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CHAPTER V, SECTION 1
Maintenance of marine equipment on loan
from the U.S. Navy was also a prime responsibility of the Contractor. In addition, work was
accomplished on Army, Navy, and Air Force
small craft on specific Maintenance Work

Orders. LCM craft and Water Taxis were given
a thorough inspection and oil change every 100
hours of operation and were beached only when
it was necessary for on-shore repair work. LCU

craft were maintained by the crew assigned to
the craft, except for major repairs. Operators

allowing eight fuel pumps or fuel injectors to
be tested at one time. In addition to the marine
repair facilities on Elmer, a Marine Repair Shop
was established at Nan to serve the small craft
assigned to Bikini Atoll.
Plans

were

formulated

for beaching

all

small craft at Site Elmer not required during
the interim period. LCM’s were thoroughly reconditioned, with engines being removed and
overhauled before being placed in storage.

of all small craft were charged with keeping an

accurate record of engine hours of operation.
The anticipated operating time of marine engines
between overhauls was set at 3500 hours, based

ROADS AND AIRSTRIPS.

were

Road maintenance was continuous at all
sites. On Elmer, roads were frequenty graded

Maintenance repairs were largely confined
to engines, bottom and hull plating, replacement

were constantly cut up by the movement of
track-type equipment and required continual
recompaction as well as grading. On Fred the

on

Navy

standards;

however,

engines

usually removed and overhauled after every 3000
hours of operation.

of stringers and stiffeners, and replacement or

repair of propellers and shafts. To accomplish
these repairs, small craft were beached by use

and watered to reduce dust nuisance. Roads
along the water front and in the warehouse area

surfaced roads required spot repairs as a result
of damage caused by heavy vehicular traffic,

particularly following a dearth of rain. Road

of a “Gilhoist” rig or placed in a floating drydock. Ramp winches and winch clutches required
frequent maintenance due to continual usage,

work on Nan andthe off-island camps was constant, requiring much grading and recompaction

winches were standardized to utilize like parts.

Following the rehabilitation of the airfields,
maintenance work at these installations was
sweeping, re-marking, and clearing brush and

and a supply problem arose because of the fact
that the LCM craft in use were of three different
tvpes; however, through modification, all LCM
Some bottom plating was required on barges
used for lighter service. Chipping, painting, and
plating were performed continuously on all
craft. One of the most modern pieces of test
equipment—-for the testing and adjustment of
fuel pumps and fuel injectors—was available
in the Marine Equipment Repair Shop on Elmer,

because of the damage inflicted by the movement of heavy construction equipment.

other obstacles from the strips. Some electrical
maintenance was necessary at those airfields

which were equipped with night-lighting facili-

ties. Both airfields and helicopter pads required

infrequent replacement of the wind socks. Most

of the maintenance on the Fred Airfield was

(Neg. No. W-610-10)

Figure No. 5-4.
Page 438

Repainted Jeeps and Crane — Elmer.

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