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Long range shock waves from a large explosion underwater: experiment and data
4. OPERATIONS AT SEA
Major operations at sea were photographed and filmed throughout the
experiment by ARE and BGS photographic personnel. A video of the
experiment has been made, and can be made available.
4.1 SHOT SITE
The Salmaster proceeded to the shot position to deploy the mooring buoys
for the explosives (Fig.2.4 and Plate 1). Following the deployment of the
mooring buoys, the vessel moved very gently forward to the marker buoy
using the bow thrusters. Vith an observer on the walkway between the
horns, the marker buoy (Plate 2) was hauled up over the bow until the
shackle ring was sighted directly below the observer. The shot position,
taken as the shackle ring, was then fixed by Sy1edis as detailed in
Appendix B.
4.2 PUSS DEPLOYMENT
Deployment was carefully co-ordinated by constant communication
arrangements between the bridge and operators on deck. All six PUSSes
were deployed on schedule in accordance with the logs shown in Appendix A
However, as unfavourable weather conditions delayed the shot firing during
the first deployment of the PUSSes, they were retrieved, reset to cover
the final set of recording windows (Table 4.1 and Fig. 4.1), and
redeployed according to the schedule given in Appendix C.
4.3 BGS STATION
Following the first deployment of the PUSSes the Sa1master sailed to the
BGS position and deployed the SBP according to the procedure and log given
in Appendix C. The SBP cable was disconnected from the ship and
buoyed-off until after the second deployment of the PUSSes. On returning
to the BGS station the cable was retrieved using the Gemini. Deployment
of the VHS was then carried out as shown in Fig. 3.5. The recording
systems had already been installed in a portacabin below the forward deck.
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