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Scott_Taylor · Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:59 pm Post subject: Deep Sea Ontos?

Hi All:

I picked up Wheels and Tracks #17 the other day, and there is a cryptic reference in there to a deep sea remotely operated research vehicle that was apparently based on the M50 Ontos chassis. I don't have issue 15, but there was a photo of this vehicle in there (in the "what is this?" column). The article says that this vehicle could operate at depths of up to 20,000 feet, travel 3 MPH and traverse obstacles 12 inches high. It dates from around 1960, apparently. Does anybody have any more information on this thing? I figured there might be some interest in this subject around here. Smile

Cheers,

Scott

Doug_Kibbey · Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:02 pm Post subject: Re: Deep Sea Ontos?

Whew! For a second there, I was afraid this was gonna' be a thread about M50's being chucked off a barge to make artificial reefs or something and we'd hafta' dispatch an EMT team to revive DONTOS or do some kind of intervention! Rolling Eyes

Dontos · Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:38 pm Post subject: Re: Deep Sea Ontos?

- Scott_Taylor

Hi All:

I picked up Wheels and Tracks #17 the other day, and there is a cryptic reference in there to a deep sea remotely operated research vehicle that was apparently based on the M50 Ontos chassis. I don't have issue 15, but there was a photo of this vehicle in there (in the "what is this?" column). The article says that this vehicle could operate at depths of up to 20,000 feet, travel 3 MPH and traverse obstacles 12 inches high. It dates from around 1960, apparently. Does anybody have any more information on this thing? I figured there might be some interest in this subject around here.

Cheers,

Scott

You mean this photo......

I haven't found any thing additional, although I admit not having looked very hard for this. I guess I need to focus on it and see what I can dig up.

Mr. Green

I found it while searching for the Antarctic Ontos (modified T55 w/ large rear crew compartment) that participated in Operation Deep Freeze I in 1955-1956.

Ontos History - Op Deep Freeze

Thanks for the 'heads up'. I'm always looking for that little piece of the puzzle. (I've got most of the large pieces)

Hope to get it all together and presentable in the next few months.

Don

oldertop · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Oct 20, 2006 Posts: 76

What was left of the deepsea version sat for some years a a storage lot on Mirmar NAS near my tank barn in 1978-81

Dontos · Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 7:53 pm Post subject: Re: Deep Sea Ontos?

Check this out........

"Ocean Ontos" from newspaper article....hope to have better copy soon, along with background. Cool

Dontos · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 8:21 pm Post subject: Re: Deep Sea Ontos?

HERE IT IS 'HOT' OFF THE PRESSES !!!!

RUM Vehicle AKA The Ocean Ontos!!

Thanks Scott!! You got me motivated to find this unique.

Cool

Don

piney · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:10 pm Post subject: Re: Deep Sea Ontos?

Here is a little more Don
www.ifremer.fr/avano/n...97/565.htm apparently it's given acronym was ORB-RUM . maybe you can find a swabbie to translate this or use it to get more leads Must have been a pretty tough little vehicle, pressure at 3300 feet is downright scary HTH you can download a poor quality (but apparently the best available) PDF here
stinet.dtic.mil/cgi-bi...tTRDoc.pdf

Jeff Lewis

oldertop · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Oct 20, 2006 Posts: 76

Like I said what was left of the vehicle sat in a shed next to my tank barn at Mirmar NAS (naval air station) San Diego (which by the way La Jolla is part of), this area was the storage area for the for the Scripps research institute....what was the vehicle really for, under water sound detetion cable system across the ocean floor reserarch.

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