The mini-submarine that keeps US commandos dry is deployed for the first time

The submarine was designed by the Plymouth company MSubs and built by the aerospace company Lockheed Martin. Credit & Copyright: LOCKHEED MARTIN

A mini submarine that can keep Navy SEAL commandos dry on covert missions has been deployed for the first time.

For decades, naval commandos have used «wet» vehicles in which the passenger compartment was flooded from the outside with water, exposing the people on board to freezing temperatures. They must also use breathing equipment.

But the Dry Combat Submersible (DCS) submarine has a pressurized, dry interior and is fitted with a lockable and lockable chamber that allows commandos to «arrive on a mission.» warm, rested, hydrated and ready.”

The submarine is based on a design by MSubs of Plymouth and built by the aerospace company Lockheed Martin.

The 30-ton submarine is 39.4 feet long and can carry up to eight special operators and two pilots. It can stay submerged for 24 hours and dive up to 330 feet.

The dry combat submersible allows commandos » arrive on a mission warm, rested, hydrated, and ready.” 9;

It took years to develop a special submersible that would be deployed by surface ships rather than nuclear submarines.

Previous attempts to design a mini-dry submarine have ended in failure, including one that Northrop Grumman began developing in the mid-1990s but caught fire in 2008.

Lockheed Martin was awarded the contract to develop the DCS in 2016 year with MSubs, and the design is based on the British company's S351. Nemesis.

The mini-submarine «provides safe, clandestine transportation of passengers over long distances in a completely dry environment and has a block and lock chamber,» said Gregg Bauer, general manager of Lockheed Martin.

Part of the reason potential recruits for the grueling SEAL test — known as «Hell Week» — place such emphasis on cold water endurance is due to fatigue caused by exposure to the elements during transport on missions.

The SEALs have been active since 1962. Their missions can range from unconventional warfare to counter-terrorism, information warfare, and counter-narcotics operations.