Re: Wet or Dry = Scary images of the deep

["Alan D. Secor" <secor@btv.ibm.com>]

Most 1atm psubs should have a method for flooding the interior so the
hatch can be opened for escape but I would see this being used as an 
absolute last chance method for bailout.  You probably wouldn't get
bent since your time breathing compressed gas at depth would be
minimal (hopefully!).  Depends on several factors. I would rather be
bent than drowned anyday though!  I'm planning on keeping a 30 cu ft 
pony bottle and regulator in my sub for bailout if necessary.  
You have to keep in mind though that to have to flood and bail would 
require the failure of several systems and/or entanglement.  Some subs
such as Delta Oceanics have detachable superstructures in case of
entanglement.  (This would be a good application for Joe's explosive
bolts! :-)

Getting back to your original question, if the sub was on it's side,
I would think you could still get out.  If it were upside down, you'd
have some real problems but then again, what the hell did you do to
get it that way??  Most subs are bottom heavy for stability.

Well enough of my rambling before someone confuses me for an expert ;-)

Al

>
>Here, all I was worrying about was the hull crushing.  If a dry sub got into
>trouble and you had to let water in to get out and you are upside down or on
>your side, what would you do?  What's the  little WWII lung you could put
>on?  Would you still get bent, Al?  If your hatch can't be opened and you
>can't swim out like in a wet sub what's a pilot to do?  Good safety
>certification topics that all should actually practice in your psubs.  F.
>Phillips      
>
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--
Alan D. Secor
e-mail: secor@btv.ibm.com