XVI. WINCHES AND HOISTS 

 Edward W. Johnson 



A. INTRODUCTION 



Until quite recently oceanographers in the field were forced to rely 

 upon or modify whatever machinery was at hand in order to anchor 

 their survey vessels and/ or to lower sensing and sampling gear. 

 This situation was caused principally by the lack of sufficient funds 

 to provide adequate winches and hoists tailored to the operation in 

 question. Recently, as a result of the greater demand for oceanographic 

 information, specifications for particular winches and hoists have been 

 and are being prepared, and some new equipment has been built. The 

 winches and hoists used in oceanographic investigations are of four 

 types: deep sea anchoring winches, oceanographic survey winches, 

 electric cable reels, and bathythermograph hoists. 



B. DEEP SEA ANCHORING WINCHES 



Initially, in 1949-1950, both the USS REHOBOTH and the USS SAN 

 PABLO (Hydrographic Office survey vessels) were outfitted with 

 modified minesweeping winches which had capacities of approximately 

 25,000 feet of one-half inch wire rope that enabled anchoring in depths 

 of 2,000 fathoms (assuming the normal 2:1 scope). These winches were 

 fantail installations, and anchoring was accomplished over the stern. 



In 1956, the minesweeping gear was removed from the REHOBOTH 

 and replaced with an LST 11 53- class steam anchoring winch, manu- 

 factured by the Clyde Iron Works of Duluth, Minnesota. This installa- 

 tion, twelve feet by twelve feet by seven feet in size, had a capacity 

 of approximately 35,000 feet of one-half inch wire rope and increased 

 the deep mooring capability of the REHOBOTH by about 650 fathoms. 

 In addition, handling characteristics were much improved, and anchor- 

 ing was accomplished by a fair lead forward over the bow. 



The SAN PABLO in 1957 had her minesweeping gear removed, and 

 the deep sea anchoring winch from the GALATHEA (purchased from 

 the Danish Government in 1955 at a cost of $25,000) was installed 

 upon the removal of the number one gun turret. The GALATHEA winch 

 is unique inasmuch as it has two drums, one drum powered to lower 

 and hoist the cable and a second stowage drum under tension but unaf- 

 fected by stress during lowering and hoisting operations. This type of 



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