controls and also assisting in lining up the boom on the tires, and 

 four men on the pier pulling the boom and faking it on the pier. An 

 additional two men were required in each of the two UTBs. The retrieval 

 of the 900-ft boom was completed in 15.05 minutes. 



Another modification of the PAU to simplify these procedures 

 would be to place the PAU on a turntable so that it can rotate in the 

 horizontal plane to line up with the boom. This will eliminate the 

 need for the second UTB and one man on the camel log, and reduce the 

 retrieval time. An alternative to these procedures is to use a crane 

 to pull the boom out of the water and lay it on the pier. If a crane 

 is available, this procedure should be the easiest, especially under 

 adverse weather conditions. 



Another more effective alternative for retrieving boom than 

 using men to pull the boom through the PAU, is to attach the towing 

 line to a forklift truck or van and have the forklift truck or van 

 pull the boom through the PAU. 



To assist the crew in boom deployment and retrieval, the Navy 

 boom design should include strong handles every 6-8 ft for holding 

 purposes. There is no practical way to prevent boom from being dragged 

 on the pier during the deployment and retrieval procedures. However, 

 care should be taken that the pier area used for boom faking and 

 storage is relatively clean and smooth. Covering the area with a strong 

 plastic sheet would reduce the abrasion on the boom while it is being 

 dragged on the pier. 



Observations, Comments, and Suggestions 



The following is a brief summary of all suggested changes in the 

 PAU and precautions that must be observed during its use. 



1. The foot tire control mechanism should be rewired to require an 

 operator to keep it pressed for tire rotation. 



2. The PAU drive mechanism should be modified to allow free rotation 

 of the tire during boom deployment without the necessity of removing 

 the drive chain . 



3. The boom retaining modification shown in Figures 1-5 should be 

 attached on all PAUs to ensure that the boom remains on the tires during 

 deployment and retrieval. However, the channel-iron used in this 

 modification should be replaced by pipes to minimize the number of 

 sharp edges. 



4. The chute should be attached to all PAUs to reduce the risk of 

 boom damage from pilings and protrusions on the pier. However, the 

 angle irons used in the modification should be replaced by smooth 

 pipes to minimize damage to the booms. 



