Weapons Onload/Offload
There are three situations in which weapons onload
or offload operations are normally conducted-pier
side, offshore at anchorage, or at sea. The location of
the ship during onload or offload operations affects
manpower, equipment, time, and the degree of safety
requirements.
PIER SIDE.— Handling large quantities of
explosive munitions at piers is limited to those
designated by NAVSEASYSCOM as “explosive piers.”
The pier area is restricted during ammunition and
explosive loading and offloading operations.
Nonessential personnel (visitors) aren’t permitted
access to the ship or pier area. All privately owned
vehicles, ship’s vehicles, and assigned government
transportation are prohibited on a pier where
ammunition is being handled. Before loading or
offloading operations, the OOD is notified. The OOD
makes sure that a red flag is prominently displayed to
indicate that an ordnance evolution is in progress.
Pier-side ammunition handling operations are
restricted to daylight hours, except in an emergency.
Emergency operations can only be carried out at an
adequately lighted pier. An emergency maybe dictated
by the ship’s sailing schedule or by NAVSEASYSCOM.
Therefore, ammunition isn’t staged on the pier in large
quantities. Close coordination is established between
the ship’s weapons department and the station’s
weapons department to ensure that the rate of delivery
at the pier doesn’t exceed the handling rate of the ship’s
ordnancemen.
EXPLOSIVE ANCHORAGE.— At times,
loading or offloading large quantities of ammunition
and explosives at the pier is not practical or feasible. For
example, a ship may be located at a pier that has a
restricted explosive load limit due to the geographical
location of other ships or occupied structures. It could
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REVIEW NUMBER 3 ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS Q1. THROUGH Q10.
The 2d through 7th decks are serviced by lower-stage elevators.
A movable ramp is used to bridge the gap in the door opening between an elevator
platform and the deck.
If an elevator suspension rope breaks, a broken-rope safety device automatically
operates to lock the platform to the guide rails.
If an elevator overtravels upward beyond the maximum up-stage position, an
overtravel limit switch actuates, stopping the elevator and shutting off power to
the hoisting winch.
Upper-stage elevators are used to transport weapons between the 2d and main
decks.
The 7th through the main decks are serviced by IWHS lower-stage elevators.
The platform machinery for an IWHS lower-stage’ elevator is located on the 3rd
deck.
The only weapons elevators that provide access to the flight deck are the
upper-stage, wire-rope elevators.
The primary responsibility for maintaining weapons elevators belongs to the AO
rate.
The electrical power required to operate the weapons elevators is 440-volt,
three-phase, 60-Hz power.
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