OCEAN SCIENCES AND NATIONAL SECURITY 147 



tions, and the index of their inefficiency is marked by the relatively 

 large number of required crew compared to scientists. 



Because these ships do not provide a stable, maneuverable plat- 

 form for use in good or bad weather, the number of hom's at sea 

 available for observations is diminished. Tfius improvements in the 

 research fleet would automatically be accompanied by an increase in 

 e^ectiveness of the scientists — an event equivalent to an increase in their 

 already scarce number. 



The design and construction of these special craft may provide a 

 unique opportunit}' to experiment in naval architecture. Unlike the 

 practice with aircraft, new ships, although designed from past ex- 

 perience, are expected to be successful as soon as constructed. With 

 ah'craft, on the other hand, a number of alternative designs on the 

 drawing board may be screened for promise of success and several 

 of them actuall}^ tested in the prototype stage. Then, the one judged 

 best is placed m production. This opportunity to experiment in the 

 aircraft mdustry permits trials of new ideas where the risk of failure 

 is not fatal. Among other reasons, in not having that opportunity 

 ship designers may be more restrained and conservative and new idea's 

 very slow to evolve or be accepted. 



Activity in the ship hj^drod^T^iamic field has reached a new peak in 

 recent years, and a great deal has been learned in terms of increased 

 efficiency, maneuverability, and stabilit}^ amidst the random motions 

 of the waves; new scientific results and engineering techniques have 

 improved ship quieting. 



There are obvious disadvantages of attempting to force an oceano- 

 graphic research ship into the dual role of an experimental prototype 

 for naval architecture; in trjnng to serve both functions, it may fail 

 to serve either verv well. Nevertheless, means might be sought to 

 exploit this opportunity as a test of new ideas and concepts in hull 

 form, steering, or propulsion, particularl}^ those focused on the sea- 

 keeping properties. Any such measures, if successful, are sure to 

 benefit oceanograph}^- if unsuccessful, then ver}- little ma}^ be lost. 



Since part of the contemporary^ problem in rational design of ship 

 hulls is the collection of statistical infonnation about the sea siu^ace, 

 the coordination of research programs wherein these oceanographic 

 vessels could be so utilized without sacrifice in their main mission 

 has been mentioned. 



In summarizing the problem concerning procurement of new ships, 

 however, the main point in all of the proposals has been the long 

 leadtime ever present between the appropriation of funds, and the 

 design, construction, test, and readiness of the vessel for research. 

 Thus, delays in funding for this purpose will ultimately create very 

 severe, even if deferred, demands for far larger budgets — at least if 

 the goals of the 10-year program are to be achieved. The failm-e to 

 develop these funds thus far, even through fiscal 1961, is clear from 

 the data presented earlier. The same problem seems to attend the 

 need for shore facilities, for special vehicles for research at sea and 

 the necessary logistic support vessels. 



D. PROBLEMS IN FUNDING 



It is interesting to note that whereas the 1951 NAS study of the 

 state of oceanography in the United States recommended that addi- 



