Amphibious Warfare: "The Salvage Boat" 1944 US Navy Trainin
Added 2020-08-18 20:33:32 +0000 UTCmore at http://quickfound.net/
On the boats that recover other boats in trouble during amphibious landings. 'They may be the LCP(L), the LCP(R), which is a landing boat with a narrow ramp, or an LCVP or LCM.'
Originally a public domain film from the US Navy, slightly cropped to remove uneven edges, with the aspect ratio corrected, and one-pass brightness-contrast-color correction & mild video noise reduction applied.
The soundtrack was also processed with volume normalization, noise reduction, clipping reduction, and/or equalization (the resulting sound, though not perfect, is far less noisy than the original).
Skill in the Surf: A Landing Boat Manual
February 1945
Prepared by the Training and Operations Staff,
Landing Craft School, Amphibious Training base, Coronado, California, in cooperation with the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Instructor
Training Program
Chapter VIII. The Salvage Boat
When a boat is broached in a heavy surf and water is cascading over its gunwales with every wave, the salvage boat is a welcome sight. The salvage boat flies a flag, by which she can be identified, at her bow* and is equipped to tow stranded LCVP's or LCM(3)'s off the beach in short order. She is the proverbial "friend in need" and plays an important part in landing operations--especially when the surf is high and ugly.
At present in "amphib" most salvage boats are one of several types. They may be the LCP(L), the LCP(R), which is a landing boat with a narrow ramp, or an LCVP or LCM. In some cases heavier non-landing craft also may be assigned to assist in salvage of landing craft. These include such ships as mine sweepers and tugs.
The crew and equipment of the salvage boat. The salvage boat is manned by an especially trained crew, including men who are experts in handling lines. The size and nature of the crew varies with the circumstances. A crew may consist of an Officer-in-charge, a coxswain, an engineer, two deck-hands (one of whom is a signalman), a radioman, and hospital corpsman. Carpenters, electricians, shipfitters, motor machinists, gunners, and other specialists may be included as needed.
To do its job safely and effectively, the crew is trained in boat handling, both practical and theoretical, in piloting, surf operations, marlinspike seamanship, the use of towing equipment, and shoreward salvage (including the use of such vehicles as the bulldozer and Jeheemy*). The specialists, such as the carpenter and electrician, are prepared for the various phases of salvaging.
The equipment carried by the salvage boat includes most of the items found aboard the LCVP plus additional gear. Each boat may not carry all of the equipment listed below at all times, but the items are essential and should be available in at least one boat when an operation is in progress.
Major equipment carried for repairing serious damage to boats includes: (1) a 300 ampere gasoline or diesel driven portable arc welding outfit, (2) an oxy-acetylene welding outfit, (3) a portable gasoline engine driven salvage pump, and (4) shallow water diving gear. Small items are: (1) wire cutters, (2) propeller puller, (3) carpenter's and machinist's hand tools, (4) fire-fighting equipment, (5) miscellaneous repair and replacement parts such as: hose and hose clamps, starters, solenoid switches, extra storage batteries, propellers, sheet lead and white lead, salt water circulating pumps, injectors, and spare oil and water.
Towing gear commonly found on the salvage boat consists of: (1) a 150 fathom five-inch towing line, (2) three heaving lines, (3) a shoulder line-throwing gun, (4) wire straps and a towing bridle.
Lastly, a portable, two-way radio, signal lights and flags, portable loud speaker, and binoculars are kept aboard to speed up communications.
The salvage boat's job.
The salvage boat and its crew have three important responsibilities.
First, the sea approaches to a beach must be kept clear as the boat waves speed shoreward. Disabled "VP's" and "M(3)'s" are to be towed clear as quickly as humanly possible.
Second, troops and equipment from these disabled boats are to be transferred to the beach immediately so that the landing operation can proceed according to plan.
Third, damaged and broached boats are to be salvaged...
