Legs have you done an emergency ascent in practice from a sub in one of those suits? That must be extremely hairy.
That is a submarine escape suit used for compartment escapes.
You climb into the escape tower and plug a connector into the Hood Inflation System (HIS) which inflates the built in life jacket but first you have to ensure the Gags (pressure relief valves are open).
Once you are ready, the lower hatch is shut and the escape tower is flooded, the HIS keeps the life jacket inflated to 5 psi above sea pressure.
As the tower floods and the pressure in the tower equals sea pressure the spring loaded upper lid opens and away you go. As you rise the air expands in the life jacket , air is vented through the gags into the hood and vented out the bottom, got to breath normally as you rise, if you hold your breath you will burst your lungs and die.
Once on the surface you unzip the hood, shut the gags and inflate the suit with a built in compressed air cylinder and float around till rescued.
Trial escapes have been done from 600 feet.
It is a requirement for every prospective submariner to do 'The Tank', involving compartment and rush escapes from a 100 ft escape tank.
I did mine at HMS Dolphin in the UK in 74 and again in 83.
One of the carrots back in the day to entice people to volunteer for submarine service was a free trip to the UK for training and every 3 years afterwards (business class) to requal in the tank.
Hope you find the above interesting Vince, thanks for asking.
