TheProtei-5 (Протей-5) is a smallRussian one-mandiver propulsion vehicle often used byRussian commando frogmen. It isbattery electric powered, using six non-sealedlead–acid batteries.[1] It clips on under the diver with a clip over each shoulder and one up between his legs. Its casing isaluminium. It was intended to be clipped onto the outside of asubmarine; near the operation sitethe frogmen would airlock out underwater and unhitch their Protei 5's and ride them to the operation site. It seems to have been intended to be ridden fast and far rather than for complicated maneuvering.
The Russian for this sort of "diver-carrying vehicle" is буксировщикbuksirovshchik = "tugger".
The rod sticking out of the front end was meant to carry a lamp.
The lever on the left bow is the motor's on/off switch. There is no speed control.
Thefrogman steers with the diving fins on his feet.
Overall size: 66 centimetres (2 feet 2 inches) wide, 69 centimetres (2 feet 3 inches) high, 1.75 (5 feet 9 inches) long.
Size of hull: 66 centimetres (2 feet 2 inches) wide, 38 centimetres (1 feet 3 inches) high, 1.45 m (4 feet 9 inches) long.
A frogman with anIDA71 rebreather riding a Protei-7 could pass through a hole 0.9 metres (3.0 ft) square.
Only two Protei-5 are known to exist outside of the ex-USSR:
Similar designs have been made in Russia, including a model calledProton.
The name "Protei" is a Russian version of theclassicalLatin /Greekmythological nameProteus.