Military Divers: Steel or Aluminum Tanks?

[Dave Zimmerly]

What type of tanks are most commonly used by our (USA) military divers? Steel or aluminum?

Thanks for anyones input.

Dave (aka "Squirt")

14 days till Coz

 

[cbborromeo]

Dave,

I suggest you call the Navy Seal Museum in Florida. They have some members who would be happy to advise you. (772) 595-5845

 

[james croft]

EOD navy guys (Explosive Ordanance Disposal) avoid steel tanks and anything else that gives off a magnetic signature as it can trigger mines that are triggered by metallic objects, like ships. Their gear is non-magnetic. Special non-mag regulators, knives and even wetsuits are specced out to obtain a non-mag signature. Much of the open circuit is done with aluminum 80's with j-valves or aluminum twin 80's with a solid j-valve manifold. The rest is surface supplied air. The only steel tanks I have seen were from the 70's or earlier. I suspect someone out there on the board knows if they are using steel tanks currently in the fleet.

 

[meesier42]

All of my work tanks are AL80, most of them are twin80s with a common manifold with J valve (ie no isolator). We had a couple of singles, but we rarely used them, too small for most of our dives ( 2-3 hours at 10-35 ft).

Used them cause they are cheap, don't corrode, and non magnetic.