Protei-5 DPV

Long ago and far away, on the Rebreather List, a discussion about scooters took place. I was razzing Phi Le about his Gavin scooter, and provided a tiny hint about the scooter that I'd recently imported from Russia. One member went so far as to call it "Dave's Nuclear Powered Dive Scooter". Others simply called it the "Kursk". Numerous requests for details followed. Well, I've finally gotten around to showing some photos of it. Here they are!

Here she is! The DPV (I hesitate to call it a "scooter", as it's far more capable) is packed in a wooden box, firmly held in place by wooden blocks and provided with comprehensive spare parts and tools. No, it's NOT nuclear powered. That was just Kevin Juergensen's idea of a joke. The Nuclear powered one is still backordered........ (Only kidding. Really. The last thing I need is the NRC coming to visit the shop.)

All equipment was furnished to enable the DPV to be placed into service, right down to the screwdrivers. Batteries were packed in the box, and all items were wrapped in vapor-barrier paper for long term storage.

Hauling the thing out of the box, I was amazed at the light weight of the chassis itself. I believe it was made from titanium, and I can carry the basic chassis one-handed. That's saying a lot, since the thing is at least the size of (2) mid-sized Farallon scooters laid side-by-side. Here you can see the pusher motor which sits above the divers profile, in undisturbed water, and the crotch and shoulder clips that allow it to be maneuvered without using your hands.

A frontal view shows the twin battery compartments. The battery hatch is on the left in the photo, and the on/off switch is on the right.

The shoulder clips are spring loaded to "clip" over the divers shoulders. Three positions are available to adjust for torso length. The guys who rode these in the Spetznaz have told me that riding these for hours is effortless, as you do not need to use your hands, and steer with little adjustments of your fins in the propeller slip-stream. The end result is more like "swimming" like a porpoise with body-English and fins than riding a vehicle or being towed by a tractor, as is the case with traditional Western designs.

The angle of the motor may be adjusted by the diver for trim purposes, using the turnbuckle provided. This can be done with ease while mounted.

The aft-view shows the propeller and shroud.

More details of the motor and prop.

The rod at the front can hold a variety of accessories. The arm shown holds two quartz lights for illumination, which are powered from the internal batteries from a receptacle on the hull. A swim-board with compass, watch, and depth gauge can also be fitted. Various panniers can be mounted under the belly for "special missions". An AKM? A bit of SEMTEX perhaps? Or just a LASER designator and a radio for calling in precision guided munitions? Folks, this DPV was designed to be mounted on a bracket on the exterior of an attack submarine for use by Naval Spetznaz commandos who would lock-out of the sub, dismount the DPV's, go do their missions, and return. The waterproof depth is on a par with a fleet submarine. Duration of immersion might have been months. This is a SERIOUS unit.

Now, you want to talk sick? My plan was to strap (4) aluminum 80's filled with 02 to this things belly and loop a a 10 foot cutting lead on top of the DPV. This would allow me to ride my 02 supply to the wreck and then to use the internal batteries to run the torch. That's be a fine way to get portholes, no? I might do it yet. A new day in wreck-salvage dawns.

Here's the on/off switch, with a locking collar to prevent inadvertent running while secured. Brown stuff in all the photos is a protective grease that has not yet been removed.

Here the battery hatch (yes, it's a *hatch*!) has been removed to gain access to the interior. One central bolt withdraws 3 locking arms that secure the hatch, which is sealed with a substantial O-ring. All batteries, both port and starboard, are serviced through this one hatch.

Yes I know it's fuzzy, but it's the best I could do. Here is the interior, which is very aerospace-like in construction. Some details of the fine riveting and lightening holes in the structure may be seen. Structural strength is immense.

Peering into the battery hatch, we can see the battery trays, cables, and more of the method of construction. Batteries slide into the brackets shown and are fully secured both top and bottom.

Here is one of the batteries, sitting and ready to be installed. These are a silver-?? battery, with a very high charge state and a correspondingly high cost. Some of the DPV's have been retrofitted with sealed lead-acid batteries by guys who could not get the originals.

In typically Russian fashion, the DPV was provided with sufficient spare parts to be maintained for the life of the unit. Even the tools needed to service all areas of the unit were provided.

This is just a fraction of the spare parts kits. These little dovetailed wooden boxes hold brown-paper wrapped parts of every description. I'd say that this was 10% of the total spares provided.

Back in the box, ready to be loaded on the Antonov to be sent to who-knows-where. Ready to go anywhere, anytime.

That's it for Diver Dave's DPV. Yes, rumors of it's nuclear powerplant are exaggerated, but only just. This is a system unlike any other that I've seen, and the users who have been riding these in "professional" service swear by them as an extremely comfortable and reliable system. How do you ride it on the surface? Just flip it upside down (prop down) and hang-on!

		Here she is! The DPV (I hesitate to call it a "scooter", as it's far more capable) is packed in a wooden box, firmly held in place by wooden blocks and provided with comprehensive spare parts and tools. No, it's NOT nuclear powered. That was just Kevin Juergensen's idea of a joke. The Nuclear powered one is still backordered........ (Only kidding. Really. The last thing I need is the NRC coming to visit the shop.)
		All equipment was furnished to enable the DPV to be placed into service, right down to the screwdrivers. Batteries were packed in the box, and all items were wrapped in vapor-barrier paper for long term storage.
		Hauling the thing out of the box, I was amazed at the light weight of the chassis itself. I believe it was made from titanium, and I can carry the basic chassis one-handed. That's saying a lot, since the thing is at least the size of (2) mid-sized Farallon scooters laid side-by-side. Here you can see the pusher motor which sits above the divers profile, in undisturbed water, and the crotch and shoulder clips that allow it to be maneuvered without using your hands.
		A frontal view shows the twin battery compartments. The battery hatch is on the left in the photo, and the on/off switch is on the right.
		The shoulder clips are spring loaded to "clip" over the divers shoulders. Three positions are available to adjust for torso length. The guys who rode these in the Spetznaz have told me that riding these for hours is effortless, as you do not need to use your hands, and steer with little adjustments of your fins in the propeller slip-stream. The end result is more like "swimming" like a porpoise with body-English and fins than riding a vehicle or being towed by a tractor, as is the case with traditional Western designs.
		The angle of the motor may be adjusted by the diver for trim purposes, using the turnbuckle provided. This can be done with ease while mounted.
		The aft-view shows the propeller and shroud.
		More details of the motor and prop.
		The rod at the front can hold a variety of accessories. The arm shown holds two quartz lights for illumination, which are powered from the internal batteries from a receptacle on the hull. A swim-board with compass, watch, and depth gauge can also be fitted. Various panniers can be mounted under the belly for "special missions". An AKM? A bit of SEMTEX perhaps? Or just a LASER designator and a radio for calling in precision guided munitions? Folks, this DPV was designed to be mounted on a bracket on the exterior of an attack submarine for use by Naval Spetznaz commandos who would lock-out of the sub, dismount the DPV's, go do their missions, and return. The waterproof depth is on a par with a fleet submarine. Duration of immersion might have been months. This is a SERIOUS unit. Now, you want to talk sick? My plan was to strap (4) aluminum 80's filled with 02 to this things belly and loop a a 10 foot cutting lead on top of the DPV. This would allow me to ride my 02 supply to the wreck and then to use the internal batteries to run the torch. That's be a fine way to get portholes, no? I might do it yet. A new day in wreck-salvage dawns.
		Here's the on/off switch, with a locking collar to prevent inadvertent running while secured. Brown stuff in all the photos is a protective grease that has not yet been removed.
		Here the battery hatch (yes, it's a hatch!) has been removed to gain access to the interior. One central bolt withdraws 3 locking arms that secure the hatch, which is sealed with a substantial O-ring. All batteries, both port and starboard, are serviced through this one hatch.
		Yes I know it's fuzzy, but it's the best I could do. Here is the interior, which is very aerospace-like in construction. Some details of the fine riveting and lightening holes in the structure may be seen. Structural strength is immense.
		Peering into the battery hatch, we can see the battery trays, cables, and more of the method of construction. Batteries slide into the brackets shown and are fully secured both top and bottom.
		Here is one of the batteries, sitting and ready to be installed. These are a silver-?? battery, with a very high charge state and a correspondingly high cost. Some of the DPV's have been retrofitted with sealed lead-acid batteries by guys who could not get the originals.
		In typically Russian fashion, the DPV was provided with sufficient spare parts to be maintained for the life of the unit. Even the tools needed to service all areas of the unit were provided.
		This is just a fraction of the spare parts kits. These little dovetailed wooden boxes hold brown-paper wrapped parts of every description. I'd say that this was 10% of the total spares provided.
		Back in the box, ready to be loaded on the Antonov to be sent to who-knows-where. Ready to go anywhere, anytime.