present equipment but can be considered if useful. 

Field of View -

a. Low power - must provide wide area coverage (present viewing 

optics is 120° FOV.) for search. 

b. High power • at least 2 times low power • consistent with other 

parameters to aid in discrimination of underwater targets at 

maximum range. 

The mount on which the sensor head is fixed provides aziuruth pointing of 3600 and elevation of ±90°. Both moti?nsrequire twisting of electrical 

cable. The mount is 1!RP··3 Pan and Tilt Unit manufactured by Hydroproducts 

Division of Dillingham Corp., Serranto Valley, California. 

Focus Adjustment - 3 feet to infinity. 

Viewing and Control Station 

Form Factor· 6 x 10 x 12 rack mounted box. 

Mounting - hard mounted to structure of sphere. 

Weight - No limit. 

Vibration - Not known - consistent with application - environment is not severe. 

~ - Not known - same as vibration. 

Temperature - 60 to 110°F operating 

o to 140°F storage 

Relative Humidity- 35 to 95% 

Pressure - Sea level minus 2" hg. 

-2% Environmental Gas - 02· content 20% +5% 

remainder - air constituents 

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NRO APPROVED FOR RELEASE 

DECLASSIFIED BY: C/IART 

DECLASSIFIED ON: 25 JULY 2012 

Memorandum ME 74 (Continued) -4- December 20, 1971 

Generation of Toxic Compounds - The unit shall not generate any compounds, 

elements or other materials that are toxic or otherwise harmful to the pilots 

when exposed to the equipment operating in the sealed environment for periods 

of up to 24 hours. 

Explosion Proof - The equipment must be explosion proof per mil specs. 

Display - Conrae, 8 inch diagonal, 500 TV lines or equivalent. 

Controls - T.V. as required 

Standby - if required 

System On 

System Off 

High Power 

Low Power 

etc. 

The following data is provided to" give an idea of the Trieste's 

present capability: 

Viewing Port - Cone shaped Dl = 17.062, D2 ; 4.782, T = 6.14 inches; material 

P~exiglass G (Thermoplastic acrylic resin) No optical coatings loc~ted on 

forward centerline of the ball. ' 

Peep Holes (4) - D1 = 4.008, D2 = 1.00, TI = 4.3, T2 = 2.8 inches 

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Location - unknown 

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CR C,):: i .~~; • .: ~ _ ~tl NRO APPROVED FOR RELEASE 

DECLASSIFIED BY: C/IART 

DECLASSIFIED ON: 25 JULY 2012 

Memorandum ME 74 (Continued) -5- December 20, 1971 

Viewing Optics - Binocular viewing system (manufactured by Kol~organ) - approximately 3 inch diameter objective - coated lenses'. Eyepiece can be separated 

to provide two monocular systems (for two pilots simultaneously.) Each eyepiece has diopeter adjustment +1 to -3. Power changer by mechanical lever. 

Field of view through window -

high power 72° field 

low power 120° field 

NOTE: Pilots can not lOOK out the view port except through the viewing optical 

system. 

TV Viewing Systems - There are provisions for mounting four TV cameras outside 

the ball on the pan and tilt mounts or hard mounted. Any three T.V. can be 

viewed inside on 8 inch television sets (Conrac). 

Typical TV Camera - Zoom TV Model TC-150-MIL-ST-2-T manufactured by: Systems 

Division of Dillingham Oceanographic Engineering Co., San Diego, Calif. 

or 

Horizontal resolution - 500 TV lines 

Lens - focal length in air 13 mm to 52'mm with maximum aperture of 

f/2.0 

Focus range - 3 feet to infinity 

Horizontal field of view - 38° to 10.5° 

Vertical field of view - 30° to 8° 

Both in water. 

.Underwater TV Camera Model II - same manufacturer 

Lens - 12 mm, 60° field of view 

Focus range - 3 feet to infinity 

Horizontal resolution 600 TV lines 

Present TV's operate on 24 vUC supplied from main battery on 2 leads 

of #16 wire (power and return) - Signal leads are coax except through ball 

penetration where they are on separate pins. 

Lighting System - see attached sketch. 

I believe there is real potential in this area. The Navy has several 

deep submersibles which all have the same visibility problems. They are interested in getting new improved equipment to extend their capability for search 

and rescue work on the bottom. 

. . 'I 

' ...... : "'- " ... : ~-.~\r..~ 
Memorandum ME 74 (Continued) -6-

NRO APPROVED FOR RELEASE 

DECLASSIFIED BY: C/IART 

DECLASSIFIED ON: 25 JULY 2012 

December 20, 1971 

I was given two names of project people at NAV - SHIPS who have 

responsibility for developing this type of equipment. They are: 

Dan Spadone and 

Joe Cestone at PMS 395 

Deep Submergence 

Because of the security aspects of my association, my name should not be 

associated with Perkin-Elmer except with Lt. Cdr. Bartels, Lt. Taylor, 

Cdr. Mooney or Capt. Packer. I would be glad to set up introductions, etc. 

for any contact you feel could be used to further investigate this area of 

potential business. 

LBM/cj 

cc: R.W. Jones 

H.W. Robertson 

M.F. Maguire 

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