lor the alter lift lilting. Two 1 , 200-pound steel balls and a Stimson anchor were added to 

 this assembly I'or holding position on the bottom. The lift line consisted ol' 6,450 feet of 41/2- 

 inch Columbian doublc-braidcd Plimoor nylon line to which was spliced an additicMial 750 

 feet of 4'/2-inch three-strand nylon line. The first two attempts to lower the clump failed when 

 the clump was hauled to a vertical position because the light lashings on the bights parted, 

 dumping the line on the deck. The third attempt was successful, and the clump was lowered 

 to the bottom at 1856, 18 August. 



MIZAR, using her computer and the transponder on the line, maneuvered above ALVIN 

 and placed the clump within 100 yards of her. Two and one half hours of "flying" the clump 

 were required to position it properly on the bottom. After paying out the remaining line, a 

 large salvage pontoon and a watch buoy were attached to the end of the hft line and cast a- 

 drift. 



At 2005, ALUMINAUT submerged for her first dive, and, upon reaching the bottom, be- 

 gan the search for ALVIN. The search effort was hampered when ALUMINAUT's Straza so- 

 nar failed; however, MIZAR was able to direct ALUMINAUT to within visual range of AL- 

 VIN. 



Upon arrival in the vicinity of ALVIN, ALUMINAUT experienced difficulty in observing 

 ALVIN, as clouds of fine silt had been stirred up from the bottom. Dispersal of the silt clouds 

 was slow because current was less than 1/2 knot. After waiting for the water to clear, ALU- 

 MINAUT carefully surveyed ALVIN and reported that, except for her damaged stern area, 

 she was intact (figures 13 and 14), and her sensitive mechanical arm was still attached. 



ALUMINAUT, using her manipulators, climbed ALVIN's sail "hand-over-hand." During 

 this exercise, which was harder work for her manipulators than had ever been experienced, 

 the manipulator thermal overload repeatedly tripped, delaying the operation. Shortly after 

 midnight, ALUMINAUT announced that ALVIN's pressure sphere hatch was open and un- 

 obstructed. 



ALUMINAUT next went in search of the clump. Upon locating the Benthos light on the 

 lift line above the toggle, she descended vertically but was unable to locate the toggle. She as- 

 cended again and then followed the line, which was tending at an angle, to the bottom. She 

 found the toggle and clump intact, pulled the toggle away, and carried it to ALVIN. While 

 moving the toggle to ALVIN, ALUMINAUT lost her vertical motion motor. For the next sev- 

 eral hours, she attempted to insert the toggle bar in the open hatch. The line leading from the 

 end of the toggle became fouled under ALVIN's stern creating a moment that tended to upset 

 the toggle balance. Other difficulties were encountered in handling the toggle because of the 

 buoyancy material breaking free and changing the balance point. Hampered by lack of 



23 



