During the period of this cruise the surface patrol vessel activity 

 was supplemented by aerial ice observation flights as follows : On 16 

 May two flights were made in the triangular area from Argentia 

 to 42° N., 50° W., to 45° N., 45° W., but poor visibility made the 

 coverage only about 40 percent complete. On 24 May two flights 

 gave 100 percent coverage of the area from 41°20' N., to 44°30' N., 

 between 51° W., and 46° W. On 25 May one flight completely cov- 

 ered the area between 46°50' N., and 48°30' N., from the Newfound- 

 land coast east to 43°15' W. A second flight attempting to cover 

 the area between this and the area covered the previous day was 

 abandoned because of failure of the plane's loran equipment. On 



28 May a flight was made in the vicinity of 41°30' N., 53° 00' W., 

 in an attempt to locate bergs reported near there on the 26th and 

 27th. Visibility in the area did not permit visual verification of 

 radar targets. This and the presence of water spouts in the vicinity 

 made it prudent to abandon the search and return to the base. 



Sixth Cruise, "Tampa," 29 May to 10 June, 1946 



The Tampa departed Argentia, Newfoundland, at 1236 G. c. t. 

 on 28 May 1946, for ice patrol. The Modoc was met and relieved 

 as surface patrol vessel at 43°35' N., 53° 15' W., at 2000 G. c. t. on 



29 May 1946. 



Weather during this cruise may be summarized as follows. Fog 

 was scattered throughout the period for a total of 88 hours. Its 

 density varied but was generally moderate to heavy and restricted 

 visibility to one-half mile or less. There were 79 hours of precipita- 

 tion which occurred in the form of light rain and light drizzle. The 

 longest continuous period was 17 hours. A thunderstorm arose 

 at 2215 G. c. t. on 9 June. Winds were southsouthwest at 45 to 

 50 miles per hour, seas were rough, and electrical activity was 

 moderate. The barometer fell 40 millibars in 3 hours. During the 

 period of the cruise the highest recorded pressure was 1,025 

 millibars on 4 June and the lowest was 1,002 millibars on 29 May. 

 The highest wind was force 8 which occurred on two occasions, 

 once on 6 June from the west, and once on 9 June from the south- 

 southwest. Seas were generally slight with low average swells. 

 The highest state of sea was 5 which occurred during the thunder- 

 storm of 9 June. The highest recorded air temperature was 66° F. 

 on 30 May and the lowest 39 °F. on 4 June. 



At 1000 G. c. t. on 10 June 1946, at 45°00' N., 50°55' W., the 

 Modoc relieved the Tampa which then set course for Argentia, 

 Newfoundland, arriving there on 11 June 1946. 



The following is a summary of the water temperature, ice, and 

 obstruction reports received during this cruise : 



138 



