SUPPORT VESSEL 129 



together. Nine pallets were stored onboard the staging vessel at all times, making a total ca- 

 pacity of 54,000 cu ft of gas available. Empty pallets were continually replaced with full ones 

 as the gas ivas used. A high-pressure piping system was provided to deliver the gas from the 

 pallets to the points of use as needed. These points included the DDC, PTC, Mk VI filling area, 

 and the Sealab. 



During the third team's stay on the bottom, a hose was run to the Sealab from the Mk VI 

 shop on the Berkone for use in charging the Mk VI bottles in Sealab instead of bringing them up 

 for refilling. 



SURFACE OPERATICWS 



With the aquanauts in the habitat, it was necessary that the staging vessel remain in about 

 a ten-foot circle. The seaward legs were tensioned to about 10,000 lb. This was for an aver- 

 age swell condition, which was three to five feet, and winds of 10 to 15 miles per hour. The 

 swells were normally at their worst from about 0200 to 0900. However, at this time there was 

 little or no wind. 



The maximum swells experienced were 7 to 8 ft; these were measured with a swell gage- 

 Maximum loads of 50,000 lb were experienced inthe weather legs. This was about three times the 

 average. These maximum loadings were not a function of the size of the swells at the moment, 

 but rather the result of synchronous pitching of the surface -support vessel. Because of this, 

 the initial average tension of about 10,000 lb could not be exceeded without producing dangerous 

 loads. The elastic limit of the 1-1/4-inch 6 x 19 wire was about 65,000 lb. 



The readout of the tension in the legs was on a Sanborn 150 four-channel recorded. Leg 

 No. 2 was not connected; thus, readouts were available under various conditions. These point 

 to the necessity of a tension-recording system for open-sea moors. Experience is a poor sub- 

 stitute for instrumentation. The safe balancing of forces in the legs is virtually impossible 

 without tension instrumentation. For example, in taking in six feet on Leg No. 4, the tension 

 increased from 5,000 lb to 30,000 lb. 



The absolute necessity for precision positioning is mandatory in open-sea operations. The 

 shore transit stations were satisfactory, and positions of the Berkone could be determined 

 within one foot. The mast and the antenna were used as targets. Thus the heading could also 

 be ascertained, which was 255° True. The chart for plotting had a scale of one inch for 20 ft. 

 The electronic positioning system was satisfactory, but sometimes broke down. The latter was 

 Model GDR-T Recorder, made by T. H. Gifft and Associates, of El Segundo, California. If this 

 system were more reliable, it would have been satisfactory, although plotting would have been 

 more difficult. 



The location of underwater objects around the surface-support ship was likewise extremely 

 important. When lowered by crane, this location could be determined by taking bearings on the 

 boom. Similarly, anything lowered straight down from the surface -support vessel Berkone or 

 a nearby ship, such as the Gear, could be located precisely. However, any of the locations of 

 equipment moved by divers was an educated guess, since they knew only their approximate 

 position and direction. Under water pingers could not be used to locate objects from the surface. 

 Since the aquanauts had no communication with topside during their dives, location by such 

 means was not possible. Even reliable one-way comunication would be a tremendous stride. 



One deficiency that was very troublesome was the lack of a remote tripping hook for low- 

 ering equipment to the bottom. This is often too dangerous for a diver to do. A jury-rigged 

 pelican was used, but it was not satisfactory. Related to this is the necessity of marking low- 

 ering wires so that the depth of the hook below the surface can be determined. 



The importance of accurate hydrographic surveys must not be minimized. It is considered 

 that the chart used in this operation was one of the best available. Yet, important anomalies 

 were discovered. 



