Seafloor Conditions 



It was not practicable to obtain bottom samples at each test site. 

 Charts and other documents indicating the general nature of the seafloor 

 in a particular area were employed. The known data about the different 

 seafloors in which tests were conducted are given in Table I. 



Tests and Results 



The sequence, nature, and locations of tests by both the contractor 

 and NCEL were influenced by the availability of floating and shore 

 support facilities. The contractor conducted a series of tests in sand 

 near Port Hueneme, California, in mud in San Francisco Bay, and in 

 coral near Key West, Florida in that sequence. NCEL conducted testing 

 in rock with basalt characteristics near Anacapa Island, California, 

 in mud at San Francisco Bay, and in coral off the south coast of 

 Oahu Island, Hawaii in that order. Also, NCEL conducted two instrumented 

 tests, Numbers 26 and 27, Table II, to determine gun barrel pressures 

 and anchor-projectile velocities. Further, in support of the State of 

 Washington Oceanographic Commission's Project Sea-Use, a coral type 

 of anchor-projectile was fired into the basalt on top of Cobb Seamount 

 off the coast of Oregon. All tests conducted under the direction of 

 the contractor plus those conducted by NCEL are summarized in Table II. 



APPRAISAL OF DESIGN 



The emphasis in most all tests was on firing the anchor and 

 determining the holding capacity in a particular type of seafloor. 

 Factors such as the functioning and performance of individual components 

 were observed in conjunction with the primary purpose of each test. 

 Factors such as firing and test pulling the anchor in 500 feet of 

 water and handling and placing it in rough seas were not part of any 

 test. Nevertheless, a valid appraisal of the design can be made by 

 viewing the test program as a whole and considering a specific test, 

 several tests, or all of the tests as they apply to various aspects of 

 the design. 



Launch Vehicle 



The launch vehicle restricted recoil height to about 8 feet well 

 within the tolerable limit of about 15 feet. Its general configuration 

 provided good accommodation for the down-haul cables and other 

 appurtenances. However, the round hull sections were subject to a 

 wrenching action at each firing that tended to loosen bolts and cause 

 a slight but gradual accumulative distortion. 



