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Regarding the Mystery Ship section, we received feedback from a former crewman:
While combing through the internet seeking information on a former shipmate whom I served with on DSV Turtle (DSV 3), I came upon your web site […]
R/V Lulu was transferred to the US Navy as stated, but was not turned over to private owners until much later.
Shortly after reporting to DSV Turtle in Jan 1985 I embarked on R/V Lulu with other crew members of DSV Turtle for five days at sea with a training device we called ‘The Plug.’ It bore the overall dimensions of both DSV Turtle and DSV Sea Cliff (before DSV Sea Cliff’s modifications and upgrades), and most importantly the handling characteristics of a surfaced submersible, which was ungainly especially in anything more than sea state 1. The Plug floated, but had no propulsion of its own. The ‘plug’ had tie down points equivalent to the submersible, as swimmers were embarked topside on the submersible during launch and recovery via small boat. Line handlers positioned themselves along the length atop each of R/V Lulu’s pontoon hulls to retrieve lines case off by the two swimmers positioned topside on the plug as R/V Lulu during launches, and to heave the handling lines to the swimmers during a recovery. The support structure fabricated atop each pontoon had cleats to control the motion of the Plug as it was brought into the relative safety with R/V Lulu’s lift platform in the lowered position.
We conducted these practice launch and recovery operations both inside the safety and calm of San Diego Bay, and outside Point Loma.
In the fall of 1985, our sister submersible DSV Sea Cliff was chosen as the flagship for ‘The Year of the Ocean’ and was positioned atop the launch platform of R/V Lulu. The entire ship (R/V Lulu) had received a spit and polish make over.
Shortly after that event, she was transferred either to her new owner or to an inactive ships facility nearby the 32nd Street Naval Station and the NASSCO shipyards. I saw her tied up in 1987 missing her days of glamour. Prior to transferring from DSV Turtle in Sept 1990, I attained certification as Command Pilot. Having maintained and operated this unique craft was the highlight of my career. DSV Turtle is now on display at the Mystic Aquarium in Mystic CT. DSV Sea Cliff is sitting on her trailer in a weatherproof box at WHOI, in Woods Hole, MA.
Here’s a link outlining the modifications made to DSV Sea Cliff. DSV Turtle is mixed in with this data: http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08354.htm
Sincerely,
<name withheld pending permission>, USN Retired