The chamber has room for a single observer 

 (fig. 3), who descends into it by a Jacob's ladder. 

 He stands while looking through the upper win- 

 dows or sits on a revolving stool while using the 

 12 lower windows. The IS windows allow an 

 uninterrupted view of the space between the 

 drums and timbers beneath the deck and of the 

 surrounding water.- The downward view is ob- 

 structed only in the small conical area from the 

 bottom of the chamber to the apex about 12 feet 

 directly below. 



deck. 



The deckhouse is made of 3/5-inch plywood. 

 At its base, four cleats on the deck prevent lat- 

 eral movement of the deckhouse. Lashings from 

 eyebolts on the side of the deckhouse to those on 

 the deck prevent the house from slipping out of 

 the cleats. Inside the house a gear locker runs 

 the fuUlengthof one wall; on the opposite side is 

 a shelf for batteries and radio. A portable water- 

 tight metal locker provides protection for such 

 equipment as cameras, binoculars, books, and 

 film. On the roof are mounted the radio antenna 

 and a 12-foot mast equipped with two 360° riding 

 lights. After the first series of drifts, a canvas 

 wind sail was placed on the roof to provide venti- 

 lation to the chamber via a canvas duct. 



The weight of the Xenue is about 3,500 pounds. 

 The approximate weights of the separate units 

 are: raft, 2,200 pounds: chamber, 1,000 pounds; 

 and deckhouse, 300 pounds. Positive buoyancy 

 of about 7,700 pounds gives it about 12 inches of 

 freeboard when fully loaded. 



The Xenue is well provided with emergency 

 equipment. A 33-watt, 5-channel transistorized 

 radio transceiver provides voice communication 

 with the Charles H^. Gilbert ; it has sufficient 

 power for longer range emergency use. Also on 

 the raft are a radio beacon which, when nlacea 



In the water, automatically transmits a sigi^i-i 0:1 

 the international distress frequency, 2182 kc, 

 and flashes alight visible 51 r;-? - 

 a radar target mounted on i 1--;; 

 lashed to a stanchion, a t^ ;-— ;- ; ^ -.r;.iied 

 liferaft, liiejackets, liiering, iiire g^^- rr^igsetic 

 compass, emergency rations and water, and 

 first-aid supplies. Other equipment includes 

 storage batteries, a parachute, and a skiff. The 

 radio and two masthead riding lights are powered 

 by the 12-volt storage battery; a second battery 

 is kept aboard in reserve. The 26-foot para- 

 ; hute serves as a drogue :e wind drift. 



The skiff, powered by an : - niotor, pro- 



vides transportation between the raft and the 

 mother vessel. It is moored to the raft when ob- 

 servers are aboard. 



HANDLING PROCIDURI 



The raft, chamber, and deckhouse are trans- 

 ported on the deck of the Gilbert to the launch- 

 ing area. The raft as-; r are lifted from 

 :he deck with the carg: ... swung outboard, 

 .ir. - -eld clear of the water while the chamber 

 is lowered through the apertore in the raft and 

 bolted into position (fig. 4). During this opera- 

 tion, preventer tackles control any hazardous 

 s»"inging caused by the ship's motion. After the 

 raft is launched, the house is lowered into posi- 



Tjricr no latnschiag. 



