Pisces V
Encyclopedia
Pisces V is a deep-submergence vehicle (DSV) of the Pisces class
built in 1973.
Pisces V is type of manned submersible
ocean exploration device, powered by battery, and capable of operating to depths of 2000 m (6,280 ft), a depth that is optimum for use in the sea waters around the Hawaiian Islands
. It is used by scientists to explore the deep sea around the underwater banks in the main Hawaiian Islands, as well as the underwater features and seamount
s in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, specifically around Loihi Seamount
.
In August 2002, Pisces V and her sister Pisces IV discovered a World War II
Japanese midget submarine
outside of Pearl Harbor
which had been sunk by the destroyer
in the first American shots fired in World War II
. In 2011, marine scientists from HURL
celebrated the 1,000th dive of Pisces V.
The Hawaiʻi Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL) has two of these submersible vehicles, the Pisces V and the Pisces IV. The advantage of having two is that it allows preparation for an emergency. While one of the submersibles is underwater conducting its dive, the other remains at readiness should there be an emergency, needing only to be boarded on ship and hurried to the site of the problem. Such an emergency could include the submersible becoming tangled in fishing nets or entrapped in rocks or debris on the ocean floor. In such cases, the second submersible could rush to the rescue. There are also research expeditions where it is advantageous to use the two vessels together.
In August 2002, Pisces V and her sister vessel Pisces IV discovered a Japanese midget submarine
; sunk on December 7, 1941 by the destroyer
in the first American shots fired in World War II
, the submarine was hit by a 4"/50 caliber gun shot and depth charge
d shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor
began. The submarine was found in 400 m of water about five miles off the mouth of Pearl Harbor. This was the culmination of a 61-year search for the vessel and has been called "the most significant modern marine archeological find ever in the Pacific, second only to the finding of the Titanic in the Atlantic". In 2003, Pisces V visited the Japanese midget submarine it had found in Pearl Harbor
the year before. The U.S. State Department worked in conjunction with the Japanese Foreign Ministry to determine Japanese wishes regarding the fate of the midget submarine. The submersibles are used by HURL as teaching devices. In 2008, two members of the Tampa Bay Chapter of SCUBAnauts were invited to team with HURL and to visit the historic wreck of the Japanese submarine. One SCUBAnaut said as he stepped on the Pisces V that "it looked and felt as if I were in a space shuttle preparing for lift-off".
A mock-up of the control panel of the Pisces V can be visited by the public at the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center in Hilo, Hawaii.
On March 5, 2009, scientists discovered seven new species of bamboo coral
, six of which may be of a new genera, an extraordinary finding in a genera so broad. They were able to find these specimens through the use of the Pisces V which allowed them to reach depths beyond those attained by scuba divers. They also discovered a giant sponge approximately three feet tall and three feet wide that scientists named the "cauldron sponge".
Pisces class DSV
Pisces class submersibles are three person research deep-submergence vehicles designed and built by Hyco International Hydrodynamics of North Vancouver in British Columbia with a maximum operating depth of 2,000 m . The vehicles have multiple view ports, sample collecting, environmental sensing,...
built in 1973.
Pisces V is type of manned submersible
Submersible
A submersible is a small vehicle designed to operate underwater. The term submersible is often used to differentiate from other underwater vehicles known as submarines, in that a submarine is a fully autonomous craft, capable of renewing its own power and breathing air, whereas a submersible is...
ocean exploration device, powered by battery, and capable of operating to depths of 2000 m (6,280 ft), a depth that is optimum for use in the sea waters around the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
. It is used by scientists to explore the deep sea around the underwater banks in the main Hawaiian Islands, as well as the underwater features and seamount
Seamount
A seamount is a mountain rising from the ocean seafloor that does not reach to the water's surface , and thus is not an island. These are typically formed from extinct volcanoes, that rise abruptly and are usually found rising from a seafloor of depth. They are defined by oceanographers as...
s in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, specifically around Loihi Seamount
Loihi Seamount
Lōihi Seamount is an active undersea volcano located around off the southeast coast of the island of Hawaii about below sea level. It lies on the flank of Mauna Loa, the largest shield volcano on Earth...
.
In August 2002, Pisces V and her sister Pisces IV discovered a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Japanese midget submarine
Ko-hyoteki class submarine
The class was a class of Japanese midget submarines used during World War II. They had hull numbers but no names. For simplicity, they are most often referred to by the hull number of the mother submarine...
outside of Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
which had been sunk by the destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
in the first American shots fired in World War II
First American shots fired in World War II
Determining when the first engagement of the United States in World War II occurred may depend from scholar and if such actions led to formal entry of the United States into the conflict.-Attacks on American armed forces:...
. In 2011, marine scientists from HURL
Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory
The Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory is a regional undersea research facility under the auspices of the U. S. government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Undersea Research Program and administered by the University of Hawaii. Its headquarters are at University of...
celebrated the 1,000th dive of Pisces V.
Uses
The submersible is launched from a support vessel during daylight hours, usually complete with video cameras and other recording devices. It has two arms able to be manipulated. The arms are useful in placing thermometers in strategic places, picking up biological and geological samples and placing them in a collection box, and are even helpful in maneuvering the submersible around in places difficult to navigate. The Pices V carry up to three persons, and a typical dive lasts up to 10 hours. However, the vessel has an emergency life support system that is capable of keeping the crew alive for 140 hours in case of emergency.The Hawaiʻi Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL) has two of these submersible vehicles, the Pisces V and the Pisces IV. The advantage of having two is that it allows preparation for an emergency. While one of the submersibles is underwater conducting its dive, the other remains at readiness should there be an emergency, needing only to be boarded on ship and hurried to the site of the problem. Such an emergency could include the submersible becoming tangled in fishing nets or entrapped in rocks or debris on the ocean floor. In such cases, the second submersible could rush to the rescue. There are also research expeditions where it is advantageous to use the two vessels together.
In August 2002, Pisces V and her sister vessel Pisces IV discovered a Japanese midget submarine
Ko-hyoteki class submarine
The class was a class of Japanese midget submarines used during World War II. They had hull numbers but no names. For simplicity, they are most often referred to by the hull number of the mother submarine...
; sunk on December 7, 1941 by the destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
in the first American shots fired in World War II
First American shots fired in World War II
Determining when the first engagement of the United States in World War II occurred may depend from scholar and if such actions led to formal entry of the United States into the conflict.-Attacks on American armed forces:...
, the submarine was hit by a 4"/50 caliber gun shot and depth charge
Depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare weapon intended to destroy or cripple a target submarine by the shock of exploding near it. Most use explosives and a fuze set to go off at a preselected depth in the ocean. Depth charges can be dropped by either surface ships, patrol aircraft, or from...
d shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
began. The submarine was found in 400 m of water about five miles off the mouth of Pearl Harbor. This was the culmination of a 61-year search for the vessel and has been called "the most significant modern marine archeological find ever in the Pacific, second only to the finding of the Titanic in the Atlantic". In 2003, Pisces V visited the Japanese midget submarine it had found in Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
the year before. The U.S. State Department worked in conjunction with the Japanese Foreign Ministry to determine Japanese wishes regarding the fate of the midget submarine. The submersibles are used by HURL as teaching devices. In 2008, two members of the Tampa Bay Chapter of SCUBAnauts were invited to team with HURL and to visit the historic wreck of the Japanese submarine. One SCUBAnaut said as he stepped on the Pisces V that "it looked and felt as if I were in a space shuttle preparing for lift-off".
A mock-up of the control panel of the Pisces V can be visited by the public at the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center in Hilo, Hawaii.
On March 5, 2009, scientists discovered seven new species of bamboo coral
Bamboo coral
Bamboo coral, family Isididae, is a family of mostly deep-sea coral of the phylum Cnidaria, class Anthozoa, and subclass Octocorallia. It is a commonly recognized inhabitant of the deep sea, due to the clearly articulated skeletons of the species. Deep water coral species such as this are...
, six of which may be of a new genera, an extraordinary finding in a genera so broad. They were able to find these specimens through the use of the Pisces V which allowed them to reach depths beyond those attained by scuba divers. They also discovered a giant sponge approximately three feet tall and three feet wide that scientists named the "cauldron sponge".