SEARCH FOR SCORPION: 



ORGANIZATION AND SHIP FACILITIES 



C. L. Buchanan 



Naval Research Laboratory 

 Washington, D.C. 2O39O 



ABSTRACT 



The operational Navy Is lacking In vehicles, personnel 

 and procedures for conducting a deep ocean Inspection such 

 as the search for SCORPION. For this reason an ad hoc' or- 

 ganization consisting of operating Naval units, research 

 ships and personnel and an advisory group of technically 

 qualified personnel were assembled. This organization 

 proved to be very effective and should serve as a model 

 In future emergencies which may Involve research facili- 

 ties In fleet operations. 



The USNS MIZAR (T-AGOR-ll) which was chosen as the 

 primary search vessel, has a special center well for 

 launching towed vehicles and a built-in Underwater Track- 

 ing System. A special telemetry system permitted rapid 

 expansion of the normal Instrument complement to accommo- 

 date new requirements. 



This Is a two part presentation of Information of 

 Importance to the Military Oceanographlc Community. The 

 first portion will cover the organization, the special 

 shipboard equipment, and the navigation systems. The 

 second part will cover the towed sensors and their per- 

 formance . 



This Information Is presented with the thought in mind 

 that other research organizations might find themselves 

 involved In a fleet operation. It is important that research 

 organizations with special capabilities recognize the possi- 

 bility of an emergency preempting their time and facilities, 

 and consider contingency plans for such an event. 



ORGANIZATION 



When SCORPION failed to arrive at her destination, the 

 standard SUBMISS search plan was put into action. Immediately 

 thereafter planning was Initiated to organise a task force for 

 deep ocean search if this should prove necessary. The Chief 

 of Naval Operations assigned primary responsibility for this 

 task force to OP33? Admiral Donaldson. Admiral Schade, Com- 

 mander of Submarine Atlantic^ was assigned as Task Force 

 Commander. 



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