UNDERWAY REPLENISHMENT NWP 4-01.4 - Historic Naval Ships ...

NWP 4-01.4ships. (Give consideration to timely strike upand delivery of freeze and chill cargo so thatminimum exposure will result.) An orderly sequenceof load receipt permits the receiving shipto strike down in one continuous cycle. It eliminatesthe slowdowns that result (1) from the constantshifting of personnel from one strikedownroute to another and (2) the need to sort eachload to determine if it can be struck down immediatelyor left to accumulate topside, awaitingthe later shifting of strikedown routes. Greaterefficiency on the receiving ship results in reducedVERTREP time and thereby reducesworkload for all ships in the operation.6. Sufficient room shall be left for the hookup manto move about and always have an escape routeavailable. He should remain forward or inboardof the load during hookup.7. Load height will be such that the hookup mancan accomplish his tasks without climbing onthe loads. He shall stay on the deck at all times.8. Sufficient room must be left between loads to reducethe possibility of a load snagging or tippingadjacent loads during pickup.9. Tarpaulins used to cover VERTREP loads onthe flight deck during flight operations shall besecured to the deck. Cargo nets shall be placedover them, and secured to the deck. This ensuresthat tarpaulins will not blow up and become entangledin the rotors.10. VERTREP lifts weighing 500 lb (227 kg) or lessand lifts with a large sail area are highly susceptibleto being displaced by rotor downwash.Items that fall into this category include aircraftdrop tanks and canopies, rotor blade containers,and empty missile containers. Hence, specialcare should be given to placement and handling.Light loads are best spotted in the centerof the deck, preferably inboard of other loads,to minimize the possibility of rotor downwashblowing them over the side.WARNINGAll FOD material shall be removed from theVERTREP area prior to flight operations.10.10 LOAD TRANSFER PROCEDURES10.10.1 Internal Loads. Internal loads are usuallyfar more time-consuming than external loads and, therefore,should normally be avoided, except for transfers atgreat distances where a landing area is provided foroff-loading. For transfer of personnel by helicopter, seeparagraph 9.7 and NWP 3-04.1M (formerly NWP 42).NoteWhen making up pallets for internaltransfer, ensure that wooden pallets areintact and not missing pieces that wouldkeep them from rolling smoothly into thehelicopter. Pallets must be standard 42 inchX 48 inch (106.7 cm X 121.9 cm) size inorder to allow pallets to roll on the aircraft’sinternal cargo rollers.10.10.2 Load Pickup. Before operations start, providepilots and crewmen with the name, type of ship,hull number, location in the formation, frequencies, andtactical voice call of all receiving ships. As each load ispicked up, display information — consisting of the destinationand weight of each load — on a chalkboardfrom a position clearly visible to the pilot.NoteAn alternate method is to write the weight ofthe load with chalk on the side of the uppereye of the Mk 105 sling, where it can be easilyseen by the air crewman during hookup.As the helicopter approaches the UNREP ship, its approachis announced over the deck-edge speakers. Allpersonnel clear the landing and pickup zone, except thehookup man, who takes position forward or inboard ofthe load and holds the pendant up to signal the location ofthe load to the pilot. Guided by signals from the LSE, thepilot maneuvers the helicopter to hover over the load.An air crewman, viewing the deck through the helicopter’sopen cargo hook access hatch, advises the pilotvia the helicopter’s internal communications system asto the helicopter’s exact position over the load. As thehelicopter hovers over the load, the hookup man handsthe pendant to the air crewman positioned in the opencargo access hatch and then clears the area, moving towardthe LSE. The air crewman then slips the pendantover the helicopter hook, and ensures that the load is secureand ready for lifting.10-24 ORIGINAL