Andrews 



Three lift plans were actually attempted using various devices 

 constructed on scene. The first two failed, the third resulted in 

 lifting the weapon clear off the bottom. However, the lift line 

 parted owing apparently to chafing and the weapon fell back to the 

 ocean floor to be temporarily lost for "9 agonizing days." The NOTS 

 (Pasadena) controlled underwater recovery vehicle (CURV) finally 

 brought the bomb to the surface on 7 April 1966. 



The following description of the three recovery attempts (plan 

 Alfa, Bravo, and Charlie) and the successful lift by CURV is taken 

 largely from a memo by Lt. Com. M. MacKinnon, who participated in 

 the operation as part of the staff of CTF65. 



The initial plan (Alfa) involved the use of ALVIN to place an 

 anchor stake in the sea floor (compacted silt) to which a small 

 polypropylene line was attached, leading to the surface (Figure 11). 

 A traveling "lizard" was locally constructed to slide down the poly- 

 propylene line carrying a lifting line and shorter attachment 

 pendants. After the lizard reached bottom, ALVIN was to use her 

 manipulator, pick up the attachment pendants and hook them into any 

 combination of chute, shrouds, risers, and weapon. Once attached 

 the lift was to be made from the surface using the USS Hoist (ARS- 

 M-0). On 16 March, ALVIN succeeded in placing the stake in the 

 bottom, but on 18 March when the catenary was being removed from the 

 polypropylene line the strain imparted pulled the stake from the 

 bottom. Only one of the two flukes on the stake had apparently 

 taken hold. 



A second plan (Bravo) was employed using MIZAR's towed sled to 

 place the attachment pendants adjacent to the weapon (see Figure 12), 

 The final attachment then was to be made by ALVIN in a manner simi- 

 lar to that of plan ALFA. A key aspect of the operation was the 

 position keeping of MIZAR to enable close placement of the sled. 

 This precise station keeping proved impossible and hence the plan 

 was abandoned. 



The third attempt (Charlie) again used MIZAR, but this time in 

 conjunction with placing an anchor adjacent to the target (Figure 

 13), The use of a 16KC transponder and MIZAR underwater tracking 

 system enabled the placement within 100 feet. The lizard of plan 

 ALFA was modified and secured to the lifting system. Three lifting 

 pendants, one on the anchor, and two on the modified lizard (now 

 called POODL) were to be attached to the weapon by ALVIN as in 

 ALFA and Bravo. 



On 2H March ALVIN succeeded in attaching to the weapon a lift 

 line from the anchor, by ensnaring at least 6 shroud risers. The 

 other two lifting pendants were fouled and could not be used. The 

 decision was made to lift, but shortly after the strain was the 

 heaviest the lifting pendant parted. 



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