RV TRIESTE

Type: Deep Submergence Vessel
Length: 59.5 feet
Beam: 11.5 feet
Draft: 18 feet (loaded)
Displacement: 50 tons without gasoline; 150 tons with gasoline
Operating Crew: One crew member and one scientist
Buoyancy Control: Water buoyancy control; compressed air for positive buoyancy, sea water for negative buoyancy. Gasoline could be pumped out to speed descent.

Address:
National Museum of the United States Navy
805 Kidder Breese St., SE
Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5060
(202) 433-4882
Fax: (202) 433-8200
http://www.history.navy.mil
Latitude: 38.874163277, Longitude: -76.9952486108
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Trieste was built in 1953, by Swiss professor, scientist and explorer August Piccard. His son Jacques later worked with him on over 100 test dives, 26 of which were financed by the U.S. Navy. Trieste was purchased by the Navy in 1958. In 1960, she made her record-breaking dive. She dove 35,800 feet near the Marianas Islands. Three years later, Trieste located the remains of the lost submarines USS Thresher and USS Scorpion. She was changed, improved and redesigned so many times that almost no original parts remain. (See also Trieste II, Naval Undersea Museum, Keyport, Washington.)

Trieste hoisted out of the water, circa 1958-59.

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