CHAPTER V, SECTIONS 1 and 2
EQUIPMENT

PAINTED EVERY:
Twelve months
Twelve months
Three months
Six months
Twelve months
Continuous rotation
Twelve months
Twelve months
Twelve months
Three months
Twelve months
Twelve months

125-foot Tower and Cab
75-foot Towers
M-boats (24 each)
T-boats (9 each)
Steel barges (6 each)
DUKWs (20 each)
Dry Dock
Sea Mule
Tug Boats (2 each)
Sea Craft (3 each)
Gilhoist and Tractor
Buoys, large (25 each)

SECTION 2
BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES
From the maintenance viewpoint, the alum-

inum buildings proved well suited for general
use at the Proving Ground as they were practically unaffected by corrosion and therefore did
not require paint as a protective measure. This
was particularly true of the first aluminum
buildings erected, which have apparently been
maintenance-free for about five years. Caution,

was

necessary

however,

in

structures

where

dissimilar metals or alloys made contact. This
was the case in the use of cast aluminum shutter clevises
4 stud post cups, while rolled
aluminum was used for shutter and stud posts;
this was conducive to electrolysis, as was a similar condition in the Butler type buildings where
aluminum siding or roofing was permitted to
make direct contact with steel purlins or girts.
Corrective measures consisted of using felt be-

tween the different types of metals, using
neoprene washers around bolts, and greasing or
coating cast or moving parts with oil.

Routine maintenance consisted of repairs
to roofing and siding due to normal incidence
of accidental or storm damage, weatherproofing
along the bottoms, and operational repairs to
doors and sashes.

Maintenance of tents primarily involved
repairing or replacing canvas deteriorated by the

elements. Preventive measures for canvas con-

sisted of weatherproof spraying and reduction
of chafing wherever possible. Experience indicated that canvas in this climate was good for

LSTs. All earth-filled docks were continually
subjected to wave and current action with resultant undermining and erosion. The continued
movement of heavily-loaded tractor vehicles
severly abraded the surfaces of the docks. Selected small aggregate stabilized with water and
rolled proved to be the best surface. Weekly
use of a scraper, followed by watering androlling, was necessary to maintain a proper surface
particularly for use by fork lifts. It was considered, however, that in spite of such maintenance,
the heavy service and frequent cargo boat im-

pact justified the earth-fill type of dock. The
maintenance requirement compared favorably
with that of alternative types, timber being
subject to a high incidence of marine teredos,
and steel to rapid corrosion. Timber pile piers
(such as the personnel piers at Elmer and Fred)
were periodically inspected to determine the
damage caused by marine life or wave action,

and timber replacements were made as found
necessary. Concrete boat ramps required frequent cleaning to rid them of accumulated
sand.
Maintenanceof buildings and structures in
Military service followed the same pattern
as those buildings allocated to civilian use and
required similar attention. Considerable repair
and replacement work was found necessary in
Military buildings on site Fred, at Eniwetok,
which, being beyond the scope of normal routine

work, was covered by maintenance work orders.

and the Elmer pier required extensive repairs
during OPERATION CASTLE. This was

Someof the buildings on Fred requiring maintenance included the radar tower, hangar, weather
station, air operations building and dismantling
of the POL tanks. The Contractor also furnished
as a maintenance item various materials such
as cement, aggregate, sand, lumber and paint

Elmer pier was abetted by frequent docking of

by them to maintain Military-owned facilities.

one year’s usage.

The Fred cargo pier, rehabilitated CeeBee
pier surviving from 1949, was entirely rebuilt,
due to normal wear, though damage to the

Page 5-2

to the Military personnel for work undertaken

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