DSV Alvin
Alvin (DSV-2) is a crewed deep-ocean research submersible owned by the United States Navy and operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. The original vehicle was built by General Mills' Electronics Group in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Named to honor the prime mover and creative inspiration for the vehicle, Allyn Vine, Alvin was commissioned on June 5, 1964.
Alvin in 1978, a year after first exploring hydrothermal vents. The rack hanging at the bow holds sample containers. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| United States | |
| Name | Alvin |
| Namesake | Allyn Vine |
| Operator | Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution |
| Builder | General Mills' Electronics Group |
| Acquired | May 26, 1964 |
| In service | June 5, 1964 |
| Status | in active service, as of 2023 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Deep-submergence vehicle |
| Displacement | 17 t (17 long tons) |
| Length | 7.1 m (23 ft 4 in) |
| Beam | 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) |
| Height | 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in) |
| Draft | 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) |
| Speed | 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph) |
| Range | 5 km (3.1 mi) |
| Endurance | 72 hours with 3 crew |
| Test depth | 6,500 m (21,300 ft) |
| Capacity | 680 kg (1,500 lb) payload |
| Crew | 3 (1 pilot, 2 scientific observers) |
The submersible is launched from the deep submergence support vessel RV Atlantis (AGOR-25), which is also owned by the U.S. Navy and operated by WHOI. The submersible has made more than 5,200 dives, carrying two scientists and a pilot, observing the lifeforms that must cope with super-pressures and move about in total darkness, as well as exploring the wreck of Titanic. Research conducted by Alvin has been featured in nearly 2,000 scientific papers.