An unmanned system performs inspection, identification and/or neutralization of underwater objects. An unmanned vehicle that operates at a water's surface stows underwater crawling and/or swimming vehicles that can operate underneath a water's surface. A winch associated with each robotic vehicle is mounted on the unmanned vehicle. An electro-mechanical tether electrically and mechanically couples a corresponding robotic vehicle to the unmanned vehicle, and is mechanically coupled to a corresponding winch for control of the paying out and reeling in thereof.