The RAND corporation publishes a number of reports and books and makes, as far as I can tell, most of them freely available as downloads.  They're a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and have done research on a broad range of defense, technical and social issues. Here's their online bookstore: http://www.rand.org/pubs/ And better yet, here's a link that returns all of their submarine reports: RAND submarine reports

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What's the largest homebuilt sub in the world?  That nicely styled and full-featured Kraka, based in Copenhagen?  Well yes, she's the largest operational homebuilt that I know of.  But her builder Peter Madsen has been working on his next project...

Read more for the photo.

I just received a note and photos from Mark Smith of Hamilton, Alabama about his wet sub project.   Mark is an experienced diver and long time undersea enthusiast, and he's tackled an ambitious wet sub project. 

Not too many details on this, but Odyssey Marine Exploration has brought an estimated 500,000 coins into the United States from a shipwreck in the Atlantic.  The company isn't describing the wreck or its location but there are clues that the treasure may be from a 400 yr old ship sunk some 40 miles off the southwest coast of England.  That puts it in international waters, and Odyssey has a court order granting them rights to salvage.

  MSNBC story...

An article about a few homebuilt sub enthusiasts down in South Florida and the sub Antipodes.  It has some interesting photos and a little video.  I like the shot titled "Waiting Around", where the pilot is sitting in the open hatch but two thirds of the photo is an underwater view of the sub at the surface.

And a good quote from Patrick Lahey, a Vero Beach underwater consultant.  "When the paperwork weighs as much as the submarine, you're done."

the Sun Sentinel article...

Just saw this announcement about Kraka from the PSUBS group:

Kraka, the diesel-electric submersible designed and built by Peter Madsen and Claus Norregaard is currently for sale on PSUBS.ORG.

"Kraka" is a sea-going, diesel-electric submersible originally launched April 12th 2005.   She is capable of charging her own batteries and compressed air tank, hence only dependent on supply of diesel oil.   A 2-3 man crew can sleep on-board in turns.   With the sail hatch closed and air intake through the snorkel it is possible to navigate in quite rough weather.   She is equipped with a button hatch for deploying and retrieving divers while submerged.   She is also equipped with a GPS chart plotter, a gyro compass, and echo sounder. She also has a photo optical mast ( periscope) with four cameras, each covering a 90 degree view and providing 360 degrees of visibility outside the sub.

The price for the submarine is negotiable and offers are being accepted. Please visit http://www.psubs.org/forsale for more information and photos.

Here's a new website documenting the construction of a Kittredge K-350 submersible.  James is putting together a nice collection of photos and notes.  Check it out:

  Guernsey Submarines

Great video of Alex Smyth operating his "Snoopy", a K-250 personal (one person) submarine.  Watch for the collision! 

Here's a impressive, and exciting submarine project.  Well, it's exciting if you're interested in building pressure vessels with concrete.  Now that's an obscure branch of nerd...

Back in 1996, Wilfried Ellmer built, tested and used a 20 ton concrete submarine on an Alpine lake.  Residents of Lake Atter in Austria witnessed the launch of a pristine, streamlined, white vessel.  The photo at right shows the boat at launching before the fitting out of sail, rudders and propellers.

Wilfried states that the 18cm  (7 inches) thick hull gives an operational depth of 300m (~1000ft) and an estimated crush depth of about 900m.  He used portland cement reinforced with 4mm and 6mm steel in a 10 cm mesh.

This is a large personal submarine, weighing in a 14 tons before ballasting.  Check out the interior photo on the website which shows a roomy cabin.  Unfortunately missing are any photos of the sub actually diving or even maneuvering on the surface under its own power. 

Concrete Sub page

Velosub of Lyon, France has announced a new version of their human powered water craft.  Updates include a shrouded prop and a larger front float which looks more comfortable. 

Velosub.com

Original Sub-Log posting

Some press coverage of the 2006 PSUBS Convention, held June 23-25 this year at Raystown Lake, Pennsylvania.  I believe around eight subs (and their owners) attended, along with dozens of other sub enthusiasts and a number of locals.  Sounds like it was a great event!

Altoona Mirror article...

A NASA team of six is wrapping up an 18 underwater mission after testing, among other things, how astronauts might interact with robotic space explorers.  The team, designated NEEMO 9, has lived in the Aquarius undersea habitat near Key Largo, in the Florida Keys.

Activities have included simulated moonwalks and remote, robotic surgery with an artificial two second Earth-to-Moon communications delay.  The surgery was performed by a doctor 1300 miles distant in the city of Hamilton, Ontario Canada.

MSNBC Story...

Older NEEMO 7 story on Space.com...

Here's a short article that raises an alarm because of the increasing number of submarines under construction around the world.  A mention of how non-nuclear sub effectiveness may be increasing with air independent propulsion and newer weapons.

  American Thinker article...

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