Deepstar 4000 Dive 499 Nov 1968

The previous post gave some background on the Deepstar 4000 submersible, with photos from October 1968. This post is about another related outing in November 1968. By comparing the Deepstar crew with the log books kept by Ron Church, I’m very confident that the activity in the photos below show the 499th dive for Deepstar 4000, made on November 7th. The following day, the Deepstar’s celebrated 500th dive was made.

The location was about 5 miles SSW of Point Loma. The crew for this dive was made up of Curt Adams, pilot, and observers Carl Shipek, and a man named O’Mara. Ron Church, another Deepstar pilot is clearly present on the support ship “Search Tide” as well. It’s difficult to tell with certainty, but Robert Bradley the remaining Deepstar pilot during this time period also appears to be onboard. He is the man wearing the red and white figured shirt.

The film below starts with the three man crew entering Deepstar. First is pilot Curt Adams, then observer O’Mara, and lastly, observer Carl Shipek. Robert Bradley then secures the hatch. Deepstar is swung out and launched. The footage then continues with a diver attaching the hoist, and Deepstar brought aboard. After being secured, the first crewman, Carl Shipek, is shown exiting Deepstar.

8mm film of preparation, launch, and retrieval of Deepstar 4000 on its 499th dive. Unfortunately, the light meter on the camera was failing, causing the exposure to oscillate. This footage was split across two reels. The second half was transferred to digital by Periscope Film using superior equipment to that used for the first half (not done by Periscope). The first half will be scanned by Periscope later this year, and this clip will be updated then.

Preparing Deepstar 4000 for its dive. At left, Curt Adams can be seen talking to Ron Church (wearing the dark blue cap)

More Deepstar preparations. The bow is facing right, showing the equipment rack with syntactic foam blocks.

The hoist begins to bring Deepstar around. The person I believe to be Robert Bradley is the man closest to the camera on the far right.

The Deepstar has been swung around and is ready to be lowered into the ocean.

In she goes.

Deepstar still visible below the surface near the support ship.

Watching the beginning of the descent.

The dive complete, Deepstar can be seen at the surface from the support ship.

The diver in the water gets ready to attach Deepstar to the hoist.

Diver waiting for the hook to be lowered.

Having been hoisted out of the water, swung around, and placed aboard, Deepstar is secured. Robert Bradley, is partially visible in the background by the equipment rack.

Carl Shipek exists the craft first. Ron Church barely visible off camera on the left, and Robert Bradley on the right.

Ron Church at far left, talking to Carl Shipek, while O’Mara begins to exit Deepstar. Robert Bradley visible at far right.

Pilot Curt Adams exits Deepstar last, while observer O’Mara comes down the ladder. Ron Church is at the base of the ladder, and Robert Bradley on the right.

Deepstar 4000 October 1968

Designed in collaboration with famed underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau, Deepstar 4000, a 3-man submersible (1 pilot and 2 observers), was manufactured by Westinghouse in 1964. Originally intended to have a 12,000 ft. depth rating, problems in manufacturing the hull resulted in a design change to materials that would allow only a 4,000 ft. rating. Construction was completed in 1965, and testing began late that year. A meticulous diving log was kept by pilot Ron Church, which starts with dive number 30, made December 1965. In March 1966 a dive off San Diego, California reached 4,132 feet, likely its record depth. A safety system was designed to kick in at 4,200 feet, triggering automatic release of weight.

During much of its operational life, Deepstar 4000 functioned under contract to the US Navy through the Navy Electronics Laboratory. When submersible certification was introduced by the Navy, Deepstar was the first commercial unit to receive certification.

In the fall of 1968, a series of dives were made off the coast of La Jolla, California for the NEL and Naval Undersea Weapons Center (NUWC). These dives were made to photograph and document sea floor profiles. For this work, an equipment rack was mounted to the bow of Deepstar, on which a variety of cameras and sensors were mounted. Blocks of syntactic foam were also placed on the rack to provide buoyancy to offset the additional forward weight.

During this time, the three Deepstar pilots were Ron Church, Robert Palmer Bradley, and Curt Adams. Ron Church was a noted underwater and surf photographer, and a submersible pilot who often worked with Cousteau. Robert Palmer Bradley was the esteemed diver to whom Busby’s book “Manned Submersibles” is dedicated.

Much of the photographic and lighting equipment aboard Deepstar was made by Oceanographic Engineering Corporation’s Hydro Products division. Robert O. Briggs Sr. (President), and George Hatchett (General Manager) of Hydro Products went out with the Deepstar and its support ship Search Tide on several occasions in October and November 1968. One of the key oceanographers using Deepstar for research, Carl Joseph Shipek of the Navy Electronics Laboratory, had worked with Bob Briggs before on photographic methods of sea floor analysis.

On one of the outings in October, and another on November 7, George Hatchett took a number of photographs, and shot some 8mm film of Deepstar 4000 and the people working with Deepstar.

The people involved in the Oceanography scene, which was (and still is) very active around San Diego, spent time together outside work as well. Ron Church taught Brigg’s son Robert Jr. to scuba dive. Sailing was also popular. Upon returning that day, Bob Briggs, Ron Church, and George Hatchett went sailing in San Diego Bay in Briggs’ boat, photos of which are at the end of this post.

The following photographs were taken during the gray, wet October outing. Photos and film of the November trip are in a separate post.

Bob Briggs stands in front of the Deepstar 4000 and its equipment rack. To the immediate left of Briggs, Ron Church can be seen in the background.

Stern of Deepstar 4000, with much of the fairing removed. Visible in the center is the Hydro Products seahorse logo on what I think is the 70 mm camera electronics housing.

Bob Briggs by the Deepstar equipment rack talking to unidentified person with NUWC badge. The unidentified person appears in several photos, and although he bears some resemblance to Robert Bradley, I don’t think it is him.

Carl Shipek on left, Robert Briggs on right, stand beside the Deepstar 4000 equipment rack. Tragically, Carl passed away less than a year after this photograph was taken.

Carl Shipek on left, Bob Briggs on right, apparently shaking on a wager. Deepstar 4000 equipment rack visible in the foreground.

Carl Shipek and Bob Briggs.

Bob Briggs and Carl Shipek examine the equipment.

Bob Briggs on left and Ron Church on right talking next to Deepstar 4000.

George Hatchett, who took all the photos in this group (except this one), stands beside Deepstar 4000.

Ron Church atop the Deepstar 4000, about to enter through the hatch.

Steaming back to San Diego aboard the supply ship “Search Tide”. Deepstar 400 visible at center left next to the hoist used to deploy and retrieve.

Ron Church on left, and Bob Briggs on right enjoy some sailing in San Diego Bay after returning from their day with Deepstar.

Short 8mm film clip of Ron Church and Bob Briggs sailing in San Diego Bay. Bob Briggs was active in San Diego sailing, and participated in local races.