CURV

CURV (Cable-controlled Underwater Recovery Vehicle) is a series of remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) developed by the United States Navy. The CURV vehicles are primarily used for salvage operations, particularly for the recovery of objects from the ocean floor. The first CURV vehicle, CURV-I, was developed in the 1960s and was one of the first ROVs ever created.

History

The development of CURV began in the 1960s as a project of the United States Navy's Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS). The goal of the project was to create a remotely operated vehicle that could be used to recover test ordnance that had been fired into the sea. The first vehicle, CURV-I, was operational by 1966.

Over the years, the CURV series has been improved and expanded. The most recent version, CURV-21, is capable of operating at depths of up to 20,000 feet and is equipped with advanced sonar and video systems.

Design and Capabilities

CURV vehicles are designed to be remotely operated from a surface ship. They are connected to the ship by a long cable, which provides power to the vehicle and allows for the transmission of data and video back to the ship.

The vehicles are equipped with a variety of tools and instruments, including sonar systems, video cameras, and manipulator arms. These tools allow the CURV to locate and recover objects from the ocean floor.

Notable Missions

CURV vehicles have been involved in a number of notable missions. In 1966, CURV-I was used to recover a hydrogen bomb that had been lost in the Mediterranean Sea following a mid-air collision of two U.S. Air Force planes. In 1986, CURV-III was used to assist in the salvage of the space shuttle Challenger's crew compartment.

See Also

• Remotely operated underwater vehicle
• United States Navy
• Naval Ordnance Test Station

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