Abstract

The contribution of the Royal Navy to the development of modern submarine escape by free ascent, breathing air, from 1945 to the present time, is described. Much of the work is unpublished. Experiments in which goats were exposed to simulated escape pressure profiles while breathing air from 90 m to 300 m are described. The gradual testing of human subjects during such escape profiles is also reported up to real escapes by subjects from submarines lying at 180 m. Thus escapes are now feasible from almost anywhere on the continental shelf. Possible techniques of even deeper escape, i.e. hyperoxygenated air breathing, oxygen breathing, propulsion + retropulsion of the escaper, drogues + pressure retaining (2 atm abs) escape suits are briefly considered. The figures illustrate the Royal Navy series of animal and human, simulated and real escapes. Table I gives full details on human testing. Tables containing details of all goat exposures can be obtained from author.