Focal points: First aluminum, deepest diving submarine will function as versatile deep-sea laboratory

The Aluminaut, the world's first aluminum submarine, was launched on September 2 and has since been undergoing a test and research program which should last for several months. Conceived by J. Louis Reynolds, chairman of Reynolds International, Inc., and developed under his direction, the new submarine is designed to dive to a record depth of 15 000 feet. It was built for Reynolds by the General Dynamics Corporation's Electric Boat Division at Groton, Conn., which also executed the design details for the new craft.