PREFACE 



Part I of Naval Arctic Operations Handbook is intended to 

 be a source of general information — nature of past and probable 

 future naval operations in -the Arctic, geography, climate, and 

 weather, status of various areas in international law, clothing and 

 personal equipment, health, survival, and a selected bibliography 

 as a guide for further reading and study. Appendix A is a dis- 

 cussion of the climate of Antarctica and is included herein for 

 reference when operations are conducted in the ocean areas around 

 the southernmost continent. 



The reader will note some repetition of data in the various 

 chapters of Parts I and II. This is not done for emphasis. It has 

 been found desirable in some instances in order to permit a more 

 effective and readable presentation of the subjects of the several 

 chapters involved. Therefore, the handbook will serve as a ready 

 book of reference as well. 



Source material for this manual is from notes derived from 

 arctic literature — reports and books of the explorers and polar 

 scientists, operation plans and reports, manuals, hydrographic 

 publications, pilot charts, and ice atlases. 



VII 



