TH€ SMMOR'S MidiLCDR Steve Delaplane, USNR

CO, HCU-TWO

The Navy's Junkmen or so we're called a hearty lot are weperversity, skill, and resourcefulness, our allies

. . . they number three.Who are these hearty sailors, these junkmen of the fleet?

Who are those men and women with flippers on their feet?Shoot the guns? ... No, nay not we nor make the missiles roar.

That glory, fame and glamour are not our daily score.What do you do they often ask, you junkmen of the fleet?

How can anchors and wire and diving suits spell the enemies' defeat?But on a cold and stormy night

while the Captain's vigil he doth keep,embracing a cup of coffee

stamping warm his ice cold feet.Calamity doth befall his ship as oft happens in the fleet

and a mighty greyhound of the sea runs smack upon a reef.

Who do we call, the cry goes out.How can we save our queen?

And through the dark and spray of night, the navy junkmen can be seen.Their captains know their businessand their crews so much the same

as they rig those wires and anchorsand prepare for this deadly game.

The days are long, the nights are tough . . .and people and equipment just don't seem enough.

Old Murphy has his way sometimes and mother nature vexes pain.But they snatched the ship off that deadly rock to go and fight again!!!

So worry not ye warriors, ye trojans of the blue, the salty salvors of the fleet,Will be there to see you through.

And rest assured me hearty lads and brethren of the sea ...That when the fleet is sinking or the ships have run aground . . .

THE NAVY SALVAGE FORCES . . .Will be THERE to heave around!

... the official magazine for the divers of the United States Navy

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFCDR James E. Roper

ASSISTANT EDITORS-IN-CHIEFLCDR Stan CwiklinskiLCDR Frank DiGeorge

MANAGING EDITORBruce Miller

ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITORRobert K. Armour

DESIGNLisa Degenhardt

PRODUCTIONBrent Emery

FACEPLATE is published quarterlyby the Supervisor of Diving to bringthe latest and most informativenews available to the Navy divingcommunity. Articles are presentedas information only, and should notbe construed as regulations, orders,or directives. Discussions or illustra-tions of commercial products donot imply endorsement by theSupervisor of Diving or the U.S.Navy.

Requests from U.S. GovernmentalAgencies and military activities orpersonnel for distribution copies orfor changes in distribution shouldbe directed to FACEPLATE, Super-visor of Diving, Naval Sea SystemsCommand, Washington, D.C. 20362.Telephone (Area Code 202) OX7-7606 or AUTOVON 227-7386. Allother such requests should bedirected to the Superintendent ofDocuments, U.S. GovernmentPrinting Office, Washington,D.C. 20402.

page 9

9 Progress in Panama City

10 A View From the Top

12 Deep Dive 79

18 Keep on Trukken

20 Divers Clean the Air

22 A New Direction in Diving Organizationsby LCDR Gary Cassat, Officer-ln-Charge, ConsolidatedDiving Unit, San Diego, California

24 The Master Diver Selection Process-The Way It Worksby LCDR J.E. Malloch, Executive Officer, NSDS

26 The Navy's Master Divers

28 HCU-TWO Tackles Old Man River

page 12

4 Soundings 31 Old Master page 18

page 20

COVER: DEEP DIVE '79 DIVE TEAM - The Navy ExperimentalDiving Unit dive team on the surface after their record-setting dive.Bottom row (l-r) Lieutenant Claude Piantadosi, EM1(DV) TommyOstertag, MHCS(DV) Tom Holmes, Top Row (l-r) BMl(DV) John PaulJohnson, BT1(DV) Larry Siemiet, HMCM(DV) "Bo" Burwell.

BACK COVER: NDSTC FACILITY UNDER CONSTRUCTION -View of facility from NCSC pier area looking across Alligator Bayou.

page 28

FACEPLATE 3

AWARD OF NEW FACEPLATECONTRACT

Potomac Research, Incorporatedof Alexandria, Virginia has been a-warded the 1980 contract for pre-paration of FACEPLATE. Theprevious Managing Editor, Mr. StevePerson, has accepted employment inSaudi Arabia. The new ManagingEditor is Mr. Bruce Miller, located inthe Panama City, Florida, office ofPRI.

NSDS MOVES TO PANAMACITY, FLORIDA

The Naval School, Diving and Sal-vage, located in the Washington NavyYard since 1928, will disestablish onJune 1, 1980 and relocate to its newfacilities in Panama City, Florida,from June 1 to October 1,1980. Thelast enlisted class graduated onApril 11, 1980 and the last officerclass will graduate on May 2, 1980.NSDS plans to commence trans-ferring personnel and material re-sources to its new site on May 1,1980. The school is scheduled tooccupy its new facilities on June 1,1980 and begin diver training inPanama City, Florida at the NavalDiving and Salvage Training Center(NDSTC) on October 6, 1980. Therelocation project officer at NSDS isLieutenant (JG) W. Wilson; LTWilson can be reached at Autovon288-3006. (see NSDS Notice 5450of November 26, 1979)

FACEPLATE SUBSCRIPTIONCHARGES

Since the spring of 1970 FACE-PLATE has been published by theNavy Supervisor of Diving as theofficial magazine for U.S. Navy

divers. Over the past ten years thesubscribers' list has grown to encom-pass a world-wide readership inexcess of 5000; likewise, the cost hasgrown significantly. In order to avoidthe possibilities of reducing the qual-ity of the magazine or discontinuingpublication, budgetary constraintshave made it necessary to begincharging a nominal subscription feeto subscribers. In order to continuereceiving FACEPLATE beyond theSpring-80 issue, all civilian, ex-military, and commercial firms mustcomplete the form provided in thisissue and return it to the Super-intendent of Documents at the ad-dress indicated by August 1, 1980.These categories include all sub-scribers with subscription numbersbeginning with 5, 8, or 9. Com-mencing with the Summer-80 issuethe following subscription rates willbe in effect for these subscribers.

Subscriptions sent to U.S.Addresses — $6.50 per year

or $2.00 per copySubscriptions sent to AddressesOutside the U.S. — $8.15 per year

or $2.50 per copy

Subscribers in all other categorieswill continue to receive FACE-PLATE from the Supervisor ofDiving at no charge.

The necessity to begin chargingfor FACEPLATE is unfortunate, butwith the continued support of ourmany loyal subscribers, it is antici-pated that the publication of FACE-PLATE will continue for many yearsto come.

CORRECTION

The Fall-79 FACEPLATE articledescribing an underwater trenchingvehicle under development at theCivil Engineering Laboratory, Port

Hueneme, California, containedseveral errors. Specifically, the articleindicated that CEL would have aprototype of the vehicle ready fortesting in 18 months. This is incor-rect. CEL expects to have only aprototype of the cavitating waterjetsystem ready for testing in 18months, not the entire trenchingvehicle. In addition, CEL has advisedthat there is currently no timetablefor development of a prototype ofthe entire trenching vehicle; thismust be determined through effortsyet to be accomplished.

WORKING DIVER SYMPOSIUMCANCELLED

The Working Diver Symposiumand Diving Officer/Master DiverConference tentatively scheduled forMarch 12-14, 1980 at Battelle Col-umbus Laboratories, Columbus, Ohiowas cancelled. Regrettably, this oc-curred because of stringent U.S.Navy budget constraints for FY-80.The symposium sponsors extendtheir appreciation to those individ-uals who have supported the plan-ning efforts for the 1980 conference.Such wide support has historicallyproven invaluable and will be vitalto future symposiums.

MK 12 SSDS TRAININGSTARTS

A one-week course to train U.S.Navy divers (surface supplied quali-fied, second class and above) to usethe MK 12 SSDS has started in vari-ous locations.

The training courses began inFebruary 1980 and will continuethrough September 1982. Locationswhere the courses will be given are'

4 FACEPLATE

NAVSUBTRACENPAC, PearlHarbor, Hawaii

NAVPHIBSCOL, Coronado,California

HCU-TWO, Little Creek, Vir-ginia

The first class began on February21, 1980 and was taught at the NavalSchool, Diving and Salvage, Washing-ton, D.C.; the last class there isscheduled to convene March 24,prior to the move to Panama City,Florida, this summer.

Maximum class size is limited to20 students, and PNC Gary White-head at CNMPC {Code 401D) Wash-ington, D.C., will coordinate allquota request* with respectiveschools. For additional informationsee CNTT message 121502Z DEC 79or call Chief Personnel man White-head, Autovon 291-5771, or com-mercial (301)427-5771.

MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMEN-DATION PRESENTED

The Honorable Edward Hidalgo,Secretary of the Navy, presenteda Meritorious Unit Commendationto the Naval Coastal Systems Centerfor outstanding efforts on theUnderwater Vehicle Project,

The citation states that it wasbeing awarded "for meritorious ser-vice in support of Commander, NavalSea Systems Command in the suc-cessful functional transfer and sub-sequent conduct of operations todevelop, manufacture, perform con-figuration control, and support Un-derwater Vehicles for the Fleet from1 July 1976 to 1 June 1979. Whileoperating under severe pressures andarduous work schedules, this groupof highly specialized and selectedNavy Department personnel demon-strated exceptional expertise inachieving Commander, Naval Sea

Systems Command's goals for im-proved capabilities for the Fleet.Through astute planning, thoroughcoordination, and hard work, thepersonnel succeeded in meeting theoriginal schedule within the assignedcost constraints. In addition, theyassisted in uncovering and resolvingmajor problem areas in logistics andtransportability that resulted in new,improved capabilities for the Fleet.By their continuous display ofprofessionalism, determination, self-discipline, and steadfast devotion toduty, the officers, enlisted personnel,and civilian employees of the NavalCoastal Systems Center reflectedcredit upon themselves and upheldthe highest traditions of the UnitedStates Naval Service."

The project is headed by Mr.Rolf R. Mossbacher and 292 civilianemployees and 34 military personnelat NCSC were named to receive theaward.

USN DIVING COMMUNITY VISITSUNITED KINGDOM

Representatives of NAVSEA OOC,NMRI, NCSC, NEDU, and HCU-ONErecently attended the followingmeetings in Portsmouth, England:The Royal Navy Annual Mine War-fare and Clearance Diving Confer-ence, the. Information ExchangeProject (IEP B-12) Annual Meeting,and the US/UK Memorandum ofUnderstanding for a CooperativeProgram on Diving Research.

Discussions were held on unman-ned and manned diving test proce-dures, thermal protection, underwatercommunications, hyperbaricchamberdesign, one-atmosphere diving suits,physiological studies, and other mu-tual interest projects.

Visits to the M/V Seaforth Clans-man (the Royal Navy civilian-

chartered deep diving ship) reunitedsome USN members with CPO(D)Chris Ballinger, RN, who returnedfrom exchange duty with HCU-TWO last spring to become ChiefDiver on board this new and uniquesaturation diving vessel.

A practical diving workshop heldin the 60-foot mining tank at HMSVernon (location for conferenceactivities) had the following equip-ment in the water at the same time:

WASP, SAM, JIM (one atmos-phere diving suits)

AGA ACSC (a Swedish-builtclosed/semi-closed, demandbreathing rig for EOD opera-tions)

Mk12SSDSENC(DV) Bob Tardy, USN,

worked long hours putting a varietyof personnel through an acquaintdive in the Mk 12. These included:Royal Navy Divers, British ArmyDivers, Ministry of Defense CivilianDivers from the Director of MarineServices, Ministry of Defense CivilianScientific Divers, USN Divers fromteams and detachments in the UK, aswell as Captain Colin Jones, USN,Director of Ocean Engineering andSupervisor of Salvage.

ENC(DV) ROBERT E. TARDYretired after 20 years of Navy serviceon January 11, 1980 at the NavyExperimental Diving Unit in PanamaCity, Florida. Commander ChuckBartholomew, Commanding Officerof NEDU, cited Chief Tardy for hiscontribution to the development ofthe Mk 12 SSDS while serving as thatprogram's assistant project manager.

Decorations and awards exempli-fying his distinguished 20-year navalcareer include:

Four Good Conduct MedalsMeritorious Unit Commenda-

tionFACEPLATE B

National Defense Service MedalArmed Forces Expeditionary

Medal (CUBA)Vietnam Service MedalVietnam Campaign MedalAir Force Unit Commendation

Chief Tardy, his wife Karen andtheir two children, Kyle and Nicole,plan to remain in the Panama Cityarea.

ENC(DV) Robert E. Tardy accepts con-gradulations from Commander ChuckBartholomew.

A NEW TOOL FOR DIVERS

ENI(DV) Ronald Nolan, NavalCoastal Systems Center DivingLocker, Panama City, Florida, hasdeveloped a magnetic device that willallow a diver to attach a light to aship's hull so he can use both handsto do his work; the device also elimi-nates the need for a second diver tohold a light.

EN1(DV) Nolan took a commer-cial "off-the-shelf" underwater light,designed a magnetic attachment andbuilt and tested the prototype.Named the "Bear Paw" light, it isdesigned so several types of commer-cial lights can be used and the attach-ment allows for quick replacement ofthe light.

The device has proven effectivefor ship husbandry divers during un-derwater repair and inspection tasks.According to Mr. John Quirk, headof NCSC's Diving Tools group, divingactivities in San Diego, California,and Charleston, South Carolina, haveshown considerable interest in thenew device and materials are readily

available at most Fleet diving activi-ties for constructing the new diver'said. Mr. Quirk,stated that the idea ofusing a split pipe section to hold acommercially available underwaterlight was developed for the "BearPaw" light, but has already beenadapted for use on hull scrubbingbrushes currently under developmentat NCSC.

The "Bear Paw" Light - A hands-off aidfor divers.

LCDR DELAPLANE BECOMESHCU-TWO C.O.

Lieutenant Commander StephenW. Delaplane relieved LieutenantCommander Robert R. Wells asCommanding Officer, Harbor Clear-ance Unit TWO in ceremonies heldat the Naval Amphibious Base, LittleCreek, Virginia, on October 16,1979.LCDR Delaplane attended PurdueUniversity, earning a degree in Engi-neering, and Old Dominion Univer-sity, receiving an Industrial Manage-ment degree,, and was commissionedthrough the Regular NROTC pro-gram. LCDR Delaplane reported toHCU-TWO in August 1978 after at-tending seven weeks of training inhelium/oxygen diving and advanceddiving medicine. He became HCU-

TWO's Executive Officer in Sep-tember 1979.

LCDR Wells was commissioned inApril 1969 through the RegularNROTC program at Miami Universityand has a degree in Zoology. He as-sumed command of HCU-TWO inMay 1978 after serving as WeaponsOfficer on the USS TURNER JOY(DD 951), and is now CommandingOfficer, USS BEAUFORT (ATS 2).

DIVING MILESTONE

A significant milestone was a-chieved in Navy diving during 1979.According to information providedto the Naval Safety Center onOPNAV form 9940/1 (s), 75,074dives were completed without afatality. This milestone of profes-sionalism was last achieved in 1971when there were 42,047 dives com-pleted without a fatality. The Com-mander, Naval Safety Center and theNavy Supervisor of Diving send a"WELL DONE" to all diving com-mands throughout the Fleet andshore establishments.

SEASHELL COLLECTION ATSUPSALV

As Supervisor of Salvage, CaptainColin M. Jones has placed on displayat SEA OOC an attractive collectionof seashells "salvaged" from the

6 FACEPLATE

Pacific, waters around Hawaii. Inorder to establish a permanent dis-play of seashells at the entrance tothe office of the Supervisor of Salvage,fleet divers are invited to send speci-mens to SUPSALV with details ofwhere the shells were found, andnames of the donators. Credit will begiven to those assisting in this effort.Although SUPSALV has a sense ofhumor, please thoroughly clean theshells first.

Reports

CHILLING EXPERIENCE - GMG2(DV) Terry W. Hegwood froze thismovement in time during first-classdiver training at Dahlgren, Virginia.Future students can look forward tomore comfortable diving conditionswhen the new Diving and SalvageTraining Center opens in Panama City,Florida, next June.

Navy Experimental Diving UnitReport No. 1-79. Thermal Measure-ments on Divers in HyperbaricHelium-Oxygen Environments. L.A.Kuehn and L.CDR J. Zumrick, MC,USN.

Abstract: During a series ofthree saturation dives to simu-lated depths of 1,000, 1,200,and 1,400 fsw at the OceanSimulation Facility, measure-ments were made to establishthe rate of heat loss of uncladdivers in helium-oxygen gaseousenvironments. These measure-ments were part of a program todetermine the dangers of coldstress and the temperature/timerelationship tolerated by diversin cold diving bells or in hyper-baric chambers in which envi-ronmental conditions are uncon-trolled. Three specific gaseoustemperatures of 15, 20, and25°C were considered. In eachexperiment, as many as foursubjects were monitored for bodycore and mean skin temperatureover a 2-h testing period. One ortwo of the subjects were alsomonitored for mean body convec-tive heat loss to determine physio-logical (shell) thermal insulation.Results of these experiments areexpressed in depth-time-temperature three-dimensionalgraphs in which the temperaturevariable is one of the following:mean skin temperature change,mean body temperature change,or mean rectal (core) temperaturechange, each suitable for definingdiver thermal limitations. It wasalso possible to rank body areas ofthe subjects in relation to heatloss and temperature decrease dur-ing exposure to the cold environ-ment.

Navy Experimental Diving UnitReport No. 6-79. Technical Evalua-tion of the Full Face Mask. LT P.T.Smith, USN.

Abstract: Technical Evaluation(TECHEVAL) of the Full FaceMask (FFM) was conducted todetermine whether the mask func-tions in a technically acceptablemanner and meets design andperformance requirements of theSwimmer Life Support System(SLSS). The scope of the evalua-tion ranged from research anddevelopmental testing throughmanned testing in the open seausing combat swimmers to evalu-ate the operability and maintain-ability of the mask. The FFM wasdesigned and developed to inter-face with the Mk 15 Mod 0Underwater Breathing Apparatus(UBA) and test criteria were es-tablished which agree with thecriteria for the Mk 15 Mod 0UBA. The mask successfully com-pleted 618.5 hours of testing withno mission aborts attributed tothe FFM. The mask meets themission characteristics as specifiedin SOR 38-02 and NDCP 5-0417-SW. The FFM is recommended forOperational Evaluation (OP-EVAL).

HOW TO ORDER:

These research reports have beenissued by the Navy ExperimentalDiving Unit, Panama City, FL.Non-DOD facilities desiring copiesof reports should address their re-quest to National Technical Infor-mation Service, 5285 Port RoyalRoad, Springfield, VA 22151.DOD facilities can obtain copiesfrom the Defense DocumentationCenter (DDC), Attn: DDC-TSR-i,Cameron Station, Alexandria,VA 22314. Prices vary accordingto the individual report.

FACEPLATE 7

PROG

FACEPLATE recently reviewed the progress of the new Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center under constructionin Panama City, Florida, with Lieutenant Commander Lee Wolford.OIC, NDSTC Detachment.

According to LCDR Wolford,construction is on schedule and thenew facility will be ready when theschool relocates to Panama City,Florida, this summer.

The Pressure Vessel Assemblieshave been installed and piping tasksare underway. The PVAs consistof four interconnecting chambers,hatches, viewports, attachments,and internal furnishings. They aredesigned to operate at 0 - 600 fsw

and can be operated independently.The NDSTC detachment members

are HTCM(MDV) John Schlegel,HTCM(DV) William Curtis, andBMC(DV) O.C. Ray. The detach-ment arrived at NDSTC to aid thetransition of the school. They willbe working with the ChesapeakeDivision, Naval Facilities Engineer-ing Command during functionaland certification testing of thefacility, and the knowledge theygain from this will provide theother members of the school with agroup having working experience inthe new facility.

The first of three NDSTCservice craft (YSD-39) is being over-hauled in Charleston, South Caro-

lina, and will arrive at the newfacility this spring. Concerning thePanama City area, LCDR Wolfordstated, "You have to have lived inWashington, D.C., to appreciatetraffic conditions in this city whereit's easy to reach any point in onlya few minutes." He was impressedalso with the good weather condi-tions for diving activities and thefriendliness of people in PanamaCity.

FACEPLATE

FACEPLATE 9

Comments from the Director ofOcean Engineering, Supervisor ofSalvage - Captain Colin M. Jones,USN

It is with a great sense of pridethat I assume the mantle of leader-ship as the Supervisor of Salvage,United States Navy. I view this posi-tion as one of the best and mostchallenging in the Navy. Certainly,should it prove to be the cap on mycareer, I will have no regrets.

Our salvage posture has decreasedmarkedly in the past ten years, and Isee it as one of my major tasks toreverse this trend. We have madegreat progress in many areas, includ-ing development of the Mk 12Diving System, which is now findingits way into the fleet after some con-tractual difficulties in the last severalyears. We are well on the road tocompleting the development of theMk 14 Push/Pull System and we havemade a great deal of progress in thediving research and deep diving areas.We have continued to develop toolsfor use underwater and we've madesignificant progress in other areas.However we haven't made enoughprogress. We aren't training enoughsalvage officers, and we aren't getting

AMEWFROMTH€TOP

enough experience; we don't haveenough salvage stations manned; andfrankly, in my opinion we aren't pre-pared right now for the very real pos-sibility of a major maritime disasteron one of our shores.

You must all recognize that manyaspects of the salvage business arechanging radically throughout theworld. This is due in no small mea-sure to the significantly increased at-tention being paid by many agenciesboth in this country and abroad tothe general subject of pollutionabatement.

I wouldn't want anyone to thinkthat oil pollution control has notbeen with us for a long time norwould I want anyone to think thatwe as salvors have not been con-cerned with this problem. Today,however, we are not alone in thisconcern; some of the concern, andparticularly the way it is exercised,makes the business of the salvormore difficult. But, rather than asource of discouragement, thisshould be accepted as a challenge tothe skill of the salvor.

The salvage business has manyproblems which must be facedsquarely and resolved. Some of theseproblems you must face on thelocal level; many of them I must face

in the Washington arena. I cannotpretend that I will solve the trainingproblems in th'e Fleet, nor the day today problems associated with opera-ting schedules. These things youmust do; I will help where I can. Thetask that I see before me at this timeis first, to assess where we presentlyare in the salvage and diving business;second, to get the support of oursuperiors in correcting our shortfalls.A part of that is the necessary devel-opment of both short- and long-rangegoals. I intend to be intensely prag-matic in the development of thesegoals. That goes for the design ofequipment, for research, and foreverything else in our business. Iearnestly solicit your input, yourideas at this time on things whichyou believe are important to the Sal-vage, Diving, and Ocean EngineeringCommunity in order that you in theFleet may influence the formulationand expansion of .these goals.

An area of concern to all of us isour professional reputations. I expecteach of you to be just as concernedas I am about our reputation as sal-vors, divers, and ocean engineers. Itis absolutely mandatory for us tohave the continued reputation ofbeing a bunch of can-do, will-dosailors. We must continually prove tothe rest of the Navy and everyoneelse who's watching us, that we arejust that — "professionals" — worthmore than we are paid. We mustbuild on our established reputationthat regardless of the difficulty of atask, the Navy diver is up to thechallenge, and when ingenuity and

1O FACEPLATE

hard work are required the Navydiver responds admirably.

As money continues to get tighterand tighter within the Defense De-partment, the necessity of complet-ing tasks in the water is going toincrease. We can't afford to drydocka ship to do something that we cando waterborne. Each of us has got tobe as innovative as possible. Whentasks come up, we've got to findsolutions. When you in the field needhelp, we will provide it from myoffice wherever and whenever needed.On the other hand, when a job comesup you've got to accept that job andgo do it. VVe'vc got to keep our diversemployed, working in the water, ifwe want to continue to find ourdiving programs supported. We mustuse the tools we have now if we ex-pect to get the funds to develop newtools. We've got to use the equip-ment we have now if we expect toget the funds to purchase new equip-ment. Those of you who are super-visors must recognize that retentionof good people is your responsibilityjust as it is mine. The way to retaingood people is to keep them busyworking in the water. If they want tobe divers then we've got to give themenough diving work to keep thembusy, and that's the responsibility ofall of us.

Each of us needs to be constantlyon the lookout for new recruits forthe diving programs. However, we allmust understand that an ideal recruitis not just "somebody that can com-plete diving school." It's somebodywho can work in the water when we

need him, once we have trained himto be a diver. I have said, and manyof you have heard me say it before,that we can teach monkeys to dive,we can teach mice to dive, but wecan't teach them to weld underwater.We can't teach them the mechanicalskills that a good diver needs to haveto work effectively in the water.Therefore, when you are lookingaround for recruits, look for peoplewho know how to weld; look forpeople who are good mechanics,because that talent is not somethingwe can teach in a short period oftime in diving school. Such skillsshould be prerequisites to divertraining.

A few words about our trainingprogram. As I hope you all know, theDiving and Salvage School will bemoving into a new home in PanamaCity, Florida, in the near future. Thiswill give us a much, much betterfacility in which to train Navy divers.However, the training program thatwe have run at the Washington NavyYard for the past many years hasbeen one of the best in the world andit's turned out a lot of good divers.We don't develop a competent diver,a mechanic who can work in thewater, overnight or in six months ora year. We develop this kind of diver

Captain Colin M, Jones, Director of OceanEngineering, Supervisor of Salvage, duringhis tenure as the Pearl Harbor Naval Ship-yard Repair Officer.

through years of hard work accom-plished on many salvage jobs, bydoing underwater repair work andship husbandry on a daily basis, bydoing it in cold water or warm water,clear visibility or darkness, as thecase may dictate. We've got to keepour people working, we must getthem in the water more often, if weexpect to develop the kind of diversnecessary for rapid mobilization.

A few thoughts in closing. Let meonce again solicit your help, yoursuggestions, and comments and letme put here for everyone my generalorders: General Order No. 1: "Don'tbe stupid;" and General Order No. 2:"Don't let the boss be stupid." Theseboth are quotations from AdmiralWestfall, and are worth your seriousconsideration. If we can communi-cate with one another on as informala basis as possible and develop theproper understanding of each other'sproblems, we can solve many of theproblems that confront us today andcontinue to move forward in the sal-vage and diving business. We canensure that we are the leaders in theworld in the areas of Salvage, Divingand Ocean Engineering. We have thetechnology; we have the facilities;and we have the people.

FACEPLATE 11

The Navy Experimental DivingUnit recently completed a rec-ord dive at the NEDU-operatedOcean Simulation Facility inPanama City, Florida.

Six NEDU divers established arecord during Deep Dive '79 whenthey lived and worked for five daysat the equivalent depth of 1,800 fsw.The unique aspect of Deep Dive '79was that, when at 1,800 fsw, itmarked the first time that divers act-ually entered the water and per-formed meaningful work for an ex-tended period when under such greatpressure. A comparison of dives be-yond 1,500 fsw (see chart) illustratesfurther this significant achievement.Deep Dive '79 also marks the deepestdepth ever attained by U.S. Navydivers.

The Dive Team consisted of BM1(DV) John Paul Johnston, BT1(DV)Larry Siemiet, HMCM(DV) "Bo"Burwell, EM1(DV) Tommy Ostertag,HMCS(DV) Tom Holmes (Dive TeamLeader), and Lieutenant ClaudePiantadosi, MC, (Dive Team Physi-cian). The Dive Team began theirhistoric dive when they entered theOSF on November 6. They arrived

"on the bottom" at 1,800 fsw onNovember 17 and spent five daysat maximum depth and 37 days totalin the world's largest and mostsophisticated man-rated hyperbaricchamber complex. The dive surfacedon December 13 without incident.

The divers arrived at 1,800 fswon the twelfth dive day. The slowcompression rate was used to dimi-nish the adverse effects of greatdepth.

Commander Chuck Bartholomew,NEDU's Commanding Officer, said,"The purpose of going to 1,800 fswwas to enable NEDU to more fullydefine life supporting requirementsfor future Navy underwater breath-ing apparatuses and to evaluate theadequacy of a new generation Navydiver communications system through-out its full depth range. NEDU alsocollected large amounts of invaluabledata pertaining to underwater breath-ing apparatus carbon dioxide absorb-ent canister performance, diver worktolerance, the effects of respiratoryheat loss, and the phenomenon ofweight loss at great depth. The results

Mean diver weight loss was signi-ficant, amounting to nearly 10 per-cent of body weight by the time thedive fefl the bottom. Decompressionfrom 1,800 fsw required 20 daysusing the rates of the standard NavySaturation Decompression Schedule.The 8-hour rest stops were typicallytaken from 0000 to 0600 and 1400to 1600 except during the 6 days ofexercise studies. During these days,decompression continued while thedivers slept and the rest stop wastaken as one 8-hour depth hold from0800 to 1600 during which exerciseexperiments were performed. Oxy-gen partial pressure was maintainedbetween 0.40 and 0.45 ATA for theentire decompression. Decompres-sion was uneventful except for oneincident at 1,536 fsw where onediver developed vertigo, nausea, andvomiting. This occurred at 0700 assoon as the diver had awakened fol-lowing continous decompression at 6ft/hr from 1600 the previous day. Hewas recompressed to 1,566 fsw andfully recovered after 2 hours ofbreathing 1.4 ATA oxygen.from theBl Bs. The cause of this event remainsuncertain. Dilation of the stomachby gas is possible since the diverclaimsto have experienced some reliefby belching before recompression.Post-dive recovery was slow in alldivers, requiring 3 to 4 weeks forresolution of fatiguing easily.1«» FACEPLATE

DRY CHAMBER- Oneused during Deep Dive '79, If?"

CDR Bartholomew summarizedthe 37-day dive as another milestoneachieved in the 53-year history ofdiving at NEDU that will contri-bute significantly toward the devel-opment of new and better divingequipment and techniques not onlyfor the, U.S. Navy, but the the worlddiving community at large. He con-cluded, "The successful completion

'fril

DIVE '79 - Viewted on top of dry chamber

-the- 'Deep Dive"¥Q The Honorable

of the Navy.

CLOSE UP -

of this highly complex diving missionrelied heavily on the remarkablespirit and motivation of the DiveTeam, their stamina, arduous pre-dive physical and equipment training,and equally, on the highly profes-sional, round-the-clock watch stand-ing and supervisory expertise of theNEDU support personnel, both mili-tary and civilian."

rDEEP DIVE 79 OBJECTIVES^

• Evaluate Tethered Diver Com-munication System (TDCS)

• Study Diver Work ToleranceUsing Low Resistance Breath-ing System (LRBS)

• Study Effects of Diver Res-piration Heat Loss

• Study Phenomenon of DiverWeight Loss

• Evaluate Deep Saturation DivingTechniques for Greater Effi-

, ciency and Safety )

<£ RECORD REENLISTMENT ^

HMCS(DV) Tom Holmes set anindividual record during Deep Dive'79.

He became the first man to re-enlist at 1,800 feet. The traditional"re-up" ceremony was held Nov-ember 21 with the reenlistmentoath administered by his diverteammate LTPiantadosi. A heliumspeech unscrambler allowed thedivers and witnesses to follow thetime-honored reenlistment proce-

FACEPLATE IB

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On January 18, graduation ceremo-nies at the Naval School, Diving andSalvage featured a unique event withthe graduation of Deep Sea (HeO2)Diving Officer, Ensign Susan Trukken,USNR — the first woman to achievethis distinction.

Ensign Trukken's serious interest indiving started when she was in juniorhigh school through publicity sur-rounding the SEALAB III program.Although she went on to receive aBachelor of Arts degree from theUniversity of California at SantaBarbara (she has a music teachingcredential for grades Kindergartenthrough 12), she was determined tobecome a Navy diver. FACEPLATEinterviewed Ensign Trukken andhere are some of her thoughts abouther experience at NSDS.

18 FACEPLATE

FACEPLATE: Did you feel you weretreated the same as your fellow stud-ents?Ensign Trukken: Yes, I felt I was oneof the class after the first week or so.There were times when I had to re-mind chivalrous (classmates) that Iwouldn't learn how to do things ifI didn't do them myself, but, all inall, I was one among many trying tofulfill the requirements.FACEPLATE: What was the worstpart of your training?Ensign Trukken: I guess the worstpart was convincing the staff that Iwas capable of doing what was neces-sary during Mk V (training). Thechallenge was climbing up a ladder(and) out of the (wet) pots - noteasy, but not impossible. I waslaboring under the impression that itwas supposed to be difficult for mebecause of my size as well as my sex,and I found support for that fear

until the "Last Chance" time came.Then I decided - to hay with all thisdifficulty stuff, it is well within myabilities and I will do it - and I did!I guess when it really comes down toit, the worst part of the training wasovercoming the idea that womencouldn't handle the rig and the P.T.,and overcoming other women's fail-ures. That was the most difficultpart of this training - the mentaldiscipline (required). EDITOR'SNOTE: Ensign Trukken is 5'2" talland weighs 120 pounds.FACEPLATE: What did you likemost about this experience?Ensign Trukken: Diving school...developed a real sense of camaraderie.The P.T., SCUBA, and Mk V (airand helium rigs) were all class as wellas individual efforts. So, more thanthe freedom of SCUBA, Mk 1, andJack Browne, the security of the MkV, and the refreshing newness andemancipation of the Mk 12, the peo-ple were what make this divingtraining really worthwhile. The in-structors and staff also become a partof this camaraderie, or rather maybe,we a part of theirs. I felt the instruc-tors....were supportive as well asdemanding...They are excellent peo-ple who work hard - who will givetheir all to help when they see yougive your all to get there.

FACEPLATE: Were there any amus-ing incidents during the training?Ensign Trukken: I guess the MudMonster was the most amusing...We had some night searches to doand (the instructor) was trying toget us nervous, so he would kid usabout the Mud Monster. We...wrotea note, stuffed it in a bottle, plantedit (on the bottom) and one set ofdivers came up claiming someonehad handed the bottle to them. Theinstructor was a little surprised, andsince no one would claim respon-sibility, we carried that bottle withus all day, every day, for a week.

Upon graduation from NSDSEnsign Trukken attended five weeksof training in "Fundamentals ofMunitions" at the Naval School ofEOD, Indian Head, Maryland enrouteto her first duty station, USS SIERRA(AD-18) temporarily homeported inMobile, Alabama.

FACEPLATE 19

DN6RSQ6N1

THC

\

SO FACEPLATE

A combined task group achieved a "first" when they cleaned the USS CONSERVER (ARS-39) air system

Navy divers recently added to thelengthy list of multi-faceted, uniqueaccomplishments of the diving com-munity when they cleaned the USSCONSERVER air system.

Divers aboard the USS CON-SERVER, assisted by Harbor Clear-ance Unit ONE, COMSERVRONFIVE, USS PIGEON (ARS-21), andCOMNAVSURFPAC, cleaned theentire divers' air supply pipingsystem so that it meets the latestexacting standards for this typesystem. Coordinated by Lieutenant(jg) Turner of COMSERVRON FIVE,the job was accomplished by using

SN(DV) Niccolls (left) checks systemcontamination level (above) HT-FN(DV)M. Whitlow and ET-SN(DV) M. Shudinisinspect the final flushing of piping.

HCU-ONE'siclean room facilities, themanpower of the USS CONSERVERand HCU-ONE, the technical assis-tance of HTC(DV) Earnest of USSPIGEON, and the guidance of divingsystem expert MMCS(MDV) Brad-bury of COMNAVSURFPAC. Dif-ficult is the best word to describethe air cleaning project. After HTC(DV) Earnest reviewed all cleaningrequirements and defined the scopeof the job, he carefully inspected thesystem as installed, compiled addit-ional specifications, and listed de-ficiencies that would require cor-rection during system cleaning.

Simultaneously, USS CONSER-VER divers were identifying materialrequired for the five air system qua-lity improvement alterations that

separate components. HCU-ONE'sBMC(DV) Currivan led one cleaningteam. SN(DV) Niccolls was hisassistant for quality control and wasa lab technician also.

After the system was reinstalled,it was pressure tested, flushed, andair tested for less than 5 parts permillion contaminants, which is manytimes cleaner than allowable contam-inants in a hospital operating room.The final test resulted in a "no con-taminants" report.

The project was completed oneweek ahead of schedule because ofthe talent, knowledge, and expertiseof the diving activities, and theirability to work together.

HT-FN(DV) M. Whitlow and ET-SN(DV)M. Shudinis check flushing equipment.

would be made along with systemrepairs. HCU-ONE's ENC(DV) Pennhad to ensure that the clean roomfacilities were ready for the majorundertaking and anticipate manyother details associated with the pro-ject.

The USS CONSERVER divers,under supervision of ETC(DV)Vester, removed over 300 feet ofpiping, consisting of more than 150

ETC(DV) Vester and HT-I(DV) Ehly in-sure proper gage calibration.

PROJECT PARTICIPANTS

Name

LT(jg) P. TURNERMMCS(DV) S. BRADBURYHTC(DV) B. EARNESTHTCS(DV) C. MO5ERENC(DV) G. PENNBMC(DV) P.B. CURRIVANSN(DV)T. NICCOLLSETC(DV) D.L. VESTERHT3(DV) M. R.CAMPELLHT1JDV) A.W. EASTONHT1JDV) N.L. EHLYTMSN(DV) D.E. FOWLERGMMSN(DV) D.E. FRYBERGERENFN W.J.SHERIDANETSN(DV) M.J. SHUDINISHT3(DV) D.M.SIMSHTFN(DV)M.E. WHITLOW

Unit

COMSERVRON FIVE STAFFCOMNAVSURFPAC STAFFUSS PIGEON (ASR-21)HCU-ONEHCU-ONEHCU-ONEHCU-ONEUSS CONSERVER (ARS-39)USS CONSERVER (ARS-39)USS CONSERVER (ARS-39)USS CONSERVER (ARS-39)USS CONSERVER (ARS-39)USS CONSERVER (ARS-39)USS CONSERVER (ARS-39)USS CONSERVER (ARS-39)USS CONSERVER (ARS-39)USS CONSERVER (ARS-39)

FACEPLATE 21

A New nirpptinnA New Direction

In DivingOrganizations

LCDR Gary Cassat, Officer-ln-ChargeConsolidated Diving Unit, San Diego, California

Commander James Roper, Supervisor of Diving, discussed the diver consolidation program in the Fall 1979 issue ofFACEPLATE. This program has become a reality on the West Coast and here is a report on how it was done and how itis working.

The West Coast divers have re-organized and borrowed a traditionfrom the SEABEES. "CDU....CANDO" has become the watchword asthe West Coast Consolidated DivingUnit carries out its mission of under-water ship husbandry for San Diego-based Fleet units.

Consolidation occurred November1, 1979 with diving personnel fromADs, ARs, and PHIBCB-ONE poolingtheir talents and assets aboard theYFNX-24 diving barge (formerlyassigned to the Second Class DivingSchool). After three months of opera-

ee FACEPLATE

tion, CDU's successes indicate that itis able to provide a level of supportto the Fleet far beyond that formerlyprovided by individual shipboarddiving lockers.

CDU has a simple formula: Suc-cess = (flexibility) + (cross-pollina-tion of talent). Because of central-ized work planning and schedulingcontrol at CDU, all requests fordiver services are well-coordinated

and assigned a priority that meetsthe needs of the . requestor. Thisclose coordination establishes goodrapport between CDU and the re-questor, and provides excellent ex-posure for the divers—a visibilityfor the diving community not avail-able before. Additionally, CDU main-tains an emergency response capabi-lity that has proven itself by beingable to arrive on the site of theemergency for after-hours repairfully dressed and ready to dive any-where in the San Diego harbor withinone hour.

CDU works directly for the COM-NAVSURFPAC Maintenance Coor-dinating Center (MCC). This allowsfor real-time coordination of multi-shop IMA repairs (i.e., the valve shopaboard USS TENDER will pull andrepair a valve and divers install andremove the cofferdam).

The CDU diver pool works likethis: as tenders/repair ships returnto homeport after deployment, divingpersonnel report to COMNAV-SURFPAC CDU on TemporaryAdditional Orders, thereby main-taining their constructive sea time.The divers remain with CDU untiltheir parent ship deploys. Thisprovides a relatively long period ofpersonnel stabilization for CDU andallows for an extensive exchange ofideas and experiences. This "cross-pollination" has proven time andagain that there is a diver somewherein the CDU organization who knowshow to accomplish that "unusual"job and a "school of the ship" isconducted so the entire staff benefitsfrom this knowledge.

In addition to a large number ofunderwater husbandry operations,CDU has been performing a completeoverhaul of the YFNX-24 divingbarge and shore facilities to increaseefficiency and capabilities. Besidesthe AD/AR dive boats, CDU has ac-quired a new LCM-hull 50-foot work-boat that will be converted into asurface-supplied diving/light salvageplatform capable of sustainedSCUBA and Mk 1 diving operations(130 feet/60 minutes). CDU is theprojected home for the Fly AwayDive System (FADS) and divingpersonnel marked for the San Diego-based T-ATFs.

CDU takes great pride in itsaccomplishments and is lookingforward to eventually become adetachment of HCU-ONE. CDUextends a cordial invitation todiving and salvage personnel through-out the Fleet to stop aboard, seeour operation, and share your ideas.

CDU performed the following repair and assistance tasks in its first threemonths of operation:

Task Number Performed

LST Bow Thruster Repairs 2Fin Stabilizer Cofferdams (FFG-1 Class) 1Propeller Removals from Major Combatants 2Propeller Replacement 2Pre-Hull Cleaning (SCAMP) Inspections 22Post Hull Cleaning (SCAMP) QA Inspections 21Underwater PMS/Pre-deployment Inspections 10Damage Inspections, Including Unfouling

of Sea Chest, Screws, and Fittings 35UDATS Televised Damage Inspections 4Major Cofferdams, Patches and Plugs 54Shaft Wraps (Includes 963 Class) 10Propeller Cleaning (Includes 1 CV) 3Sonardome Grooming 3Inspecting Main Circulator, Scoop and Overboard Valves 12Search and Recovery Operations 6

(Plus numerous varied jobs including: keel anchor rigging, pit sword re-placement on a CG, retainer ring removals, fairwater bolt replacement, UTtest support, small craft bottom cleaning, and indoctrination dives forprospective divers.)

CDU KEY INDIVIDUALS

LCDR Gary Cassat

LT(jg) KempSkudin (D)

LT (jg) John Bowles (R)

MMCM (MDV) Bud Kilbury

ENCS (MDV) Bill Romaine

OIC. Served in salvage and diving forcesand Surface Warfare Units. Convertedto 1140 Special Operations Officerdesignator from 1110 Surface Warfarein 1978.

Assistant OIC. Also an 1140 Officer.Will be relieved by LT (jg) Bowles.

MCPOC and "top kick" of CDU.

Senior Master Diver and diving opera-tions technical advisor.

FACEPLATE E3

TheMaster Diver

Selection Process

The Way It WorksMASTER DIVER SELECTEES - NSDS Class 79-09-M Graduates (June 29, 1979) (l-r)BMCSfMD V) Sam Sangrey, BMCfMD V) Darrell D. Williams, and EOC(MD V) JosephM. Scalpi.

LCDRJ. E. MallochExecutive OfficerNaval School, Diving and Salvage

The purpose of this article is todispel' the questions, rumors andmystique that have arisen throughoutthe diving community concerning themethod by which the Navy's MasterDivers (MDVs) are selected and todetail the step-by-step process bywhich the selection process is per-formed.

The MDV selection process hasevolved over the years into a preciseand careful method where a selectionboard, consistingof NSDS staff mem-bers and other invited MDVs, voteson whether a candidate should berecommended for MDV after anextensive evaluation period.

After completing a fleet screeningprocess, MDV candidates are issuedorders to Master Diver (Qualification)course (A-433-0019) at NSDS,Washington, D.C. MDV candidatesundergo this five-week evaluationcourse after an orientation briefingupon reporting (the Friday beforethe course starting date) to NSDS.

The course MDV candidates takeconsists of five intense weeks ofclosely observed performance in avariety of situations:

First Three Weeks: During thisphase, candidates receive classroomrefresher training starting withphysics and medicine, continuingwith helium/oxygen diving proce-dures review, and instruction inadvanced diving medicine during thelast week.

Fourth Week: This week is dedi-cated to open sea diving proceduresonboard the school's diving servicecraft. MDV candidates supervisedives during this segment of theselection process and use NSDS stu-dents undergoing training as the div-ing team. Candidates are not gradedduring this week, but are given theopportunity to "run the side", reactto imposed casualties, diagnose andtreat diving casualties, and ask in-

E4 FACEPLATE

structors any questions while re-ceiving feedback on mistakes and thecorrect procedures to follow (in ac-cordance with the Diving Manual).The fourth week is structured usuallyto include operation of the followingequipment: Mk V - Air (Monday);Mk V Modified - HeO2 (Tuesday,Wednesday, and Thursday); and Mk12 - Air (Friday). The Mk 12 has justrecently been introduced into alldiving curriculums.

This first week at sea serves as a"shakedown" period so MDV candi-dates can ask questions, receive feed-back, become familiar with thediving systems, and get acquaintedwith the personnel before the finaland most important evaluation week.

Fifth Week: This final rigorousweek in the evaluation course isgraded by the selection board. Eachcandidate is given the same divingscenario that includes a plannedcasualty or problem to which thecandidate must react. Candidates arenot aware of the nature of theemergency until it occurs (see Fall1979 issue of Faceplate for a descrip-tion of this selection processsegment).

The manner in which the candi-date leads and runs his station, con-trols the casualty, and diagnoses themedical problem associated with thediver(s) involved constitutes the basisfor individual evaluation. Each of thecandidates is given a critique andconstructive feedback from the ob-servers after the drill has ended andeach is graded on his performance oneach of the four days by the variousobservers onboard that day. The nor-mal sequence for this last week is:Monday - Mk 1 Band Mask (Air);Tuesday and Wednesday - Mk VModified (HeO2); and Thursday -Mk V (Air). (The Mk 12 has not beenincluded in the evaluation week be-

cause it has only recently become anadditional diving system for somediving activities.)

The MDV Selection Board meetsthe following Friday at NSDS aftercompletion of the four days at seadrills. The board consists of theNSDS Commanding Officer (Chair-man), Executive Officer (BoardCoordinator and Recorder), ProjectMDV, observing MDVs (four to eightpeople), four evaluating Diving Offi-cers, and the Medical Diving Officer(normally a total of 14 voting boardmembers). The Command ing Officervotes only when there is a lied vote.

When the board begins evaluatingcandidates, each candidate is boardedalphabetically and individually. Thecandidates are judged by an estab-lished standard, not compared toeach other.

The XO briefs the board on eval-uation rules, then the observing mas-ter for each day reads the drill im-posed on the candidates, startingwith the first candidate, and con-cludes with his observation/evalua-tion of the candidate. Evaluation canrange from outstanding to unsatisfac-tory. Each observer who performedevaluation on a specific day presentshis observations on the candidate.After all observers have reported tothe board, the board votes onwhether to recommend a candidatefor MDV status. Ballots are signedand the CO/XO review them. To en-sure that the selection process isfair and impartial, an evaluator canabstain from voting with the board'spermission if he feels he cannot beobjective.

Votes are counted verbally by theXO. If the candidate receives a ma-jority of "recommended" votes, he isauthorized to be designated by theCommander, Naval Military Person-nel Command (NMPC) as a MasterDiver, NEC 5341, and is thereafterassigned as such. The board recesses

after evaluating each candidate andthen reconvenes to evaluate the nextcandidate.

It takes about one hour for eachindividual evaluation. When all candi-dates have been boarded, eachis called into the board room wherethe CO apprises him of the board'sdecision.

If a candidate has been selected asan MDV, he is awarded his MDVbreast insignia and, certificate ofqualification. Non-selectees meet inclosed session with the XO and theCommand Master Chief (MDV) todiscuss areas where improvement isneeded. Before adjourning, the boardvotes and establishes a consensus ofwhen non-selectees should return forreevaluation. The command, at alater date, makes an administrativeremarks (Page 13) entry, which goesto the individual's command, thediving detailer, and the school re-cords. This ensures that everyone hasan equal opportunity to compete forexisting quotas for future evaluationclasses.

The MDV Selection Process is afair and equitable process for selec-ting the best qualified individualsfrom the Fleet to perform the time-honored responsibilities expected ofan MDV — the Navy's subject matterexpert in the performance of diving.

From October 1978 to October1979, 26 First Class Divers were eval-uated for MDV. Eleven of the 26(42%) were selected. The next MDVcourse will be held early in 1981 inPanama City, Florida. Contact theNaval School, Diving and Salvage foranswers to any questions concerningthe MDV Selection Process (NSDSwill relocate to Panama City June 1,1980 and will be redesignated asthe Naval Diving and Salvage Train-ing Center).

FACEPLATE ES

The Navy's Master DiversThe Navy Master Diver (MDV) is the recognized expert of his profession. To achieve this status, an individual must

first meet the following qualifications: be a diver first class for a minimum of two years, serve onboard an A RS or ASR,be an E-7 or above, be recommended by his commanding officer, and survive a rigorous Fleet screening process. In thepast MDV candidates enrolled in the Master Diver Course at NSDS, Washington, D.C. The last course convened onMonday, March 24, 1980, with candidates arriving on the preceding Friday. Future classes will be held at the NavalDiving and Salvage Training Center, Panama City, Florida, beginning in early 1981. A detailed description of the courseand ensuing MDV selection process, as written by LCDR Jim Malloch, USN, XO of NSDS, precedes this article. Since thelisting of Navy Master Divers which appeared in the Spring '79 issue of FACEPLA TE, several new MDVs have beenselected, others have retired from active service, one has returned to active duty from retirement, while many have beenpromoted or transferred to new duty stations. The listing below provides the names and duty stations of active dutyMDVs as of March 1,1980.

HTCM(MDV)ERNEST ALEXANDERUSS BR YCE CANYON (AD 36)FPO SAN FRANCISCO 96601

MMCM(MDV) MIKE ANDERSONHTCM(MDV) JOHN ORTIZNA VAL SUBMARINE TRAININGCENTER PACIFICPEARL HARBOR, HI 96860

BMCM(MDV) DICK ARLINGTONUSS HOLLAND (AS 32)FPO NEW YORK 09507

BMCS(MDV) BILL AUSTINBMC(MDV) DARRELL D. WILLIAMSUSS SIMON LAKE (AS 33)FPO NEW YORK 09507

BMCM(MDV) PAT BEHLINGHTCM(MDV)DAVID DEBOLTSMCM(MDV) JACK DELAUTERBMCM(MDV) EDWARD WOODYNA VY EXPERIMENTAL DIVING UNITPANAMA CITY, FL 32407

HTCM(MDV) EARL BENNETTNA VAL SPECIAL WARFARE GROUP 2NAVAL AMPHIBIOUSBASELITTLE CREEKNORFOLK, VA 23521

MMCS(MDV) DONALD F. BRADBURYCOMMANDER NA VA L SURFACEFORCE PACIFICNAVAL A M PHI BIO US BA SECORONADOSAN DIEGO, CA 92755

BB FACEPLATE

HTCS(MDV) FRANK BUSKISUPERVISOR OF SHIPBUILDING,CONVERSION AND REPAIR, USNSAN FRANCISCO, CA 94135

BMCS(MDV) ERNEST CALTENBACKINSTRUCTOR, SUBMARINE SCHOOLNA VAL SUBMARINE BASEGROTON, CT 06340

ENCS(MDV) BOB CAVEBCMS {MDV) HARRY CROTTSDl VING SYSTEMS DETA CHMENTSUBMA RINE DEVELOPMENTGROUP ONE139 SYLVESTER ROADSAN DIEGO, CA 92106

BMCS(MDV) EARL CLARKTMCM(MDV) BILL GHOLSONSECOND CLASS DIVERS SCHOOLNA VA L AMPHIBIOUS SCHOOLNAVAL A MPHIBIOUS BA SECO RON ADO, CA 92155

GMGS(MDV) PHIL COLVINNA VAL COASTAL SYSTEMS CENTERPANAMA CITY, FL 32407

HTCS(MDV) JOHN CONNEENNA VA L SA FETY CENTER (CODE 20)NAVAL AIR STATIONNORFOLK, VA 23511

SWCS(MDV) CHARLES COPEUNDERWATER CONSTRUCTIONTEAM TWONA VA L CONSTRUCTION BA TTA LIONCENTERPORT HUENEME, CA 93043

QMCS(MDV) GERALD DRAPERBMCM(MDV) MIKE EINHELLIGENC(MDV) WESLEY J. GUMMELMMCS(MDV) JERRY D, KINNARDHTCM(MDV) JOHN SCHLEGELMMCM(MDV) FRED SCHUNKNA VAL SCHOOL DIVING & SAL VAGEWASHINGTON NA VY YA RDWASHINGTON, DC 20374

HTCS(MDV) R.M. DUNHAMSUBMARINE DEVELOPMENTGROUP ONEMARE ISLA ND NA VA L SHIP YARDDETACHMENTVALLEJO, CA 94592

BMC(MDV) MIKE FOMBYUSS EDENTON (A TS 1)FPO NEW YORK 09501

BMC(MDV) WILLIAM GUTIRREZUSS BEAUFORT (ATS 2)FPO SAN FRANCISCO 96601

ENC(MDV) RAFAEL A. HERNANDEZUSS HUN LEY (AS 31)FPO NEW YORK 09501

MRCS(MDV) CHARLES A. HOLTONSHORE INTERMEDIA TEMAINTENANCE ACTIVITY,CHARLESTONCHARLESTON, SC 29408

HTCS(MDV)SAMHUSSSOLOMONS FACILITY FIELDDIVISIONNA VAL SURFACE WEAPONS CENTERSOLOMONS, MD 20688

» r

HTCS(MDV) JERRY JENNINGSUSS DIXIE (AD 14)FPO SAN FRANCISCO 96601

MMCS(MDV) BUD KILBURYCONSOLIDA TED DIVERS POOLCOMMANDER NA VAL SURFACEFORCE PACIFICNA VAL AMPHIBIOUS BASECO RONA DOSAN DIEGO, CA 92155

HTCS(MDV) BILLY KITCHENSUSS FULTON (AS 11)FPO NEW YORK 09501

HTC(MDV) DONALD M. LAURINUSS ORION (AS 18)FPO NEW YORK 09501

HTCS(MDV) STEVE LECHNERUSS FRANK CABLE (AS 40)FPO NEW YORK 09501

HTC(MDV) JOSEPH M. LESZCZYSKISHORE INTERMEDIATE ~ • • - -MAINTENANCE ACTIVITY,LITTLE CREEKNORFOLK, VA 23521

ENCM(MDV) BILL LOUDERMILKBMCS(MDV) DON MCKENZIESEA DUTY COMPONENTHARBOR CLEARANCE UNIT ONEFPO SAN FRANCISCO 96601

MMC(MDV) FERNANDO LUGOUSS FLORIKAN (ASR 9)FPO SAN FRANCISCO 96601

HTC(MDV) WILLIAM L. MATHISUSSDIXON (AS 37)FPO SAN FRANCISCO 96601

BMCS(MDV) JOE R. MEDINABMCS(MDV) JUAN RAMOSNA VA L OCEA N S YSTEMS CENTERSAN DIEGO, CA 92152

MMCS(MDV) BOB MOOREWEAPONS RANGENAVAL UNDERSEA WARFAREENGINEERING STA TIONKEYPORT, WA 98345

ENCS(MDV) CHARLES M. MOOREUSS PIGEON (ASR 21)FPO SAN FRANCISCO 96601

BMCM(MDV) ROY MOWENUSSSPERRY (AS 12)SAN DIEGO, CA 92132

HTCM(MDV) JON MUNDYNA VA L EXPLOSIVE ORDNA NCEDISPOSAL FACILITYINDIAN HEAD, MD 20640

MMCM(MDV) A.J. PARFINSKYSHIP REPAIR FACILITY SUBICFPO SAN FRANCISCO 96630(PRESENTL YATNEDU)

MMC(MDV) COY W. PAYNEUSS BRUNSWICK (A TS 3)FPO SAN FRANCISCO 96601

MMCS(MDV) TOM PETERSONUSS YOSEMITE (AD 19)FPO SAN FRANCISCO 96601

BMCS(MDV) RICHARD RADECKIENCM(MDV) JIM STARCHERHARBOR CLEARANCE UNIT TWOFPO NEW YORK 09501

BMCS(MDV) MICHAEL D. REYNOLDSNMPC/PERS 5112-401 DBNA VKDEPARTMENT ...... _., .. ._...WASHINGTON, DC 20370

BMCS(MDV) LEE RINEHARTCOMMANDER SER VICE SQUADRONEIGHTNA VA L AMPHIBIOUS BASELITTLE CREEKNORFOLK, VA 23521

ENCS(MDV) BILL ROMAINEUSS JASON (AR 8)FPO SAN FRANCISCO 96601

BMCS(MDV) SAN SANGREYBMC(MDV) OSCAR C. WESTBROOKSUBMARINE DEVELOPMENTGROUP ONEDIVING SYSTEM DETACHMENT139 SYLVESTER ROADSAN DIEGO, CA 92106

EOC(MDV) JOSEPH M. SCALPIUSS EMOR Y S. LA ND (A S 39)FPO NEW YORK 09501

BMCS(MDV) ROBERT A. SMITHSUBMARINE SUPPORT FACILITYNEW LONDONGROTON, CT 06340

BMCM(MDV) OKEY SOUTHERSCOMMANDER NA VAL SURFACEFORCE U.S. A TLA NTIC FLEETNORFOLK, VA 23511

GMGCS(MDV) C.C. STANLEYUSSKITTIWAKE(ASR 13)FPO NEW YORK 09501

HTCS(MDV) RAY STEELEMA INTENANCE A ND SUBMARINESUPPORT BASENA VAL SUBMARINE BASEPEARL HARBOR, HI 96860

ENC(MDV) RAY STRAININGUSSSUNBIRDfASR 15)FPO NEW YORK 09501

BMC(MDV) EDWARD THOMASNA VAL MEDICAL RESEARCHINSTITUTENATIONAL NA VAL MEDICAL CENTERBETHESDA, MD 20014

BUCS(MDV) DAVE THOMPSONUNDERWATER CONSTRUCTIONTEAM ONENA VAL AMPHIBIOUS BASELITTLE CREEKNORFOLK, VA 23521

HTCS(MDV) DICK THOMPSONUSSCANOPUS(AS34)FPO NEW YORK 09501

BMCS(MDV) R.T. VAN DINEUSS ORTOLANE (ASR 22)FPO NEW YORK 09501

MMCS(MDV) CHARLES WETZELNA VAL SCHOOL EXPLOSIVEORDNANCE DISPOSA LNA VA L ORDNA NCE STA TIONINDIAN HEAD, MD 20640

BMC(MDV) D.E. WHITAKERCIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORYNA VA L CONSTR UCTION BA TTA LIONCENTERPORTHUENEME,CA 93043

BMCS(MDV) DICK WIEBESHORE INTERMEDIA TEMA INTENA NCE ACTIVITYMA YPORT, FL 32228

MMCS(MDV) ROBERT WILEYEXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSALTRA IN ING ANDEVALUA TION UNITBARBERS POINT, HI 96862

QMCS(MDV) JESSE WILLIAMSUSS PETREL (ASR 14)FPO NEW YORK 09501

MMCS(MDV) BILL YARLEYUSS RECLAIMER (ARS 42)FPO SAN FRANCISCO 96601

FACEPLATE B7

On February 20, 1976, the der-rick barges ELMAR I and ELMAR IIwere rammed in the stern by theM/V ARALAR while under tow nearthe east bank of the Mississippi River,west of New Orleans, Louisiana.Both barges sank at Kenner bend inthe area designated as Mile 113. Thebarges separated and sank 2,600 feetapart.

When the barges' owner aban-doned them, the U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers requested the U.S. NavySupervisor of Salvage to survey thewrecks in preparation for their re-moval. After the survey SUPSALVtasked HCU-TWO to remove thewrecks, which had become hazardsto navigation.

The salvage operation took fivemonths and combined the adversenatural elements of zero visibility,strong currents, and storms, with thedifficult task of removing gravel bal-last and mud from one wreck beforesalvaging it, dredging around theother wreck to attempt parbucklingit into a hole, and recovery of asunken tug adjacent to the ELMAR II.

A partial list of equipment usedand a diving summary best illustratethe complexity of this salvage task:

Slurry consistency of the pay load broughtup by the modified 10-inch air lift.

SB FACEPLATE

HCU-TWOTIOl£S OLD RN€R

PARTIAL EQUIPMENT LIST

ESSM POOL

Two diesel 125 CFM air compressorsOne diesel 30 KW AC generator

One diesel light towerTwo four-inch submersible pumpsTwo ten-inch diesel pumpsTwo ten-inch pump manifoldsTwo sloan hydraulic pumpsTwo diesel welding generatorsTwo diesel clyde winchesOne diesel 5 KW generatorOne diesel jetting pumpTwenty It wt six-inch suction/

discharge hosesTwenty It wt three-inch suction/

discharge hoses

USN MK-1 band mask diver.

Six foot valves for six-inch It wt hoseTwo foot valves for three-inch It wt

hoseOne coil four-inch nylon lineTwo diesel three-inch pumpsOne welding kitOne oxyacetylene cutting kit

NAVSEA (OOC) OR CONTRACTOR

Command TrailerRental barge (130 ft x 50 ft x 9 ft

deep)Manitowac 3900 crawler craneRecompression chamberTen-inch airliftsComaco 600 CBM air compressorJetting pump (rental)Lift Derricks:

D/BCAPPYBISSO(650Ton)D/B AJ AX (250 Ton)D/B SOUTHERN 6 (300 Ton)D/B CAIRO (360 Ton)

HCU-TWO

Flyaway Compressors and consoleConex boxesAir Lifts (6-and 10-inch)

Briefly, the ELMAR II sank in 70feet of water. There were approxi-mately 16 feet of mud and ballasteach in holds 1, 2, and 3 to bepumped out before lifting operationscould be performed, which required

View of upperdeck of the tug, after break-ing the surface.

jetting trenches under the barge forplacement of lifting slings. BeforeELMAR 11 could be raised, a sunkentugboat, located two feet off theELMAR II starboard quarter hadto be removed to prevent hindrancewith salvage of ELMAR II.

Lifting ELMAR II required exten-sive preparations, including removalof hatch covers and strongbacks,modifying equipment to eliminatesuch problems as hoses rupturingfrom chafing on hatch combings,

FACEPLATE

Diving Rig

SCUBADiver's Mask,

USN Mk1MR12SSDSMk V

Total

DIVING

No. of Dives

48

571306

13

938

SUMMARY

Bottom Time

14 hr 2 min

471 hr 54 min227hr31 min

11 hr32min

724 hr 59 min

Maximum Depth

110ft

68ft120ft72ft

cutting a 14-foot long hole in hold 3,overcoming explosions on consecu-tive days that injured two divers,divers having to use a cold chisel tocut each nut and bolt on strongbacksbefore they could be removed, andusing explosive shaped charges for re-moval of welded hatch plates. Inaddition, demudding operations,trenching, and dredging were per-formed in zero visibility, makingthese tasks extremely difficult.Divers also had to remove debris inthe holds that included glass, scrapmetal, welding rods, wire, rope, alife boat,sheet metal.and angle iron.

Positioning lifting equipmentunder the ELMAR II was not accom-plished easily when that phasestarted. For example, an approxi-mately 20-foot long section of theport bilge keel had to be cut out bydivers to prevent interference witha messenger wire, and pulling, re-rig-ging, and reinstalling a bow liftingpad when the pad shifted as tensionwas applied.

After four months of salvage op-erations, all lifting equipment was inplace and the ELMAR II lift started.This was done by using four liftderricks. The D/B AJAX (wire

bundle sling under stern of wreck),D/B CAPPY BISSO (stern lifting padforward of wire bundle), D/B CAIRO(bow port slide lifting pad), and D/BSOUTHERN 6 (bow starboard sidelifting pad) began the closely coordi-nated action of lifting ELMAR II(A-36 structural steel plate, 3/4-inchthick was used for the lifting pads).

The lift began at 0840 andbottom suction was broken at 1128.The top of the clamshell on ELMARll's bow surfaced at 1130.30, fol-lowed by the bow at 1134. Thedynamic loads during the lift were:D/B CAPPY BISSO at 500 tons,D/Bs CAIRO and SOUTHERN 6each at 300 tons, and D/B AJAXheld 200 tons.

Dewatering of holds was per-formed while D/B CAPPY BISSOsupported the ELMAR ll's sternwhich had reached the surface wheredamage to the stern from the colli-sion could be seen. A cofferdam wasconstructed in hold 3 and otherrepairs were made so ELMAR IIcould be towed to a shipyard.

The decision to pull or parbucklethe ELMAR I into a hole after

dredging under and next to thewreck was made because a hydro-graphic survey indicated the wreckwas lying in depths ranging from 80to over 100 feet. Other factors in-volved in making this decision werethe short time remaining before badweather and winter fog would setin, removal of the wreck as a naviga-tional hazard by shifting it intodeeper water, and the cost of raisingthe wreck compared to the cost ofshifting it into deep water.

Jetting operations were startedand divers cut the deckhouse free,raising it to the surface. Surveystaken since the first one two monthsearlier showed the wreck was shiftingtoward deeper water steadily as aresult of the jetting and strong cur-rents swirling around the wreck,acting as "natural erosion jetting."

The ELMAR I operation wassecured without further work be-cause of economic factors and ex-cessive precipitation occurringthroughout the northern MississippiRiver system, which would causeincreased current flow and continueshifting the wreck into deeper water.

3O FACEPLATE

END OF ONE ERA-BEGINNING OF ANOTHER

Everything has a beginning andending and people often expound ontheir meanings. There will be a spe-cial significance to the ending of aninstitution that has existed for over50 years when the last diver willgraduate from the Naval School,Diving and Salvage, Washington NavyYard, Washington, D.C., on May 2,1980 at approximately 0930.

It's hard to comprehend all themen and women, military andcivilian, who shared in its life, lefta part of themselves there and de-parted from NSDS with great pridein themselves. There isn't a diver inthe Navy who hasn't been touched insome form by NSDS. It is, and was,a great institution—and divers madeit that way. We may have hated theP.T., or the classes, or the inspections,but I doubt anyone ever denied hewas a Navy diver or graduate ofNSDS. If only this old NSDS buildingand its pressure pots, chambers, andopen pots could talk. How muchlaughter would there be? How manysmiles and tears, and how muchstraining, groaning, and pain could ittell us about?

This was the place where nick-names were earned and friendshipsdeveloped that lasted a lifetime; aplace where jokes were played andtold and retold around the Fleet. Itwas where the Green Derby, Anchor,Sunset, Village Barn, and Quonsetgot your money and, sometimes,gave you a headache. I would saythat this was the center of a diver'suniverse (SCUBA school, Diver-Second Class, Diver-First Class, Mas-ter Diver eventually). As you ad-vanced in diving, you came here andpaid your respects to the gods thatlived in the pots, tanks, river, andthe Mud Monster.

Classes at the new school in Pana-ma City, Florida, will begin in Octo-ber and with it will come new leg-ends, new stories, new jokes, and newsailors. (Or will they be new sailors?

TH€ OLD

I hope not.) I hope there will still bethe same old sailors dedicated asonly they are to Navy diving. I wishthe new school good luck and, deepdown, I know that the old one hasreally outlived its usefulness; thattraining and the end product will bebetter at Panama City.

Navy diving for most of us wasbrought to life here at NSDS and itwill be hard to "mothball" our oldschool. I wonder who will be the lastperson in the Navy to stand up andsay, "I went through diving schoolin D.C.?" I wish it could be me.

Plan to attend the last formalday of training at NSDS if you can.

QMCS (MDV) Gerald DraperNaval School, Diving and SalvageWashington, D.C.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Active duty mas-ter divers throughout the Fleet areinvited to submit articles for pub-lication in The Old Master column ofFACEPLATE. Mail articles to FACE-PLATE, Supervisor of Diving, NavalSea Systems Command, Washington,D.C. 20362.

FACEPLATE 31

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVYNAVAL SEA SYSTEMS COMMAND

WASHINGTON, O C 20362

OFFICIAL BUSINESSPENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300

THIRD-CLASS MAILPOSTAGES FEES PAID

USNPERMIT No. G-9

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