The name Alvin is a combination of portions of the first name and last
name of Allyn Vine, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
oceanographer who proposed the development of the vessel ("AL" from
"Allyn" plus "VIN" from "Vine"). Secondarily, Alvin is the name of one
of "The Chipmunks" of recording and cartoon fame.
"Six years later, the Office of Naval Research and Woods Hole
contracted with General Mills/Litton Industries to build the Navy's
first Deep Submergence Research Vessel, which was commissioned on June
5, 1964, with the name Alvin, for ALlyn VINe."
Houghton Mifflin Ships of the World: Alvin
http://college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/ships/html/sh_003900_alvin.htm
"Alvin's name is both a contraction of Allyn Vine's name and a
reference to the popular cartoon chipmunk."
Ridge 2000: Student Experiments at Sea
http://www.ridge2000.org/SEAS/2003_04/experiments.php?eid=49
"Alvin was officially named for oceanographer Allyn Vine, a scientist
who first convinced the Navy to build a manned submarine. Originally
commissioned in 1964, the Alvin has been retrofitted many times as
diving technology has advanced. In 1973, its aluminum hull was
replaced with one of titanium, doubling its maximum diving depth
without adding more weight. Alvin and Bob Ballard also explored the
deep-sea vents on the ocean floor in 1974. (According to Dr. Ballard,
the Alvin is unofficially named for Alvin the Chipmunk.)"
Gulf of Maine Research Institute: What's in a Name?
http://octopus.gma.org/space1/name.html
My Google search strategy:
Google Web Search: "the name alvin" "research vessel"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22the+name+alvin%22+%22research+vessel%22
Google Web Search: name alvin "allyn vine"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=name+alvin+%22allyn+vine%22
I hope this is helpful. If anything is unclear or incomplete, please
request clarification; I'll be glad to offer further assistance before
you rate my answer.
Best regards,
pinkfreud |
