SALVAGE OPERATIONS 



MOBILIZATION AND OUTFITTING 



Mobilization and outfitting of recovery forces began on 5 August at Boston Naval Ship- 

 yard. (Refer also to Appendix 1, Outfitting and Testing of Vessels.) Outfitting of units en- 

 tailed installation and testing of special equipment and gear. ALUMINAUT was outfitted in 

 order to be prepared to dive immediately upon reaching the recovery site. Equipment was 

 tested under simulated at-sea conditions. The completion on f 2 August of the static and dy- 

 namic load tests of MIZAR's hft system ended the fitting-out period. ALUMINAUT, under 

 tow of STAGEY TIDE, departed that evening for bay trials at Provincetown, Massachusetts, 

 and MIZAR sailed for the recovery site to commence search runs. 



LIFT ATTEMPT NO. 1 



Upon arrival on-site at 0400 on 13 August, MIZAR commenced bathymetric and photo- 

 graphic runs to positively locate ALVIN. A random search pattern was deemed the best 

 method with the highest probability of detection because of the inability of MIZAR to dy- 

 namically position her camera-carrying vehicle. The first two camera runs by MIZAR were 

 unsuccessful. 



Meanwhile, STAGEY TIDE and ALUMINAUT were conducting rehearsals at Province- 

 town. ALUMINAUT experienced considerable difficulty in handling the lift line and reel 

 during transfer from STAGEY TIDE. The addition of a wooden A-frame on the bow of 

 ALUMINAUT greatly facilitated loading of the reel and was believed to be the solution to the 

 handling problem. Figures 7 through 1 1 show the lift system in operation during the Prov- 

 incetown trials. 



MIZAR continued the underwater search. The third camera run, conducted on 15 

 August, relocated ALVIN and obtained one photograph. The positive location of ALVIN 

 eliminated the necessity for time consuming and costly searching with ALUMINAUT. MI- 

 ZAR continued her camera runs until the remainder of the salvage forces arrived on the scene. 

 Photographs obtained during the fourth and fifth camera runs gave no significant additional 

 information, but verified that ALVIN was not embedded in the bottom further than previ- 

 ously thought. 



17 



