Lf CHAPTER V, SECTION 1 Figure No. 5-5. Overhead Crane Installation, Vehicle Repair Shop — Elmer. limited to the repair of pavement at the turning points and parkingareas. UTILITY SYSTEMS. Pipelines were subject to breakage, leaks, and stoppages, and electrical lines were exposed to breakage and deterioration. Maintenance repairs on pipelines and theelectrical lines were effected as quickly as possible in order to main- tain continuous operations. Breaks in the salt water system were immediately repaired, since they endangered water distillation production and fire-fighting capabilities. One maintenance function peculiar to the EPG wasthe occasional washing of overhead electric cables, insulators, and transformers to eliminate accumulations of salt. Washing was done with fresh water sprayed under pressure from a truck equipped with an adjustable boom. The biggest problem area in the salt water system was the maintenance of the diesel-pump assemblies at the intake portion of the system; pumps were operated 24 hours a day, and main- tenance personnel were on “stand-by” at all times. Maintenance services were required almost daily to free the salt water intake screens of debris, which collected there during almost every low-tide condition. A night “call-out” system was invoked for the maintenance or repair of electrical and water systems, as well as for refrigeration equipment, whereby maintenance personnel notified the telephone operator of their location at all times. The necessity for utilities maintenance and repairs in barracks, warehouses, and Administrative Buildings was due largely to routine breakage or corrosion. Use of salt water in the Jatrine facilities increased the corrosion factor and the deterioration of the plumbing lines. Brass and copper components in electrical fix- (Neg. No. W-789) tures are highly vulnerable to the effects of saltair moisture, resulting in a high replacement figure. Efforts were made to reduce exposure to moisture by closing electrical fixture openings with grease. POWER AND DISTILLATION. Power and distillation personnel were charged with the maintenance of ali component parts of distillation plants, except electrical parts, and all mechanical components of power plants. During the operational period of HARD- TACK, power and distillation mechanics were assigned to four off-atoll sites to operate and maintain the units and also to act as senior members of H&N personnel assigned to. these sites. The main effort during the early periods of the Operation was directed toward final major repairs on equipment at permanent camps to minimize lost operating time during the operational peak. Later, the main effort was shifted to the installation of power and distillation equipment on the various off-island and off-atoll sites. Continuous periodic inspections and preventive maintenance were carried out at all sites, with the exception of the off-atoll stations, which were serviced only on request. With a few ex- ceptions, all units installed on a temporary basis were removed after the Operation and were returned to Elmer for overhaul, maintenance, and storage, as required. Poweranddistillation equipment performed very satisfactorily throughout Operation HARDTACK. The most critical problem encountered was the rapid erosion of tube walls in the heat exchangers for the generator units installed in the Yvonne powerplant. Page 439