A deep-sea Manned Submarine Vehicle (MSV) is usually required to move at a low forward speed and a low rotational speed when it executes investigation tasks. In this condition, the motion is in large drift angles, and the maneuverability hydrodynamic forces cannot be expressed properly in the conventional mathematical model of submersible motion. In this paper, firstly, a general equation of MSV with six-freedom motion is presented, and the numerical simulation of descent/ascent motion and helix motion is conducted to reveal the general maneuver characteristics of MSV. Secondly, according to the data of captive model tests of large drift angles of MSV, the regression analysis of position hydrodynamic forces and rotation hydrodynamic forces is carried out, and the results of regression analysis of maneuverability hydrodynamic characteristics are analyzed to reveal the special maneuver characteristics. Thirdly, a special new mathematical model of MSV with the whole range of drift angles motion is presented, which can be used to predict hydrodynamic performance of motion in the 0°～180° range of drift angles. The results are applied to the design of maneuverability hydrodynamic forces, development of control system and simulator of a practical MSV.
