French two-person submarine
|
History |
France |
Owner | Cousteau Society |
Port of registry | France |
Launched | 1959 |
Maiden voyage | 1959 |
Homeport | Marseille, France |
Identification | SP-350 |
Nickname(s) | Denise |
Status | Decommissioned |
General characteristics |
Type | Submarine |
Displacement | 3.8 tonnes |
Length | 2.75 m (9 ft 0 in) |
Beam | 2.75 m (9 ft 0 in) |
Draught | 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) |
Propulsion | Electric water jet |
Speed | 1 knot |
Endurance | 96 hours (one person) |
Test depth | 1,000 m (3,300 ft) |
Complement | 2 |
Crew | 2 |
The SP-350 Denise, famous as the "Diving saucer" (Soucoupe plongeante), is a small submarine designed to hold two people, and is capable of exploring depths of up to 400 metres (1,300 ft). It was invented by Jacques-Yves Cousteau and engineer Jean Mollard at the French Centre for Undersea Research.[1] It was built in the year 1959 and usually operated from Cousteau's ship, the Calypso.