Tauchboot, Unterseeboot
Zweiplätziges Tauchboot, AKS 1000, von August Kälin
Dating
1987Description
Zweiplätziges Tauchboot, AKS 1000, von August Kälin. Wohl kleinstes Zweisitz-U-Boot der Welt. In ca. 3000 Stunden im Selbstbau entwickelt (Gesamtaufwand 4500h). Bauzeit: 1985 bis 1987. Eigenkonstruktion von August Kälin sind: GFK-Kapsel, Bullaugen, Mannsloch, Schwimmkörper, Balastabwurf, Lampen. Das Tauchgerät wurde vorwiegend für Filmaufnahmen unter Wasser benutzt. Maximale Tauchtiefe: 100 m, Luftvorrat für 24 Stunden.Signature / Inscription
Signatur / Beschriftung: Beschriftung: "Säntis / Batterie", "Panasonic"Object type
Object (three-dimensional)Material / Technique
GFK (Glasfaser, Polyester)Dimensions
ca. 250 x 180 x 180 cm ca. 1200 kgInventory number
VHS-11624Legend
AKS 1000, Switzerland 1987
Tiny two-man submersible
The concept of the submersible is a very ancient one. Cornelius van Drebbel’s demonstration of a navigable submarine in the Thames in London was capturing the public’s imagination as early as 1626. The first powered submersible, called Plongeur, was trialled in France in 1863. Submersibles first became a viable proposition, however, with the advent of the electric motor, backed by huge investments from armed forces around the world.
The dream of developing a small civil submersible for discovery and adventure continued unabated. August Kälin made his dream a reality by investing more than 3,000 hours in building his AKS 1000. Its design highlights include the pressurized capsule fashioned from glass fibre-reinforced plastic, the portholes, the manhole, the floats, the ballast ejection system and the lighting system. The underwater craft was used mainly for shooting video and is arguably one of the smallest two-man submersibles ever conceived.
Technical data
Main colour
gelbNumber of crew
1Number of passengers
1Tons deadweight [t/tdw]
185Top speed [km/h]
5Type of propulsion
Elektromotor (Gleichstrom)Voltage [V]
24Systematics
• Submarine
Literature
Vom Paddeln und Tauchen = Aviron et pongée [Sonderausstellung Verkehrshaus 2015 "Wasser bewegt"], Autor/in: Burger, Olivier, Sign.: ZH 2
Auf Tauchgang = En plongée, Autor/in: Rickenbacher, Jean-Luc, Sign.: ZH 2