SUBMERSIBLE SUBMERSIBLE UNDERWAY DOCKING UNIT

A docking system employs a haul down winch to recover and secure a swimmer delivery vehicle to the deck of a large submarine. A buoyancy system is used to deploy a haul down line in a vertical position extending above the submarine vehicle. An acoustic pulse transmitter provides guidance signals to direct the small swimmer delivery submersible to a point of engagement with the haul down line. An attachment means is secured to the line and cooperates with a capture socket carried on the nose of the submersible vehicle. A line capture and guidance device is also mounted on the nose of the sumbersible swimmer delivery vehicle to assist in attaching the vehicle to the haul down line.