TO: 

FROM: 

Distribution 

Hx SECllET 

WORKING PAPER, DESTROY 

,OR "CONTROL BY qo 

NRO APPROVED FOR RELEASE 

DECLASSIFIED BY: CIIART 

DECLASSIFIED ON: 25 JULY 2012 

OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY DIVISION 

OPTO-MECHANICAL DESIGN ENGINEERING 

Memorandum ME59 

DATE: September 24, 1971 

L.B. Molaskey / 

SUBJECT: Trip Report - RecoVery Hook Test Program - San Diego, California 

20 - 21 September 1971 

at the 

Diego. 

9-20-71 - Upon arrival on 20' September, I checked at the Naval Base 

office of Commander Mooney who is in charge of the operation in San 

I was directed to the dock where the "Trieste was being outfitted. 

At the dock I inspected the hook with Lt~ Taylor and discuss~d the 

tests which had been performed earlier that day using a crane on the beach. 

The dummy load was lifted successfully from various orientations, i.e., nose 

down, laying on its side, etc. Apparently there were no operational problems 

with the design although it is reported to be somewhat heavier than calculated, 

'900 pounds versus 750 pounds. Some of this increased weight is due to the 

counterbalance weights which have been installed. This extra weight, however, 

is no problem. 

No grease had been packed in the operating mechanism ,or latch assembly. I reconunended that it be loaded and well I.ubricated prior to use at sea. 

I was surprised to find that the hook had been completely painted black ( the 

paint was still wet during the test program). Lt. Taylor indicated that the 

black color was to reduce back-scatter frOm the lights when operating at sea 

and was changed from the white paint recommended on the drawings by the Trieste 

crew. 

9-21-71 - I reported directly to the "compound" (Trieste dock and 

work area) and witnessed part of the rigging operation in preparation for 

loading the Trieste into the support ship, the White Sands. We then boarded 

the White Sands and inspected the shipping container. Although somewhat 

marked up and scratched from the flood ordeal it appears to be sound. All 

four casters are available but plans are to leave them off for now since the 

container is much easier to handle without casters aboard ship. They will be 

assembled, for check-out purposes, disassembled and will be maintained with 

the container. 

Lt. Taylor and I had a briefing with the captain of the White sands, 

who is also the captain of the Trieste, Commander Mal Bartels. We reviewed 

the plans commencing from now through the end of the recovery operation. 

Significant pOints brought out are: " 

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OR CONTROL BY q Q 

Memorandum ME 59 (Continued) -2-

NRO APPROVED FOR RELEASE 

DECLASSIFIED BY: CIIART 

DECLASSIFIED ON: 25 JULY 2012 

September 24, 1971 

1. Cdr. Bartels was not aware of, any plans to transfer the loaded 

shipping container from the White Sands to the Air Force ship on the site. 

Re suggested that such an operation would be very difficult. I explained the 

need to maintain the payload at 40°F or to rush the unit_· n. 

We agreed to che~k the status of the Air Force ship with 

reported that there is some uncertainty as to the availa ty 0 t e 8 p 

because it 1s scheduled to be coming out ·of dry dock on October 16th and that 

that schedule is somewhat flexible. It could slip. It was decided to pursue ~he cooling of the entire shipping container as previously planned. 

We checked on possibly loading enough dry ice aboard the White 

Sands to take care of the operation, but found, it was impossible to maintain 

the dry ice long enough. Air drop at the site was also suggested but rejected 

for various reasons. The current plan i~ to make regular ice aboard the White 

Sands. 'l11e Navy, therefore, is investigating the avail ab it ity of a machine 

capable of making 400 - 500 pounds of ice per day • The plan is to put the 

:shipping container into a big wooden box and jt~ep it packed with ice. 

2. After dark recovery of the payload is again being questioned. 

It appears that the way the load is suspended below the Trieste causes a 

hazzara for the divers. Also the depth of the unit below the surface, when 

Trieste is at the surface has again been modified. This time they say 35 to 

40 feet. The light levels at thiS depth,·of course, are too high for extended 

periods of exposure. It looks like our original idea of the curtain would 

have solved the problem. As it is we are planning to.make a simple shroud 

that can be tied around the payload at the 35- 40 foot depth. I plan to 

sketch up such a device and give it to Cdr. !boney in the morning. 

The remainder of this week's schedule and the plans for ne.xt week 

are about the same. The Trieste, aboard the White Sands, will be towed out 

to the test range, leaving Friday afternoon. The practice dive is scheduled 

for Monday and/or Tuesday, the 27th and 28th. 

LBM/cj 

Distribution 

H.F. Maguire 

H.W. Robertson 

R.W. Jones 

c. Karatzas 

P. Petty 

R. Roylance 

~S) 

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