Equipment Research and Development Center (MERDC) , formerly U. S. Army- 

 Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDL) , Fort Belvoir, Virginia, 

 was developing in-house an anchor similar to and actually emanating from 

 the shield-shaped design, Figure 3 (Christians, 1967). NCEL had 

 conducted tests of the two commercially produced anchors for deep water 

 anchoring applications (Smith, 1966 and Dantz , 1968). 



The developments with the explosive anchors demonstrated the potential 

 of the explosive anchor concept for salvage operation applications. 

 However, a departure from both types of construction was believed necessary 

 to achieve the stability, ruggedness , and versatility required of a 

 salvage operations anchor and also, to reduce the large recoil distances 

 associated with both existing concepts. 



PROGRAM APPROACH 



Since a stranding in a location with coral seafloor conditions 

 could occur at any time and result in the expenses and difficulties 

 encountered when the USS FRANK KNOX went aground on coral (NAVSHIPS , 

 1968), a high priority was designated for the work. The urgency 

 influenced the approach initiated to obtain the new anchor. An explosive 

 anchor tailored as closely as possible to salvage operational require- 

 ments was designed with special consideration given to the coral 

 seafloor situation. Supplemental prototype hardware was included in 

 the development program to afford at the earliest moment a capability 

 to cope with strandings in hard seafloor locations. 



The design and fabrication of prototype explosive salvage anchors 

 were accomplished by Aero-Jet General Corporation, Downey, California, 

 under Contract N62399-68-C-0002. Prior to delivery of hardware, the 

 contractor conducted testing of prototype equipment utilizing Government- 

 furnished support and facilities. Minor modifications in the design 

 were accomplished by the Contractor as a result of the testing. At 

 the termination of contractor testing, the hardware items specified in 

 the contract were fabricated and delivered to NCEL. Upon receipt of 

 the hardware, NCEL conducted additional testing and accomplished further 

 modifications . 



Hardware with ordnance features required strict adherence to 

 ordnance safety. The U. S. Naval Weapons Laboratory at Dahlgren, 

 Virginia was engaged to work with NCEL in this area of the development. 

 Assigned NWL personnel provided safety and reliability criteria for 

 the ordnance features of the salvage anchor design, participated in 

 review of contractor's proposals, and reviewed ordnance designs and 

 hardware at appropriate intervals. During the contractor and NCEL 

 test phases, NWL personnel participated on-site as safety consultants 

 and/or provided guidance through written instructions and recommendations . 

 A Hazard of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance (HERO) test was 

 performed at NWL with a prototype anchor and the design passed this 

 test (NWL, 1969). 



