Subskimmer

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Computer-generated image of three frogmen riding a Subskimmer underwater. Their breathing sets are the Siebe Gorman CDBA.

The Subskimmer is a Diver Propulsion Vehicle which is a form of RIB (inflatable boat) with an outboard petrol (gasoline) engine. It is equipped to inflate and deflate itself as it runs. When submerged it seals its motor and runs with battery-electric thrusters, which are on a rotatable cross-arm, and is deflated. Thus it transforms between a fast light surface boat and a submerged diver propulsion vehicle. The central box contains the pump to deflate and inflate the tubes, and miscellaneous kit. The batteries, being heavy, are in a thick tube along its keel. Its outboard motor has a long snorkel so the Subskimmer can run on motor just submerged to try to avoid detection. The thruster-arm contains navigation kit.

The Subskimmer project was started in the 1970s by Submarine Products Ltd. of Hexham in Northumberland in England and passed through various hands. It is now being made by Alphachamp. Its thrusters are on a rotatable cross-arm. There are pictures and more information on Alphachamp's web site. The name "Subskimmer" is correctly a tradename owned by Alphachamp.

[edit] Other uses of the name

The word "subskimmer" has been found on the WWW used incorrectly to mean:-

• An Exocet-type anti-ship missile.
• In the image at this link (pointed to by this link and this link), a one-man diver-tug with a big propeller below and handlebars. Malaysia's and Pakistan's navies have or had examples of it. This is a diver propulsion vehicle, sometimes known as a scooter or a sled.
• As a generic to mean the Infernus, a Subskimmer-like boat being designed and made by students in Sweden; its developers call it "a subskimmer"; see also http://www.svd.se/dynamiskt/naringsliv/did_7111860.asp (in Swedish)

[edit] External links

• Alphachamp
• http://www.specialoperations.com/Navy/SPWS/ describes a fast boat that acts like a Subskimmer, but may not be inflatable.
• KSA (UNDERWATER) LTD has a connection with Subskimmers.
• 5 images of Subskimmers at http://www.globaltradelink.co.uk : in rain, bouncing on wake, running fast, underwater, awash.
• 2 small images of Subskimmers underwater at http://www.footagefirm.com/footage/historical.htm : [1], [2].
• an image on site PASKAL