SubSea Craft's Victa-class DDU prototype being lowered into the water for the first time on 9 September 2021 outside the company's waterfront facility in Portsmouth, UK. (Blue Harbour Creative Media/SubSea Craft)

The first prototype of SubSea Craft's innovative Victa-class diver delivery unit (DDU) entered the water for the first time on 9 September.

Initial testing of the vessel is being conducted adjacent to the company's headquarters in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and focused on checking the vessel's equilibrium: a key first stage given that, unlike other diver insertion boats, the Victa concept combines a fast surface craft and a submersible within the same platform. The vessel can therefore approach its target at speed from offshore before submerging – an automated process in which the cabin is flooded – to effect the stealthy insertion of up to six divers seated behind a crew of two.

As the trials campaign moves forward the vessel will be tested in the waters around Gosport, Hampshire, and will then be moved to SubSea Craft's Trials, Testing, and Training (T3) facility at Portland in Dorset.

A SubSea Craft spokesman told Janes

SubSea Craft's Victa-class DDU prototype being lowered into the water for the first time on 9 September 2021 outside the company's waterfront facility in Portsmouth, UK. (Blue Harbour Creative Media/SubSea Craft)

The first prototype of SubSea Craft's innovative Victa-class diver delivery unit (DDU) entered the water for the first time on 9 September.

Initial testing of the vessel is being conducted adjacent to the company's headquarters in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and focused on checking the vessel's equilibrium: a key first stage given that, unlike other diver insertion boats, the Victa concept combines a fast surface craft and a submersible within the same platform. The vessel can therefore approach its target at speed from offshore before submerging – an automated process in which the cabin is flooded – to effect the stealthy insertion of up to six divers seated behind a crew of two.

As the trials campaign moves forward the vessel will be tested in the waters around Gosport, Hampshire, and will then be moved to SubSea Craft's Trials, Testing, and Training (T3) facility at Portland in Dorset.

A SubSea Craft spokesman told Janes

SubSea Craft's Victa-class DDU prototype being lowered into the water for the first time on 9 September 2021 outside the company's waterfront facility in Portsmouth, UK. (Blue Harbour Creative Media/SubSea Craft)

The first prototype of SubSea Craft's innovative Victa-class diver delivery unit (DDU) entered the water for the first time on 9 September.

Initial testing of the vessel is being conducted adjacent to the company's headquarters in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and focused on checking the vessel's equilibrium: a key first stage given that, unlike other diver insertion boats, the Victa concept combines a fast surface craft and a submersible within the same platform. The vessel can therefore approach its target at speed from offshore before submerging – an automated process in which the cabin is flooded – to effect the stealthy insertion of up to six divers seated behind a crew of two.

As the trials campaign moves forward the vessel will be tested in the waters around Gosport, Hampshire, and will then be moved to SubSea Craft's Trials, Testing, and Training (T3) facility at Portland in Dorset.

A SubSea Craft spokesman told Janes

SubSea Craft's Victa-class DDU prototype being lowered into the water for the first time on 9 September 2021 outside the company's waterfront facility in Portsmouth, UK. (Blue Harbour Creative Media/SubSea Craft)

The first prototype of SubSea Craft's innovative Victa-class diver delivery unit (DDU) entered the water for the first time on 9 September.

Initial testing of the vessel is being conducted adjacent to the company's headquarters in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and focused on checking the vessel's equilibrium: a key first stage given that, unlike other diver insertion boats, the Victa concept combines a fast surface craft and a submersible within the same platform. The vessel can therefore approach its target at speed from offshore before submerging – an automated process in which the cabin is flooded – to effect the stealthy insertion of up to six divers seated behind a crew of two.

As the trials campaign moves forward the vessel will be tested in the waters around Gosport, Hampshire, and will then be moved to SubSea Craft's Trials, Testing, and Training (T3) facility at Portland in Dorset.

A SubSea Craft spokesman told Janes

SubSea Craft's Victa-class DDU prototype being lowered into the water for the first time on 9 September 2021 outside the company's waterfront facility in Portsmouth, UK. (Blue Harbour Creative Media/SubSea Craft)

The first prototype of SubSea Craft's innovative Victa-class diver delivery unit (DDU) entered the water for the first time on 9 September.

Initial testing of the vessel is being conducted adjacent to the company's headquarters in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and focused on checking the vessel's equilibrium: a key first stage given that, unlike other diver insertion boats, the Victa concept combines a fast surface craft and a submersible within the same platform. The vessel can therefore approach its target at speed from offshore before submerging – an automated process in which the cabin is flooded – to effect the stealthy insertion of up to six divers seated behind a crew of two.

As the trials campaign moves forward the vessel will be tested in the waters around Gosport, Hampshire, and will then be moved to SubSea Craft's Trials, Testing, and Training (T3) facility at Portland in Dorset.

A SubSea Craft spokesman told Janes

SubSea Craft's Victa-class DDU prototype being lowered into the water for the first time on 9 September 2021 outside the company's waterfront facility in Portsmouth, UK. (Blue Harbour Creative Media/SubSea Craft)

The first prototype of SubSea Craft's innovative Victa-class diver delivery unit (DDU) entered the water for the first time on 9 September.

Initial testing of the vessel is being conducted adjacent to the company's headquarters in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and focused on checking the vessel's equilibrium: a key first stage given that, unlike other diver insertion boats, the Victa concept combines a fast surface craft and a submersible within the same platform. The vessel can therefore approach its target at speed from offshore before submerging – an automated process in which the cabin is flooded – to effect the stealthy insertion of up to six divers seated behind a crew of two.

As the trials campaign moves forward the vessel will be tested in the waters around Gosport, Hampshire, and will then be moved to SubSea Craft's Trials, Testing, and Training (T3) facility at Portland in Dorset.

A SubSea Craft spokesman told Janes