8. The Navy's university research effort included development of a ship- 

 board vibrating-string gravimeter which is easily transportable, economical, 

 and more accurate in heavy seas than present equipment. A small ancillary 

 computer processes and displa)s data on the spot. 



9. Navy and ESSA tested new high-speed hydrographic sounding launches 

 with automatic digital positioning and depth recording systems. The Navy 

 transmitted multicolored navigational charts by high-resolution facsimile 

 through a satellite-linked communications network. 



10. The Coast Guard continued its program of outfitting its cutters to make 

 them fully suitable as survey platfonns. Salinity-temperature-depth record- 

 ing systems are being installed, and the majority of the ships now have 

 hydrographic \vinches. Data collection continued both for specific projects 

 and as a routine task assigned to Coast Guard cutters. 



Gulf Stream Drift Mission 



Of the many ocean operations conducted during 1969, one — the Gulf 

 Stream drift of the submersible Ben Franklin — was of particular note be- 

 cause of its novel approach to a complex problem and its collaborative 

 achievement involving government, industry and academic participants. 



On July 14, 1969, the manned submersible Ben Franklin submerged into 

 the Gulf Stream off West Palm Beach, Fla. For 30 days she drifted im- 



The Ben Franklin is seen undergoing sea trials prior to her unique month-long sub- 

 merged drift in the Gulf Stream from Florida to Canada. 



119 



