Update on Russian Bathyscaphe Rescue

Lots happening today as the Western allies move equipment to help in the rescue of the crew of the bottomed Russian mini-sub, as the Russians make their own rescue attempt. Much like the rescue of the survivors of the USS Squalus sinking in 1939, this effort is drawing world-wide attention; our prayers are with the Russian sailors, their families, and shipmates.

I think the most fortuitous happening, which leads me to think the effort has a high probability of success, is that the Russians exercised with NATO submarine rescue forces not two months ago in the Sorbet Royal 2005 exercise in the Mediterranean. This means that the staffs responsible for coordination still have their counterparts "on speed dial" and have apparently been able to ramp up quickly to get equipment moving. The British Scorpio should be arriving by tomorrow morning, with the American Super Scorpios not far behind. Figure two hours to load on a waiting ship, and three hours transit; hopefully we'll get some good news within 36 hours.

Here's a good Navy picture of the Super Scorpio. It looks like the nature of this casualty means that a steel-cutting tool will be more useful than a manned vehicle like the DSRV Mystic; I still wouldn't be surprised if they're on alert to move as well.

For continuing coverage from the world's best sub bloggers, check out our group submarine blog, Ultraquiet No More.

The most useful single post I've seen is the one by Pigboatsailor at Discomfort of Thought.

Staying at PD...

Update 2109 05 August: Chapomatic's post is just as good; he even gives a shout-out for Ultraquiet No More over at Gateway Pundit, who, as Chap notes, got the Instalanche that maybe should have gone to the "professional" sub-bloggers at Ultraquiet No More. (Don't get me wrong; Gateway Pundit has a good post, and he does direct his readers to UNM.)

Update 2232 05 August: Pigboatsailor noticed that this CNN article mentions that "(a) third U.S. underwater vehicle, called Deep Drone 8000, was to leave from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland later in the day." Here's some official information on Deep Drone 8000.