satisfactory arrangement. The bolts used to attach the launch vehicle 

 cover to the bearing plate detracted from the otherwise simple design, 

 and the bolts failed repeatedly when the launch vehicle impacted the 

 ground after firing. In future launch vehicles the bearing plate 

 should be eliminated and the top plate of the cover made to screw 

 directly onto the breech end of the gun barrel. This would reduce 

 machining costs and further simplify assembly of the anchor. The 

 bending experienced by the bars on the launch vehicle that the shear 

 links attach to can be easily eliminated by doubling the size of the 

 bars and eliminating the bosses put on the existing bars. This does 

 not require any modification of the shear links. 



All the hydrostatic seals on the anchor appear to be satisfactory 

 as demonstrated by pressure vessel testing. No modifications appear 

 to be required. Regular maintenance of all 0-ring surfaces is critical. 

 Unlike most ocean hardware whose seals are broken only in a dry labora- 

 tory, many of the seals of the deep water anchor are broken when the 

 anchor is fired. Consequently, both sides of the seal are exposed to 

 the corrosive effects of seawater. Fresh-water washing and lubricating 

 of all 0-ring surfaces should be done soon after the equipment is re- 

 covered from the ocean. Although the anchor was originally designed 

 to be expendable, it appears that the launch vehicle could be retrieved 

 and used repeatedly in shallow-water (100 to 500 feet) anchorages. 



The ballistic performance of the launching system was very 

 satisfactory. The computer model provided by the Naval Ordnance Station 

 was in good agreement with data measured in the field on land. This 

 agreement has eliminated the need for measuring ballistic performance 

 during underwater firing. However, because performance changes with 

 changes in external pressure and environmental temperature, copper 

 crush gages will be used to the greatest extent possible to measure 

 peak gun barrel pressure during ocean testing of the anchor. These 

 measurements will also be important when the anchor is fired with the 

 clay fluke as no data have been gathered with this heavier fluke. 



CONCLUSIONS 



Use of existing Army and Navy ammunition components such as the 

 gun barrel, primer, propellant, and cartridge case, in the launching 

 system of the deep water anchor is feasible. This markedly decreases 

 system cost, allows expendability and, therefore, deep ocean usage. A 

 new quick-keying anchor fluke has been designed and appears to conform 

 to the requirements for an optimum direct embedment anchor fluke: it 

 is streamlined for good penetration, quick keying, and should attain 

 high holding capacity. Further conclusions drawn from the test pro- 

 grams are : 



1. The launch vehicle design is structurally adequate but can be 

 simplified by making the bearing plate an integral part of the cover. 



2. The anchor is easy to assemble and assembly can be made 

 easier by complying with No. 1, above. 



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