Editing DSV Alvin (section)

=== Early career ===
''Alvin'', first of its [[ship class]] of [[deep submergence vehicle]] (DSV), was built to dive to {{convert|2440|m}}. Each of the ''Alvin-class'' DSVs have different depth capabilities. However, ''Alvin'' is the only one seconded to the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] (NOAA), with the others staying with the [[United States Navy]].

''Alvin''{{-'}}s first deep sea tests took place off [[Andros Island]], the Bahamas, where it made a successful 12-hour, uncrewed tethered {{convert|7500|ft|m|adj=on}} test dive. On July 20, 1965 ''Alvin'' made its first {{convert|6000|ft|m|adj=on}} crewed dive for the Navy to obtain certification.<ref name="WHOI-Hist"/> On March 17, 1966, ''Alvin'' was used to locate a submerged 1.45-megaton [[hydrogen bomb]] lost in a [[United States Air Force]] [[1966 Palomares B-52 crash|midair accident]] over [[Palomares, Almería|Palomares]], Spain. The bomb, found resting on a steep slope nearly {{convert|2500|ft|abbr=on}} deep, was located by ''Alvin'' but the submersible had difficulty raising it up, initially causing it to fall deeper to {{convert|2800|ft|abbr=on}}. The bomb was eventually raised intact on April 7 by a [[CURV|Navy CURV-I]] and the experience gained by the ''Alvin'' crew's 34 dives with over 220 hours logged led to new improvements to the vehicle's navigations systems.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/feature/little-alvin-and-the-lost-h-bomb/|title=The story of "Little Alvin" and the lost H-bomb|website=whoi.edu|access-date=14 April 2024}}</ref>
On July 6, 1967, the ''Alvin'' was attacked by a [[swordfish]] during dive 202. The swordfish became trapped in the ''Alvin''{{-'}}s skin. The attack took place at {{convert|2000|ft|m}} below the surface. The fish was recovered at the surface and cooked for dinner.<ref name="WHOI-Hist"/> During Dive 209, on September 24, 1968 ''Alvin'' found an [[F6F Hellcat]], #42782, 125 miles southeast of [[Nantucket]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=41818|title=F6F 42782 - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum|website=forum.12oclockhigh.net|access-date=4 May 2019}}</ref> The aircraft had ditched September 30, 1944 during carrier qualifications, with the pilot surviving.<ref name="WHOI-Hist" />