McCann Rescue Chamber

McCann Rescue Chamber‏‎, also known as the McCann Submarine Rescue Chamber or McCann Bell, is a device designed for the rescue of personnel from a submarine that has sunk and is unable to surface. It was developed by United States Navy officer Charles B. Momsen and Swede Momsen in the early 1930s. The McCann Rescue Chamber was the first successful submarine rescue device and has been instrumental in several submarine rescue operations.

History

The McCann Rescue Chamber was developed in response to the Squalus incident, a submarine disaster that occurred in 1939. The United States Navy recognized the need for a reliable method of rescuing crew members from sunken submarines. The device was named after John P. McCann, a Navy officer who played a significant role in its development.

Design and Operation

The McCann Rescue Chamber is a diving bell that can be lowered from a surface ship to a submarine resting on the ocean floor. It is designed to mate with the submarine's hatch, allowing for the transfer of personnel from the submarine to the rescue chamber. The chamber can accommodate up to eight people at a time.

The rescue chamber is equipped with a telephone line for communication with the surface ship and a supply of oxygen to support life during the rescue operation. It also has a ballast system that allows it to be raised and lowered in the water.

Notable Rescues

The McCann Rescue Chamber was first used in a successful rescue operation in 1939, during the Squalus incident. It was used to rescue 33 crew members from the sunken submarine USS Squalus.

In 1949, the McCann Rescue Chamber was used to rescue the crew of the USS Cochino, a submarine that had sunk in the Barents Sea. The rescue operation was successful, with all crew members being brought to the surface safely.

Legacy

The McCann Rescue Chamber served as the basis for the development of more advanced submarine rescue systems, such as the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV). Despite advancements in technology, the basic principles of the McCann Rescue Chamber continue to be used in modern submarine rescue operations.