62.5.

708:
661-16

REPORT OF OPERATION NANOOK

December 1946

12, j/"«J
Si-- c. ~ () ' I()

Prepared by
Ralph W. Hunt, Captain, CE
Arctic Research Section
The Engineer School
Fort Belvoir, Va .

. ' ' .
 •

REPORT OF OPE.i.~TION HA.NOOK

December 1946

Prepared by
Ralph w. Hunt, Captain, CE
Arctic Research Section
The Engineer School
l"ort Belvoir, Va •
. J'. ~ ·'•
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 •I -;;._...i
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C0NTEN'l'S

Pages

Section I. GE J\"IEP.A.L

1. L'ltr oduc·bi on 2
2. Organization of the Expedition 4
3. Accommodations During Voyage 7
Li.. Itinerary and. Timo Schedule 7
5. Terrain 7
6. Weo.ther 9
7. Clothing 9
8• Wo. ter Supply 10
9. Ho.ti ves 10

Section II. OPERATIONS

10. Landing Problems 11

11. Cargo Ships, Landing Craft, and Landing Equipment 12
12. Construction 12
13. Vehicles o.nd Construction £quipment 13
14. to.nd Transport 14
15. Land No.vigo.tion Instruments 14
16. Ho.rbor o.nd Dock Facilities 14
Section III. RECOI.~JrnDAT;rmrs FOR FUTURE .ARCTIC OPE&\.TIONS

17. General 17
18. Ore;ar1izatio:nal Planning 17
19. Selecting o.na Training Personnel 17
20. Co.re of Equipment 18
21. Adoquo.to Supply of Spo.re Po..rts 18
22. Additional Landing Craft o.nd Equipment 18
23. Suitablo Docks 18
24. Shore J1..ccommodations 19
25. Improved Methods of Lo.nd 1'Jo.vigo.tion 19
26. Fc.cili ties for Soil Analysis 19
27. Facilities for Crushing and Screening Rock 19
28. Proscribed Bu.5.lding Construction 19
29 • Methods of Water Supply 20

.L\...'1.nex .Li. Devon Is lo.nd 21

Ai.n1.e:x: B Thule and Horth Sto.r Bay, Greenland 41

 t,

Section I. GENER.AL

1, IKTJ.WDUCTIOH

Thia report is a dotr.ilod c,coount of. Operation HCi.nook, o.n o.rctic expedition
co~ A1c-C0 d by No.vy Tc.sk Force f:JJ in which US J.ixrrry, Coo.st Guard, Woo.thor Buroo.u,
e.nJ. othor porsonnol po.rticipo.tod to obto.in mili to.ry o.nd scientific information
for uso in plo.rutlng future polar oporo.tions. Submitted by o.n observer from
Tho Bnginoor School, Fort Bolvoir, Virginia., who o.ccompo.niod tho oxpedi ti on,
tho report Sl.UIUno.rizes opcrn.tions and condi tio11s cncounterod, presents problems
of o:.',.., cio.l intorost to tho Corps of E;nginoors, c.nd lllD.kos rocommondo.tions.

o.. .Authorizo.tion, .A.uthorizo.tion for a roprosox:tati vo of Tho Engineer

School ·coUcicor.lpC.nyth.c oxpodition is given in· restricted lotter orders, filo
.il.GPC ...Ji.-0 200,4 (25 Jun 46 ), do.tod 27 June 1946, subjoot, Movement Ol:'ders, a.s
o.mondocl by restricted lotter orders, file .'l.GPC-..~-0 200.4 (28 Jun 46), do.tad 3
July 1946, from Tho ,4djuto.nt General to Co.ptain Ro.lph w. Hunt, Tho Engineer
School, Fort Bolvoir, Virginia.

b. Period covered, This report covers tho period from 15 July 1946, when
tho USS Doltro.mi sa.ilod from Boston; Mo.sso.chusotts, until it docked at Boston
on 3 Sopt0riiber--r946. For itinoro.ry, soc paragraph 4.

c. .£1.roa of opora.tions. (1) Shore operations ·worc conducted at Dundo.s

Hurbor on~ Isfond in· tho ea.stern Cano.dio.n .41.rchipclago and o.t Horth Star
Bc.y in Vfolstonholme Fiord, northvm:rb G1~0011lm1d, noo.r the Do.n.ish villa.go of
Thulo. · Se'o .l.\...'moxos A o.nd B for full doto.ils of tho a.roa.s. For maps, soe fig-
tu·os l. 9. io. o.nd 28.

(2) Porso:nnol a.boo.rd ship observed the co!'.'.stlino a.long tho south coast of
Devon Islo.nd from the ea.stern end to Dundas Ho.rbor, tho north coo.st of Bylot
o.nd Dc.ffin Islo.nds in Baffin BD.y, c..nd tho west coast of Groonland from
i1olsto:n:1ol.m.o Fiord e.nd u.d,jo.cont islands to Co.po Yorke For description of ter-
rain obsorvod, soo po.re.graph 5.

d. Operations co1;iplctode During the expedition, th0 following operations

ncro-co!!lp1otod:

(1) Boo.ch lo.ndinf; nnd grou.'1'J.d oporo.tions by Marino Corps dcta.chmont. Seo
.illnox .J..

(2) Establislmont of a.retie vreo.ther sto.tion by US Vloo.ther Buroa.u. Seo

.iu1.no:x: B.

. (3) Construction of er.1orgoncy landing stri ~) noD.r tho weather stD.tion by

· ~ ._ .
..-. •. a.-.,ion Engineers. Sec .iumc:x: Be

2
I

Figura l. :Mo.p shoY.-ing G:rco:i.lo.nd o.nd Co.no.diem Iu-chipolo.go.

3
 0, Spooio.l reports. Tochnicn.l o.nd scientific reports n.ro boing col:l.piled
by n!lito.ry o::..;;r··av1Iio.n roprosontc.tivos of the sovcra.l Govern."'.'lcnt c.gencios
who pctrt:i.cipo.tod in tho o:x:podi tion.

2. 0~ "1-'l.N IZ..'i.TIOH ' OF THE E.XPEDITIOlJ

c.. Services, Tho follovring services took active po.rt in the operations:

(1) Ho.vy

(2) Anny (ii.via ti on Enginoors)

(3) Marine Corps

(li.) US Coo.ct Guo.rd

(5) US "ifoo. thor Buroo.u

b, Ships. Tho No.vy to.sk for co wns r;iado up of tho follmving ·ships, vri th
cissions o.s indico.tod,

(1) Seo.plc..no ton<lor USS Norton Sound (fig 2) -vro.n bo.se ship for tho Mo.rtin
PBli'l coo.phnos ur:;od in roco11110.issnnco;·-

(2 ) Coo.st Guo.rd icobroo.k:or USS l'l'orthwind (fig 3) vms used for roconnais-
sc..nc c~ e.nd study of ico condi t i o n S . - "· --·

(3) Converted not tender USS Ylhitowood i;ro.s also usod for roconnaissrmce
r.nd stndy of i co conditions•

(J!.) SubLiD.rino USS .t\tulo wo.s used for study of problor.i.s of submarine oporc.-
ti on in ~r cti c vm:bcX.S.--

(5) Cargo ship USS .A.lcono. carried .fi.vio.tion Engineers m1d \"loe.thor i3uroo..u
,e;rcom:.ol, c.nd tro.nsportod supplios and equipncnt fbr co~1struction of the omer-
go;•.cy lo.n cling ancl i;ref\.thor stc.tion ::i.t North Sto.r Bay, Grconlo.nd.

(6) Car go ship USS Bel tro.mi (figs 2 and 4) cc.rriod Ma.rine Corp.s personnel
I"." .d
kvic.tion Ent;inoors.- Tho1o.t'ter wore transferred from the USS Northwind at
00

Thule on 2 .i'i.ugust. Tho Boltra.r.tl. o.lso transported supplios and equipmont'Tor

the Marino Corps opera tio:ri. a. t Durnlo.s Harbor, Devon Is la.nd, o.nd for tho landing
strip ('.nd woo.thor stD.tion nonr Thule on North Stc.r BC\.y 1 Groonlund •

.5:,• Missions of a."bto.ched units and miscollcmeous personnel. Units o.nd 1:us-
oollu:noou::: pors0in10
i-C.ccornpo.n'Yii:i.g. tho- fo.sl-.: £'or co cci.rrrecl out missions, C\.s dir-
ected by -Choir rospecJcivo co1;ine.nds, through tho coopor:;.tion of Navy personnel.

4
Fit;ul"o 2, USS Horthv'dnd• Boltro.ni, · o.nd Uol."ton Sound a.t
'lUichor ..in North Sto.r Bay, Groonland.

Figure 3. Coo.st Guo.rd icobroa.kcr USS Northwind o.t

o.nchor in Dundo.s Ho.rbor, Davon Island,
5
 Figure L~. USS Bo l t:ro.mi in North Sto.r Buy,. Groenla...TJ.d.
·-----·
ll. Opora:bional pla.nning. Bofor0 the expodi ti'on loft tho Ste.. tos, tho opor-
r:biou 1n'.~t ..r"c\pidqplun11od with f:roquont chtmgos in pfo.ns. Sovoral orgo.nizo.-
t ions vrore co:r.J.binod. Confusion co.used by tho che.nges o.ffocted the officioncy ·
of londing oporc.tions o.nd resulted in shortages of po.rts,. lubricants, clothing,
D.nd otllor iton.s. In spito of good oooporo.tion botvmen lowor ocholons, souo
supp lies ·.-roro rocoi vod too late to bo loaded while o-bhors wore loaded on tho
wrong shi ps.

::!.• Orr;o.nizo.tion of sw.11 doto.clu-:i.ents. (l) Ono group of .o\vio.tion Engi- ·

ncors vro.s o.ssigno·d fo-constr-uctf0i1"'Qft;h'Q onergency landing strip near Thulo,
Groonlc.nd (.Lumox B). 1i.nothor group wo.s o.ssignod to canp construction o.t tho
so.;'.le 1000..tion. Although tho lD.ttor dota.chmont had boon orgo.nized o.nd trained
t~ 0 ;.-orc\to engineer equipment, they wore detailed to carpentry work in which
t ,10 :;- kcl:od oxporionce.

(2) Tho Mo.rine doto.chmont soomod ov0rstaffod with NCO• Se Tho plan vro.s to
f D.r.lilio.rizo o. lergo group of Ncors with o.rctio conditions, but tho arrangement
r esul tod in considorc,blc loss of worldng power.

6
3. i~CC0l.i:i'.10D~1.TIOHS DUHIHG VOUGE

Tho observer fron Tho Engineer School made tho entire trip o.board the USS
BeHr2.~ .u... ,All persm.u'1ol, o:x:copt tho Marino detacluno::it o.nd observers r~tE'ched
ti1orot0, slept o.nd o.to a.boo.rd tho ships di.iring the entire operations. .u though
t his e.rrO.n[:;enont clinino.ted tho necessity for setting up tenporo.ry quarters
e.s horo 1 porsoimol wor king and observing .on lMd lost considoro.blo time tro.vol-
inp~ be.ck o.nd forth in s n o.11 boo.ts. Soo rocor:ine :~da.tions in po.ro.gro.ph 24.

I TBEP..:.RY .'JID TDJE SCBEDULE OF USS BEL'I'H.£1.MI

___ __ _
_:_
D·xoo.rtod Route Arrived

OUC"J , 15 July 1946 Cabot St~o.it, Gulf of St. 1000 1 27 July· 1946
1

3oc ·to:1, 110.DS • Lawrence, Straits of Bello Dundas Ho.rbor 1

Isle, Davis Stro.it, Baffin Devon Island
Bay

l 700, 29 July Baffin Bo.y _l800, · 30 July

Dundc.n Ho.rbor Thulo, North Sto.r
Bay, Greenland

06oo, 19 .August Do.ffin Bay 0500, 20 August

Thu.lo Dundas Ho.rbor

0800, 21 Aur;ust Do.ff in Bay 0900 1 22 August

Dunclo. s IIC\rbor Thule·
•
1100, 24 August Southwo.rd by sane route o6oo, 3 Soptonbor 1946
Thu l o o.s n ortl:rvmrd voyage Boston

a. General ch o.ro. ctoristics. Tho predominant physioo.l charo. ctoristics of

t ho nroo.-;;:o-rooi.cy rucr;od cliTrs o.nd mounto.i:1s, snow o.nd ico r:1rmtlc, and o.b-
so:1co of vc r:;oto.tion oxcopt moss, tuft gra.ss / o.21d s1:;all arctic plo.nts • Moun-
t::.inc rise f ron t ho shores in stoop cli f fs or talus slopes, with o.n occasiono.l
l :v:, roq:'; h, brokon slopo from the ba.se of · ·bho ;'.lou..'1.to.ins to the vro.ter. Shore
111:u c :i.ro brol:on by sr:J.V..ll ba.ys o.nd fiords, low rugc.;od points, rough clro.inago
courses, nncl o.ctivc t; lo.ciers. Ezco pt for no.rraw o,roo.s o.long coastlines o....11d
j utcinc rocl:y pee.ks, tho o.roo. is eovel"od by n. por petuo.1 ice co.p.

. E.• Rock forno.tionn. The o.roo. is prodor,Jinantly sodinonto.ry with sono

1 ['11 () - - -------:--:'"'i"'
1 .,--' ?us rock, principo..Lly bro.nito o.nd gro.nitic gneiss, The sodinento.ry rocks
10 111 noo.rly horizontal stro.to. o.nd o.ro gonoro.lly cxtro:'.lely ha.rd,

7
 c. 91acial val~cys . Glacial valJ.eys 2.rc in variouc stages of clevolopmont,
fro!.c- th_; :potc~;t:i.al val1oy whure an act:i.vo glc.1cicr discharges i.coborgs at t ho
heac~ 0£: il iiorc. or bay, to tho wcll- dovolopod valley sevuraJ. miles long f r om
whicl· tl~u t:;lo.cior he.s rccodccl. A va1J.oy of the latter typo has tho usucil
g.l-3.ciaJ. ch.:1.ractoris·i:/_cs . Coc.rsc- gravc:L out·Jashc:s oxtond f r om glo.cior toe to
1·cUcy 11ottor:i, ~rhr;rc the gl~<.ei<c:l ground fe<.:.tiJros incl ude gravel, boulder s ,
s·;ramp3 , S!\alJ. ~)ondc , knolls , ride;os , and streams .

r1 . ~c>:.;achos . Becauso oi.' tho rough shore l~_ne:s ·;::i.th tal us slopes and vort-
i ca1·-roc~::7CJ.ITfo , bco.c':l space is l im:Ltcd. Tho few beaches , found 'nai·.1ly i n
fio:::d.:; o::.· bo.:rs , .:-.:C"c..: short, narrow, ancl cuncr.::.lly rocky, and C3.nnot be used by
landi:1~~ craft -,,rithout preparati on. J:'ho:rn an of ty;o types .

'I'hc shingle bo:::.ch, covcrod -vr:i.th flc.t rocks , is nar rmr o.ncl stoo;:i and
(:1_)
bu~_:_G.:= u2 ·~o c. rid.[)~ of :[I.at ro~k c.md zravol . Tho grounC:. bcM.nd the ridge is
usc.1.'.l.J.1/ lo·;: a.nd Fct for c. short dis·bance, thon j_t risos in a gentle slope of
[;lodc.l till or tu. .1dra.

(2) The s2.ndJ bo:..'.ch vc:~ries in ..,,-iclth from 25 to 7) foot , according to the
t i('.<; . Sc:rl;t:.:rcd rocks and bo1.ild·:Jrs m::.y haVL• to t)O clcJ.rcd fro:;n b0ach ::~nd
of:C:.;hor e -,;-a·i,;1Jrs in ;_,_c:J.vr.:.nco of lmi.di nr; o;Jorations . Stoop banks of s:mcl D.~1d
rr::tvc.1, 11..sw1lly i'rozon, rise from tho bo,1ch. A little below tho 'bec..::ch surfc.ce ,
·chu :>c.;1c] :Ls frozc..11.

.-. . -'-· · Grou:.'ld..

_'.lovr:0nirJ11ts. Grou,-v:td movononts occur in Trnt aroas of broken rock,
-~--- -~----------
n:: .'. ·, cJ:~y , c.o,ss , or ·bmdr:~ . Hock.fD.lls f:i.~om rc coc(inc; cliffs form tallw sl oros
1;h:iJ:·: l'C ff1.i.J. t i!1 soil- ere op from the i or cc of slidi!:1g roclc. Excess ·.r~.~ tor i n
ti1.:ixrc~. ::rnr:.:.'<~'.ces of ::;lopes causes soil- flow. A comb:h2.tion 0f such factors re -
sults :i.;:1 pronotE1cccl soil movem0nl:is OVi::r l ::i.:cgc s.rc;ns .

c. P.... r :rDfrost . Tho torm. DOr'.'.nc::.:frost rc)fers to tlw :,_)crmc'.nontl;y frozen sub-
s o:u:-i, ..•..,_.. -.~
,...... "i-1
U..~ "-:;-::;-c+·i"e·
... J__ u __ v
l. "'J..Jv···r
( .,1 v o:;-...C.-11r"'""
..L •.J. 1:c;--c,.,
::J. v
\,J''OJ..l
• 'l'i...,.,
• "cti·,r,.,
J.1v .__ _ l~v·r
1......<-"J .......
..... ·r:•r·ios
._. _ ·- ..m~yi
i·i, ~c _.._ ·-

·m.L" c::c'.fi:,]t f:con 30 to 36 inch8s on v2.llcy bottoms c:.nd from 8 to J.2 i~1chos on
DG3 - or turic1.r2.- covcr0d tcr ro.in. Indico.tiOJ.iS oi' n perm21ne.1tly frozen subsur-
-i:·'lco ~ .,., . . • 1 1 , l , 1 } . .
~. _ .>- (.) .3 O~~. - crc:c... p ,c onz Oiln ".S L'.'10. S .O~)l:S, _lOJ. Vll1.(; 2.CCOr,1p'.1l\)IJ..Eg 'L~1C::.YiJ..11c_; , mos S -
. .. .
J. EJ.ca cr:~clrn on :;rou:c1d surface , ~:ncl soil cro.ckcd in irroguln.r polye;onol form-

.... .:.. • .
~~· ,
Vis~_-bHity c~nd distc:;.ncos .
Mn:::sivo land formo.tions u.nd extroncly cJ.c:--.r
. ._ _ _ I

'-' t0SJ:ic...rc nF~lrn i t difficult to estim~.te: dista::-.cos . On cl0<.~r do.ys , obje cts
~-1'1x,;-.r r::.uch clos81~ J.nc' sm::i.11.c..r th'ln the;y.. c:.ro . Th:Ls effect, common in ari d
~.ro=-.s of -!;ho ~;e:::;tcr:-i Unj_tod Stc.t0s , is mors pron:Junce:d :Ln tho Arctic.

s
6. WE.ll.TEiER.

u. Gonorul. Tho woo.thor in different locc..li tics vG.ries with seasons o.nd
o.lsoYrith fond foo.turos, such a.s ln.nd masses, mounta.in ro.ngos,, ice cups,, cla.c-
i ors, open sco.s,, nnd la.ri;o movements of soo. ice . Considerable fog prevails
c.lonr; coasts, while high winds blow· dawn vulloys and fiords from glo.ciors o.nd
i nland ioo cc.ps. Soc .!\..."'111.oxos A and B for detailed reports of woo.thor and
tor,\~ ,or c.turo i n t ho ·!;vvo o.roa.s visi tocil.

be Weather durint:; summer's ope:t,"o.tions. (l) Tlhile tho· to.sk for co wo.s i n
Bc.ffin Da.y at lo.titudo 75°N botvmon 650il1 o.nd 850\>7 longitude, during tho per iod
25 July to 25 Auc ust 1946, tho tempcro.turo ranged from ,120 to /65 degroos
Fahrenheit. Tho woo.thor was w.riod_, vr.i.th a number of pleo.so.nt sunny days and
sono <lnyc of rain or snow. Considerable fog wus oncou.,,"'l.terod o.nd n.t times the
nind roa.chod 35 'mph.

(2) Ueo.thor conditions experienced in lJorth Star Bo.y1 Greenland, woro

bottor thnn at Dovon Islo.nd. Roconno.isso.nco pilots roportod that tho Thulo
r or;ion hii.d tho bost vroo.thor in tho ontiro c.roa. of opero.tions. Seo Annexes A
c.ncl B for details of weo.thor o.nd tonporuturo a.t Devon Islo.nd l\nd North Sto.r
Do.y, ros poctivoly.

If• CLOTlIING
Dur:b·?; tho period of opora.tions, woo.thor wo.s not severe enough to neoossitnte
1;1uch opocio.1 clothing. Tho follmv:i.ng go.rmonta wore provided o.nd were so.tis•
f actory a

Drr.wers,, 50 · percent cotton, 50 · porcont wool

Und0rshirts, 50 percent cotton, 50 percent wool
Sox1 wool; light
Sox, Wool, hoo.vy
Shoos, service (wrious typos)
Shoopo.cs, 12-inbh, Ml944
Shirts, flo.1uJ.ol, OD
Svwo.tors; high-necked
Svroo.tors;, sloovoless
Trousers, wool · sorgo ·
Jackets, · field, , Hl9Li3 1 1vith hood
Trousers, field, cotton, windproof', WL'.tor-ropellont
Gloves (vo.rious typos)
Cnps ("vnrious typos)

9
8. WATER SUPPLY
Tho wntor supply -.ms adoqur..to for oporo.tions at both Devon Island n.nd Grocn-
lo.nd. Inlmbito.nts of these n.roas use 13troo.m wc,ter, or melt old so.lt-freo sea
ice vrhich floe.ts onto tho boo.ohos. Tho Marino deto.cl:un.ent usod wo.ter from
strco.i::s on the glacier o..nd from snav.r-molt. The Woo.thor Buroo.u ca.r.1p at Thulo
plm :1co c~ to uso stream o.nd snow-uol t wo;tm-. For roco:r.nnendod wo.tcr supply
met'.w(: s in o.rc·bic o.ren.s, soo para.graph 29.

9• Ifi1.'.J.'IVES
Dcvo~1 Island, norall.lly uninho.bitod, has o. fow r e sident Es1..'i.mos who wore tul:on
t!icro by tho Royal Co.no.dio.n Mou...'1.tod Police~ il.bout 250 natives live in tho
Thule ._:istrict of Greenland. Employment of no.ti ves by mili to.ry pors01mel would ·
probo.bly bo limited to work a.s guides 0...."1.d oa.mp helpers.

10
 Soction II. OPERATIONS

lO. LA1{[)Ii1G PROBLEliS

J'.,_'1.!td iw,~
cmd unloc.dine; woro carried out so.tisfo.ctorily during the su:rrrner ts
s:·.oll .. sco. lo oport'. tions in spite of the limi tod equip:r:i.ont availablo. Problems
v.rwo -.. liich should rooei ve consideration in future plc,nning of a.retie opero.-
tio:rn •

o.. Ii10.doquo.to mups o.nd charts. Ini'or:mation ree;arding coo.stlinos, off-

shoro-r:~>.tor-s, boachos; o.nd torro.in wus li:r:U.tod, tho mo.in sources of data. being
officio.l records of tho US Hydr·dgra.phic Office o.nd reports of persons familiar
with tho o.roo.. Ho dopth charts of Du.'1.do.s Hc.rbor, Devon Island, wore a:vuilo.blo.
E::dstil'.c; n ..'lps of North Sto.r Bo.y 1 • Greenland, woro too old and lo.eking in doto.il
to bo roliod on by a. task forco i<'.'ith tho lc.rgost ships tho.t hei.d over entorod
thoao \10..tors.

b, Ini tio.l soundinr;s a.nd roconno.isso.nco• (1) llhon this o:xp odi tion took
do:tith-soun rhngs in' Dtmdas·'H~O.nd vicLli"ity1 do.ne;erous offshore rocks, pro-
viousl~- unrocorclod, woro loco.tad. Avc.ilo.ble boo.ches vroro charted o.nd their
lbitc:bion s notod. Roconno.isso.nco by plo.nes o.nd smri.11 shoro po.rtios precoded
o.ctuo.l lo.nding operations•

(2 ) At North Sto.r Bo.y, Greenland, soundin[~ S o.ncl rocornJ.aisso.nco by land-

i nr; . '.'_1·tios wore nocesso.ry before oquipnont could be to.kon a.shore and con-
struction ste.rtod• Tho boach loco.tion fine. Uy chosen required f'o.irly lon[;
tri ~1 c viith lo,ndini; craft boco.uso of' shAllow wo.ter offshore.

(3) Heo.vy fo e, hP...nporod reooTL."10.issa.nce 8...11.d no.do lc.nding hazardous be co.use

of ico in tho vicinity.

(l~)Inf'orrnn.tion obt~'.inod by roconno.is'so.nco co.rmot bo evo.luated correctly

b;y- rorcom1ol ino:x:porienced in the C1.reo.. This is particularly true when rocon-
nc.i8s::.:1.co is by plo.ne, boco.use of docoptivo c.ppoaro.ncos in o.rctic lan clsoo.pe.
Seo po.ro. r:;ro. ph 5 de scribing terrain, espocially subparo.gro.ph 5.§. on visibility.

2.•
Rostrict:i.ng beach conditions. The two e;onoro.l tyi;ios of boo.ohos (po.r
5.~) 1·'0r0 Siiiii
o.nd unsc.tisfD.ctory for lrmding c..nd sorting supplios without
c ~:w ic1 oro.ble cleo.rinc o.nd propo.ro.tion• Tho size o.nd no.turo of lo.nd:i.ng opera-
tions dotorminos tho o.rnonnt of work nocosso.rv to cope with tho following
t:r?ico.l arctic conJ.i tions a "

(l) Rookn on boo.ch o.nd offshoro; ui1..favora.blo to boo.ch o.nd harbor activi-
ties.

(2) Frozen boo.ch so.nd• ba.!1Jrn of frozen sand o.nd gro.vol.; cmcl banks of ico
risinc fron boo.oh0s 1 r:l llld.ng :r.1ovmn0nt of vehicles o.ncl oquipnont difficult

11
 (3) Mud, wGt so.nd, tundra., 1:1.nd pools, rondoring tho aroo. i:mr.1odintely
ohind o. boach inpnsso.ble by vohieles

(L~) Exoessivoly rough torro.in or steeply rising slopes, restriotine; tho

s ortinr; ::;po.co of o. boo.oh

(5) Flouting ice o.nd ioo packs noving onto a bee.oh during operc.tions, or
' ntorforinc with ships in unprotected anchoro.go locations; sma.11 icebergs D.nd
grovdors movin&; between ships and bee.ch e.nd hampering lo.nding craft

11. ~GO SHIPS, LLU.fDING CRll.FT, 1Jm LANDING EQ,UIPMENT

·:.. Ships and landing crnft. Cargo o..nd lo.nding operations were handled
b~ .:;Lici0-tO:.L:-o-:r 60-.srJ..i.tJs, i.,CI.if~LCV?'s, o.nd LV'J:•s.

b. Lo.nding equipment. Boo.oh equipment noodecl for landing in tho Arctic

i s tho st:~mo as for other lo..nclings. The folloning ·types of equipment were usod:

(1) Tractors

(2) Dczers

(3) .i.\thoy wo.gons

(L~) Cr a.nos

(5) Trnotor-mountod fork-lifts

(6) Co.rgo sleus ·to fit insido lo.ndinG crD.ft

COHSTRUCTIOlif

o.. .ll.rctie construction problens. (1) Tho followinc; typico.1 physiot?.l

problOi.m wore cmoount'"Oredt

(::) Por:m.o.frost

(!:) Lir.tltntions ir.iposed by fec,turos of the terrain

(~) Conditions of reel-: o.nd soil

(~) Snovr and ioo

(::) Vfoo.ther conditions

(£) Lt1.ol:: 0£ nuturo.1 :r:i.o.torials except rocl:, s8.nd, und gro.vel

12
 (2) Ono criticnl problem was lacl: of ~1orsonncl who thoroughly understood
the pooulic.r conditions involved in o.rctic design and construction, ospecio.lly
L'l'J. cormoction with porm.a.frost. It is cxtronoly inportant that the no.ture of
uorno.frost a~1d its dc.ngors be understood o.nd thc.t proscribed construction
~ctl10ds bo o.:)pliod to prevent do.r.m eo therefrom. See rooOJJ1'llendo.tions in po.rc.-
cr['.ph 28.

b. Sui table construction si tos. (l) Tho best o.vailublo o.roo.s f'or con-
stnction~u·rom:i.cl in vnTioy bottor:lS o.t tho hon.els of bo.ys, or on low spits
c.nt~ ;_)oints. E:-:cept for coc.stc.l aroc.s, ico c::tps broken only by rocky knolls
o.ncl ; 101.mto.in por.lr.s cover Groonlo.ncl o.nc1.. the oc.storn Co.nadio.n Archipolo.go. Soe
pnrn;;rn.ph 5.

(2) J?or specific construction sites o.t Dundo.s Ho.rbor o.nd North Stc.r Bay,
sec i\.n .1oxos .li. and B, rospoctivoly.
1

c, Avo.ilo.blo r.1.0.toric.ls. Tho only naturo.l r.10.torials wero sand, gravel,

o.nd rock. Cloo.n Sl'JJ.d-l:md gro.vol £'01.md in v~tlloys vras satisfo.cto!'y for con-
struction purposes. Roel: sui to.ble for construction iNo.s o.bundant, but could
not bo used in l\ r;;o-sca.le buildinr.; oporo.tions or roo.d work unloss a crushing
and scrooning plrmt was proviclocl.

~· ~. c.no.lys_:l_!• No fa.oilitios wore on ho.nd f'or tho o.nn.lysis of soil

for future plnnninc of' improvo:::.1onts to tho or.i.ore;oncy l[\ncline; strip.

o. Ty;?es of buildinr;s. Tho t-ypos of profo.bricatod ·wooden bo.rro.cks con-

structou ntThulc worop oorly
0
built, required oxcossivo modifico.tion, · o.ncl woro
u..11scd;isfactory on tho whole. "ifuero foundations roach into per1UAfrost, s:;:iecin.l
r.1ethods should bo used except for very temporary structures, Soe rocorn"J.ondo.-
..
tions in parn.cra.ph 28,

13, VEHICLES ..UID C01JS'.I'1:1UCTION EQUIPMENT

a. General. iifo unusuo.l problems woro oncountorod in the use of vehicles

:;.nd e<}uiprJont, ospocio.lly d.nco tho weather vro.s T:i.odorc.te. Some of the oquip-
nont was lof't behind for use by "ifoo.thor Buren.u person.:101 who mny be o.ble to
furnish do.ta. on oold-wea.thor oporo.tion by ne:;.:t sw:JD.er.

~· Condition of equi;:imont. Most of tho oquipr.1ent wo.s new or in e;ood

~ondition-e:itcopt -f:'1STI~·0·::['.\Forpillo.r c;ro.dor rocoi vod in o. Gro.ni to City Engineer
Do::ot ere.to. This c;rc..ttor- vms in such poor conc.i tion that considoro.ble ropc.irs
noro necoGso.ry boforo it could bo used for tho lim:i. tod opero.tions at Thule.

~· Supply of spa.re po.rts.. The spo.ro :;?arts suppl~r vro.s in~dequo.to. Trv..cks,
tra.cl: ]_)ri.rt·s-;co.bles,ando. fow other parts wcro provided for the catorj_)illo.r
tro.ctors. llost of the equipment he.cl no spo.ro ~)arts o.t c..11.

13
 a. Mai:·1tenance and '1pero.tion. Maintenance was handicapped by la.ck of
par-cs; tires,"ti:ib-es,and lubricating oils• In spite of · difficulties, :main-
teno.n ce o.nd operation were vmll performed, on the vrhole, by qualified person-
nel. Seo parn r;raphs 20 o.nd 21 for recornmendo.tion on cv.re of equipment and
adoquc.to supply of par·bs.

a. Vehicles use de Vii th tho exception of the truck-mounted compressor,

trr c::od iOid.cieswoio-usod to transport person:t1el and supplies on la.nd. · All
tho vehicles so used, including woasols, LVT' s, and high-speed tractors, wero
so.tisfo.ctory. In the Thule region, wheeled vehicles could be used in the lower
oncl of tho valley during the summer with minimum road construction•

.£.•
~cod. Vehicles wore able to travol rapidly over e;ravol o..reo.s around
Thule. Travel on other · typos of terrain vras extremoly slow and load capacity
limited. Rt-0l0J torro.in, especially near tho bo.so of the ice cap rnado vehi-
cular travel extremely difficult. See figures 5, 6, and 7.

c. Snow and ice. ~7ini;;or tro.vol on tho Ju-ctic ice caps is fo.cili to.tod
by tho levolil1G--b'1o.nkets of snow, but :made difficug by snovir movemont o.r1d
drifts. On por:manont ice caps, sunnnor transport is hampered by tho chann els
cut by rivulets of molt..wo.tor,

15. LAJ:ID N.AVIG.il.TION INS'.ffiUllfENTS

Mc.rinos l o.nclinr; on Dovon Island wero equipped with a Mk II Astro compo.ss for
dotor;dning dirof:'.l;;ion.9 by sun o.nd sto.rs, but foggy weather limited tho uso of
this ins·i:;rumont. More suitable equipment for determining distance o.nd dir-
octim wa s not o.vo.ilablo. Seo paragraph 25 for recommendations.

l e) . Hll.RBC!l AND DOCK F.ACILITmS

:fo docks vroro conr.tructed during tho su."!1!llorts oi;,3ro.tions.

Tho chief problems
in s ol octing harbors o.nd constructing dock fo.cili ties vrould be frb zen :ni:i.torial
nt tho bottom of tho bc.ys nnd pressure of sea. ice a gainst pier structures.
Sl1LC·ting ico floes, icebergs, o.nd growlers o.ro espocio.lly active in summer.
Sv'J pnro.c;raph 23 for types of docks rocommonded for arctic vmtcrs.
.I

li'iguro 5. Torrain in the upper end of' tho vo.l1oy lending

to the ico cap near Thule, Greo:nlo.nd.

I
/

Figuro 6. Torrain traversed on trip to the ice cap near

Thule, Groonlo.ml.

15
Figuro 7. Rocky terra.in at the bo.sc cf tho ice co.p
nco.r Thule, Greenlo.nd.

I<'iguro 8. "Joo.sol on tho bo.so of tho ico cn.p noar

Thulo, Groonlande

16
 Section III. rrcca.;: :ZEDA'rrms FOR F1Jl'L1i.E ARC'l':_c OPERATIONS

17. GKTEHAL

Hoc,). c:•oudations irl this section are bo.sed on exJeriences and results of the
;;c•.'0.1 Isla.ncl and Greenland o•.!erations, 2.nd are submitted for considerc.1tion and
sn::_c".aiwe in :_)J·,,.rmin~, future arctic activities.

:J. . Contr."tl control. Coordinci.tecl effort r equir es a central control, to

:)re:vL.,.0 ploxi"s._b_c{·:·g-inade ;;·· soE1e indiv:Ldnals and changed b~r others with r esult-
alrG f. ·:i.c·t:.io1~ :-i.ncl. confusion.

·• JJetac ,rnonts . B rtc~1 Tu.d:t , such e..s the 11 ~<:1ri~1e detachment in this exi-::odi-
t:Lm1,'-sholucl·..,.;0 -sta{fc~d -vvith a normal distribut.i.on of all r anks . This would
assure adequate vmrkin~; strength. Jofinitc platoon and squa.d organization
s'.10d d be maL1·taL1od . If possible, eac:1 group shou1d oo c omposed of men who
l1.:,vc "\rnrkod 2.nd trc: .:i.nod togot :or.
1

a . Hoquiro.::c..~1ts fo:C' enlisted moh . ,\.retie dl:ty requ ires se::i.soned, dis-
ci;)liuod. soTdior-s~· tr:-r.In-c"d. t"a·-:.,;;0-1:k ·asa
lE1it under rr1cntal u.nd physical s·brcss
a:1ti ·c.o take Cd.re.. of themselves under difficult situations . Solf- rolianco and
j .'dg,ncll"i:; on tho µ.:n··~ of enl:i..stocl men free tho loaders for la:cgo1· rusponsibili-
tic..:s .

;J. Ilcquirc;n.onts for OJ.J. lC1..-rs . Officers c.md 1'TC0 1 s should :)C of high
c::.lioe;r onri-~·1Yc· :60-r1iD.fi1tnT11 dis-cinlino . ;.:;trong morale and discipline are
C;ssonti:.'J_ under arctic living condJ_tions and must b e developed before •mdert ak-
in[; arctic opor ..tions . Resourcefulness is especially im::;ortant because lack
of rocrcD.tion2.l facili tics tends to rcsul t in boredom.

~· Training in t ho United St::·.tes . (l)

Thorough basic training in cold
climate, ·3:_rim,;;-·a11:cCfcu- sho.U.lcJ.·b·(:--:iCC-omplishocl in the lbitcd Sk.tus .
This shoulc.l.
bc1nclo morn1:i:.<lin climbin;_:;, skiing, and cross - country travel ovur rongh ter rain,
c:.:1J. sJ101.lld. prc;p~:.rc thu soldier to Yti t :1ste.nd tho cl1..-ments .

( 2) S·budy should be rocrnirod in lo.nd navigo.tion vrlth tl1u aid of s t ars,

:::;u.n con11'..!.ss, anc~ nov,ror duv:Lcos used in traveling over uncharted torro.in. ii.
kr.:ic k:1o"hlodgu of meteorology r.nd foroc:'.sting would bo cxtromoly vo.J. , -~-hlo in
t~K. var:Lc-.-,1 lc -.-rc2.thcr of thr..:! pol2.:i.· rugions . Espoci illy important, iff o. ~;-.• nor al
kncr,-rlodG.j of ti:10 .•retie 2.nJ. of bho snccific ~.r~·l to bo visitoc' . Rig·orous
~ .J • ..
L.~c,;ic condi-Gio 1S should b.:. understood ancl. 2cnticipo.t'-'d, but cxaggoro.tions ond
1

l:t!.sconccptions shou.ld bu corr1..;ctod.

17
 (3) Special courses of instn~ction shoulcl ·:)o 3i ven on permafrost, methods
of cc:,·c\ilC constT.·ction, 11so and ;naintenance o~- Jqu:i.pment in polar regions, and
gonGr: l enc;inecr:i.-·'§; p~'.'oolens to 1 1c 8~C"Octed :L.1 cold climates. .'.t present, no
suci1 courses are provided J.nd. milit.ary rJersm1,1el 2.re obl:i.e;od to der :nd upon
thoj_r 0.-.11 liilli·t.er~ lmoulodgc a.nci e::-:·perionce.

d. Tra~i_nir.r:s in t:1e -~retie. Final tr a ining sholll.d be conducted in arctic

ru:;im0, ·-co··--coi1ditim1.-tho .. soldier. Polar conditions, especially the weather
a..1~:: ice, cannot iio conmletel v sim:~tJ.:lted i i1 the United St ;;.tos. T;_1e best type of
location fo:c this trailling j_;
one rnth diversified t,erra:i.n, such as Devon Is-
1~. d -;j_th itf-; mountains and ice cap toward tho east, its low rolling tundra
to.-·-;'~ t~1e 'itest, and its varier~ climatic cond.:i.tions.

Because resupply is dif-L'icult d·c'..ring arctic opera:-cions, caref·ul handling of

equipmcrr~ is c:tromoly i!llportant. :1.nd.i vidual· responsibilit.y in caring for
vchicl(;~, equipnent, and parts sh01..ild bo required of all pcrsor.n.ol. If officers
1<1.ck control over tho solc~iors, or :Lf indiviclual soldiers ar e indifferent in
tl.ic ,J_se and car0 of equipmo1rt, damage Cc~1rl loss result.

It ir:: i:o::;iortac-1t that spa:~c-)arts supply be pla:i.mod thorotlsti.ly in advance of

c 'IJl'.'.l~ions, and checkoc' carefully at time of loa.ding by representatives of the
or_;.;.~:i..zation that \1i.11 use the equj_pment. .~doquate parts :::hould be provided
for all ty;:ms :Jf equ:Lpment.

b. ,~.. i.d:tion to the 10.~1cl.:ing craft used in the o~:ped:Ltion , fut:1rfc opero.tions
,, ~ -, -'·'' inc
"'M. • u1.: o (1.~anc:anc
·1__ u d e -L(''·"' '. ' .
s111ps, "1 y LS'r.i1 Is (1 and"1ng s_h.ips>
me d'J.um ) anCL' poss:1.0
t~l<.k) proviued preliminary reconnaissance establishes definite info1..,·1ation re-
l;arr'i::.1g landing sites. . slaclcline cablevray drag ·s craper could be sut up bc-
-\~'.1uc;n chip a:1d shore to clear· ,T.-ray rocks and boR.lders. Dozors equipped with
i'.;i·stor 1mits should be provided to prepare routes for vehicles ovor difficult
tc.:rrain, especially tundra. 1-I;y-stor units sho"LiJ.d also bo usrxl. vnth tra.ctors in
puJli:1g sleds from land.inf; craft (par 12£ of ~~nnez B).

23. SUI'.I'."..:BT~E DOCES

Docausc of deep wa·\:.er off shore or frozen s:1allow bottoms, lleavy u:inter ice,
a1:1d pressure of D.oating ice a6ai1wt structures, tho use of small floating
l):tor:.:: or q_ua:'s is rcco,~,,ne i1clc d . They could be removed in -,;inter or -Nhon threat--
~ned by sl_1iftil1c; ice packs. Crib or i uck fjllod piers or quays could bo used
0

~n. some s:i..tuo.tions. Tlloroug:.1 reconnaissance should -1Jo mE.do before construct-
in::; ai.v docki:1g facilities.

18
2L1.. t.GOHB .....CGQ;LOD.~TIOHS

·\Jhen troopo l:Lvo aboard vei:osels and work as' ;ore, facilities should be provided
fo:,· ,·ropo.rinr_; rn.eals neo.r work s:i.tot;. Dur:i.ns; the recunt expedition, time lost
j_1• tr:.'.voling t o and f:::·om t l10 s hi p at mealtime was far greater than the time
:1ecossary to set up temporary mess facilities. The m:L.11irmrn1 equipment suitable
for c;.. cs.mp in a temperate re gion would b e sufficient during sunrrner months.
Hoi:revcr, i f meals carmot be pr0pc:.rcd ashore, food should be transported hot
fro::: tho ships and eaten a shore.

2). J}j'H.OVED l iETHODS OB' L...ND A.'..VIG..TIJN

The ~ <. rL1.es on Devon Island wero in3.deqnut ,,ly equi p,Jcd for land navigation, as
t '.L •• stro comuass could not b e used in fog. Practical instruments are required
f'o:.' 1··11c1_ navigation in polar re gions.

a.Svn C0!!1pass vr:Lth speedor1cter or cycloJlletcr. ..~ conman method of arctic

tTiu·u.so· ·01:-;;t"--sUi-i ·c-O.nrpas-s ··or-Trims it to determine d:Lroction,
l 3i:c'. i1o.vi"g~'-tion - is·
co::11)i~1ed y;:Lth the uso of a s peedometer on a vehiclu (or a v;heol and cyclor.ietor
on r, sled.go) to ;;1oasure dicta~1cc.

·b. Gyrocompass. Tho dcv clopr.1Emt of a ::>nmll v ohj_cular gyrocompass, and

of vofo.cular and ·ro-ot-tr•~vol r,1othods of dotorrnin:Lng distance, as well as dir-
cc i~.ion, is necessar y for G~~:tcnsivu arctic trCJ.vo1.

c. ."..J.ti:ncter. . .. . sensitive altimeter vrouJd b o a very useful instrument

i:1 <T.ct.ic '.imidtravel.

26. F..GTTJI'i'IES FOR SOIL ••N. .I..YSIS

:fi' ~ ciJj_th:is s hould bo provi ded f or complet1.:"': s.nalysis of s oil before c onstruc-
·i;io:1 ot l<:mcUi1g strips or other sizeable ea rth vrork. This would save much
tbu "-~Kl oxponso, espe cially in tho f:Lnol surf2.cin g of a landing strip.

'l: o o~~tain t he most b,);ief i~; fr on tho 2.IJlmdant r ock suppl y avc:cil <oble for can-
st :,_' ' ct~_on, a crnshing and s crc.cning E"ilant s!10D.ld bo provided.

'i'l 10 beet c onstr·,lction used in .'.la ska ·would be su:Ltablo in any arct ic u.roa.

a. On ~Jcr .10.fros t. :.=.J aco.use foundation s D.rc usually in ,Jur nn.frost, s pec-·
bJ Cilr c musf.be-·t<'.i(oi} to install f 01)ndations C'Ud fl oor insulation correctly.,
1'::c.;
l J.tcst proscribed met~nods of p cr21<:tfrost const ru ction should ;,c us ed.

b. Ol1 rocl-c . Constructioi1 on bedrock or u.re :'.s of le.rg'-· broken rock loca-
kd ;.1o~tr
- -t,.,
uG, Sur.1,8.CO
--,,. lJ.2.Y ,O ~ US C d ·co · t C f oun d n t i on d· i f ficuJ.ties due to
· 8.l'J. '.lrl:l
pc:r ···_e,~fr o st.

19
 o.. We.tor su~•})ly v.:lrio s vii-th local conditions
I1iethods to be cons:Lc:krcd.
and soasons:··· ·rc·0·.:cai:i"a1:."6[i.s. provide
rnnning strco.ns of mol t-wo.tor during tho
su;;:ner. Some beache<:J have water from streams while others lack fresh vrater.
The principal methods of obtaining water are:

(1) Standard Army water supply procedure

(2) 8tandard Army water supply procedure, winterized
(3) Hel ting glacial ice
(h) ,,:el t:Lng old sea ice
I , )
1.: iJist:Lllinc; sea water or vrate~c from new sea ice

b. Liethods suitable for various militar~r operations. For various mili-

tary i)urposes~--the.foiro1i.i.11i~;- ty"pe-s-o:f-Yiafei~-si.li)pl~:·-a.re-
recommended:

(l) For :)ermanent installations. Permanent camps or settlernc:,nts should

be or1uipped ·to"cI:lstDI sea-1Yatcr·, melt glacial ice, sink wells, and emplo;{
proscribed Arnw methods of i;rator purification.

(2) For temporary camps or mobile troo-;Js (platoons or larger units). In-
cividuci1 plafool.1[5"S110i11ct be- ecju:Lppe.i:l to m1.pp1§Their-0Wi;-7r"i:Cter ..bymeltiJ1g snow
or old sea ice. Larger organizations sholild )001 platoon equipment for com::iany
1

:1so. -units of e~uipmont .should be of platoon siz e to facili t a t o movement. In

a:.1 .'.'.:·oa where thoro is no permanent ice cap, standai·d Arr.iy vratcr supply cquip-
rau, ; should be usod in smrt:-.1cr and V'rlntcrizecl for winter uso in cunj1mction with
? c10L1:,; equipment.

(3) For snall t or:rp orary groups of lcs s than one pl at oon. Bach po rs on
sho 1Jcl bo rospOi:1siblc-J.n-div:Dfualiy for hiscirm viatcr SU~Jply-;-winter or SUJru,1er,
C.i1'l should be ~)r ovidod with a s tove f or molting and with vro.tor- purify.L>lg equip-·
. 0p;.t .

20
 Al\NEX A

DEVON ISLAND

CONTENTS

Pages
ScGtioE I. GENERAL

1. Location and Description. 25

2. Southern Coastline 25
iL Dw1das H&1-rbor and Adj~.cent Terrain 28

Section II. WEATHER

4. ObsGrved Conditions 34
Inforrnn.tion from Hou..11ted Police 34
G. Flying Weather 35
7. Ionospheric Conditions 35

Sec.;ci.01 III. MARINE LANDING Alm OPElU'.CIONS

3. Mission 36
U, l'errrnnnel 36
10. Landing Craft, Vehicles, and Equipment 37
11. Landing Operations 37
12, 8rnbar1rntion at Conclusion of Operations 40
 ISL--A N D BA
I
BAY
~- I I II I \ ~115
ICE-CAP
'•

HOPE MONUMENT
0380/lfN

CAPE WARRENDER

LANCASTE'R
SOUND 50UTHEAST£RN
DEVON ISLAND
74· I I I I l \ Baseol on ~ro,,auticol
I Chort-Bylot l.s/ontiO'I')
IMHHMW I I

.,,. :Jo.
as• {Jt!f..
,,,. IJ,t..
8t,. 0 JO
Milt1.f
,60

r Fi.f'-~ nre 9. Mau of southeaste r n Devon Island .

•
 _... ,----- .. ---- .. \

,'
"" \
\
... ' .DE:VON
I \
~ I \
II[
'I \I
ISLAND
~ 1 LoosE PACK 1c1. •
I :
~ I
I
\
I
~ ' I
' \ ,,. ~--·
'•, ,;'
\ /
\ , / FIRST """'RINE MoUNTAtl'l3- '°"o~
/vl-NT,_I __ '°""~ : : : : : : - - LANDIN•.

,£ + U.SS. BELTRAMI

DUNDAS HlfRIJOR

~
1~1-1t•

cl
RoY!#L C'ANl'9Dtl'fN A/Ill> aA$I CAM,..
MouNTED PolJU' Po$T.
' . . .R;,;;.- -..~
'------- .. '

TERRAIN .SKETCH.

N c A s I £ I=? DUNDAS HARBOR

L .A
s 0 u N D No r;onfour in'-rvol
Approx. ~cal•
. o mil•• '
I

F i c; vre 10 . -.--
Ter r a i n ske:fch of Dunda s Har bo r. .. ·- ~·· I - - ~ ±'"LUS ··=·ff ·'t? ,;:;>
 '·

Figure 11. Post of the Royal Canadian ~founted Police

Rt nim~RR HRrhnr. DAvnn TRl~nd.

J:t'igure 12. Three male ]:!;slcir:ios u:t J.Junaas naroor 1.ages G.L, .L4,
and 41 yours, fro m luft to right).

24
 ANNEX A

DEVON ISLAND

Section I. GENERAL

1. L('ICJ\.TION AND DESCRIPTION

u. Si.fr_e and location. Devon Island, a rectangular island about 200 miles
lon ~-by 70 miles wide, lies in ah ea.st-wast direction a.long the 75th north par-
tt11 ;l. It is bounde'd on the east by Baffin Bay and OJ'.l the south by Lancaster
So ·L 1 :ihich is the eo.stern end of Northwest Passage.
1 It is the southeastern
isl :1.. '· of the northorn Canadian Are'hipelago and is situated about 225 miles
southv:cst of Hayes Peninsula, northwest Greenland. See figures 9 and- 10 for
map::i of the o.roa.

b. 1'errain. The mountainous eastern half of the island consists of gra-

nitic- Archean tableland with a pe~petual ice cap. Toward the west, the ground
dro,Js avmy to lower rollinr; country covered with moss and tundra. Steep shores
and duep valleys have been eroded in the limestone formations of tho western
end of the island.

c. Inhabitants. Devon Island is uninhabited with the exception of two

RoyuT Coj~to.dian Mountod Police and a dozen Es 1dmos at Dundas Harbor (fir;s 11
and 12).

d. Exolore.tion. Knowledge of the island is limited. Navigation churts

of its shores and harbors a.re incomplete &."ld no o.ccurate maps of its interior
are o:vailable. Except for short trips by Mounted Police and occasional arctic
CJ<..e>oditions which observed shore 1 ine s, the island has never be on oxplortld
thoroughly.

o. Suitable ca:rrp locations. Few places on tho island are suitable for
cump sites. The bust is the valley at the heo.d of Dundas Harbor (par 3 o. of
this unnox), which is a small confined area near the glacier and. subject-to
hGfavy r:;lacial wi;1ds. Tho only other possible choices are low flat points
o.lo'1r; thti southorn coast of the island where sea ice and unfavorable ground
c0· d.itions would probably nak:o la~ding difficult.

2. SOUTHEP.N COASTLINE

Tl1e coo.stline wo.s observed, fro:n the eastern end of the island to ~undas Harbor
Tho southeastern tip is Capw Osborn (fig 13) which is a low pr0montory eu.sily
reco;dzed by Hope lfonunent, a small dark sugar-loaf hill. ·.rest of this, the
r1J.;;c~od Curmingham ?iiountains (figs 13 and 14) lie along the coast and extend to
C:.c?o -1:arrender a:1d Dundas Harbor. Th is mountainous portion of the coastline is
~ro'f.on by several large r;lo.c iers. ,Jlidway between Capo Osborn and Cr'.pe 1mrrencl_'J1
~~ a. S'J.all low point known as Phoenix Road (fig 14). The dista11ce l'ro:~l Capo
f~born to Capo -.,u.rrender is about 35 iniles, a.nd Dundas Harbor is about 10 milcci
ro~ Capo Barr0nder. Soo-figuros 15 and 16.

25
Figure 13. Cape Osborn, Devon Island. The small conical peak on the right is Hope
~ilonu.1n.ent. The nountains in cei:.ter and to the left are part of the
Cur.ningham Range.

Figure 14. The so .kh <.;oast of Devon Island, from Cape Osborn on the right to a po int
1

be"Sre.r:,ri "t0"lnjx Read '.lr'C. Gape Warrender.

Figure 15. The south coast of Devon Island fro7n. vmst of Phoenix nead to Cape Vfarrender
oE the left.

Fi_,1.ue 16. The soutl1 coast of D3von Island, with entrance to Dundas Harbor at
e_~,...tl' 8'~1r- -. c;·fl-C _
3, DUNDliS HARBOR liND ADJACENT TERRAIN

a. The harbor. (1) The approximate latitude o.nd longitude of Du..ridas

Hn.rbor are-82'0 101·:~ a.nd 74035 1 N. The hu.rbor (fig 16) is a.bout 5 by 2 miles in
v.reD with an entrance 1 !!tile wide, and is protected by o. low spit of 1 imestone
ovt:rlaid with broken rock and tundra (fig 17). Along the eastern shore (fig
13) ~.ir•J procioitous slopes apnroximatoly 1000 feet high. The western shore is
si i • ff, but near the center of the bl.3.y' the slope diminishes and drops to tho
0:1 .• ,_ i'. o :><Jrios 0f stops. At tho hoad of the bay is a gently rising glacial
v•;ll•,y fo:r,~1cd by a. receding glacier which is now about 5 miles fron tho shore.

Fi· .;,r· . . 17. Low spit at ontrs.nce to Dundas Harbor. The entrance is betwe en
th G rounded knoll in th o foreground (left c entor) and the cliffs
ion th u b::i.ckgrou.rid.

Fir; ur 0 18. Dundas Harbor 0ntru.ncu, with st oe·) slop,;s along the c:ast side

28
 -- --
~

19. The end of Dundas Harbor, showing pack ice in the bay and glacier
and ice cap in the backgrour1.d.

( 2) Vihen the task force entered on 2 7 J ulY 19 4G, the end of the bay was
fillod with broken pack ico, 2 or 3 feet thick (fig 19). An offshore wind
scuttered this ice on 29 July and soon the harbor was clear. Accordinc; to
reports, the ht.:.rlrnr freezes securely about 1 October each year and the ice
starts to break up in late Juno or early July.

(3) A sketch survey and soundint;s made by the USS Northwind indicated
th.:.t thu water varies in depth from 15 to 30 fathoms in the outer part of tho
be . Close to the ~ast etnd wust short.:s, the water is deep. At the head of'
tlL t:.. y, a. '.tlUddy botl;om slopes gently to tho beach at the end of tho vall1y.

(1) The harbor ?rovides good anchorage for sevoral fairly large vossols,
but when appronching and entering;, care must be taken to avoid shoals and
surfbcv rocics along the eastern side.

':). Shores and buach0s of the harbor. ( 1) Tho shores of the harbor are
stuep and.ruc'!cy- and htnding beach~;-;-ru;0-1imited. At the base the 1 imestone
spit at the southeast corner of the harbor is a. small rocky beach with deep
w~ter close to shore (fig 20). The ground is composed of rocky tundra and
rises ti) a. low saddle between the spit and the base of the 600-foot conical
De~:. Beyond the rocky point on the west side of the harbor, and exte~ding
t l he end of the bay, i~ a rough rocky beach, broken by drainage che.nne la -
fr,)ff! cne :'lountains. The beach a.t the head of the harbor is of sand and r;raval,
ll:d. the ground beyond the beach slopes up to the glacier. This ground of glo.-
c10.l till, cut throur;h by numerous washes, carries a large amount uf g;round
'X.J.l;,~r tn:.d is ')ermanently frozen about 2 feE:Jt below the surface.

(2) The only ,oo:::sible landing places j.n the harbor were the s'!lall roc~<:y
beach at the base of the l imesto:1e spit, and the r u n[~h beach north of the
ncky point o:c1 the west sh0re.

29
Figure 20. Looking east, just inside the entrance to
Dundas Harbor, toward s:nall beach at the
hlHlA r.f' f:},i:. <:!n;+.

.r·i gure t:...L.. l!ltj uptni ui:J..y .Ll.1 .L1u 11 v u.1.. u110 l.'-VJO.J.. va.J.J.C\.U..L.'A '.l.

i:1I0unted Pol ice post. The post is on the

beach near the base of the conical ueak.

30
 c. Coastline east of Dundas Harbor. (1) Jl1 the open coastline at the
base of the limestone spit :i'..s a sr!lall shallow bay with a.bout 1000 yards of
nc.rrow rvcky beach. The Royal Canadian Mounted .?olice post is locaced at the
hec..d of this bay (fi[;s 21, 22, and 23). The beach imn1ediately in front of
tho post builds up to a gravel ridge; this ridge drops away to low g;round,
covered with tundra, then rises in rocky slopes to the talus of the conical
')00.1~.

(2) To the east the shore line becomes rocky and steoper, with mountains
rini'12; to 2,350 feet. About 2 miles from tho Mounted Police post, a narrow
~;l' .:.d. c r co::Dects tho ice ca? with the sea. East of this iceberg-producing
;J c.c Lr is a narrow roclq beadh and a small gravel terrace. The ivfarine detach-
1ont l anded Dn this beach and set up their base camp on the gravel terrace
(fibs 24 and 25).

(3) The water offshore is deep and the bottom slopes steeply near the
coa st. It is necessary for a shi:_:> to move close to shore to obtain anchorage.

i· ·g-~-~· The cliffs of the harbor and the rugged mountains in the area
~re ryredomina ntly metanorphosed sedimentaries. Roc k is limestone and sandstone,
with gniesses and schists, all showing a general horizontal stratification.
Glacial action und erosion by sea ice have carved and molded the rugged fea-
tures of t h e terrain.

Figure 22. Looking west along the beach in front

of the iviou."1.ted Police '()Ost.

31
Figure 23. View of the Mounted Police post and ceme-
tery from tho base of the conical oe&.k.

Figure ::'.4. or uu_riutt..:::> J..1~.ruuJ..

Li lacier easl;; .L. .u v J.•J.c.A.J. ..i...u ......

base camp was ·located on tho beach at the

right of tho glaciar.

32
 ---.:..__

Figure 25. Coastline from gle.cier to Du..'ldas Hc..rbor. Smoke on the beach at the
right is from the Marine caJn.p. Two LQ1's are visible on the beach
loft of the smoke. The conical peak and entra.'1.CC to Du..D.das Harbor
are at tha extreme left.
 Section II. i"lEATHER

OBSERVED CONDITIONS

ect observations of woa:l:iher conditions at Dundas Harbor were limited to time

ont i n tho.t vicinity while unloo.ding the Marino dctaclunent and a gah1 while
ct:inc th.om up o.t tho conclusion of their mission. Hesults of obsorvv.tions
0 givon uolow. All tomporatures o.ro Fahrenheit.

27 July - Heavy fog during morning, lifting about 1000. Generally

C!oar" the romr.inder of the day, vvi th intermittent fo g in late after ..
noon 1 Gentle breezes. Temporaturea rno.ximum /55 de gr ees, minimum
flµ de grees.
28 July - Rain from 0300 until late afternoon. Wind SSE. \;Tco.thor
'
"gEmorally disagreoe.blo, Ton porat ure1 rnn:x:imum r :r:.J d eg~o e a .• min:tmu..rn
r/ ?' • '
M de grees.

29 Jfill - Overcast most of tho day, Rain o...~d snow in evening ~ith
s-om Yd.nd. Temperature: maximum /51 do groesp minim.um /36 degruo L:.,

20 A.ugust .. Clear vd th li ght breezes until m.ida fternoon. Fr osh win·1.

and scattere d clouds in evening. Tompero.ture1 mA:x:imum /i-+6 degrvOS :,
minimum /39 do gro e so

Ilfii 0ill:1ATION FROM I1iOUNTED POLICE

1

n, Ten.pero.turo,. The e:x:tror,10 tem.poratures · r cc or ded o.ro /tJ.+ degr ees ~...n ~'L:~: · ,
o via.r1.1ost. iilollth,-o.nd -1J4 do groos in Februo.ry, t ho colde st moni;h-> Tho mo"'n
'irn.ua tonporr.tur o for July is /47 de grees and tho mor.n :minimum f or i·o · ~;r·n;· y
B w30 dogroe s. During October tho tom.por o.ture roa ches •wlO degr eo s o..·,J cl1:;.~~n,;
ov01<' bor -30 degr uos.

b, m.~.

Uovombor thr ou?:;h e nrly March - Normal · winds from 1'11,i. Stronge s t vr:i.nds
1rom ENE for o.'6ouF"2h hour's at a time, followod by a shift to W,
Voloci t~r of 65-70 mph.

Late .A:oril throuch Hay - Winds from H a nd NH off glc.cior, roaohir g

i):.2o cip1'l.Gales of 40-50 m.ph.

34
 ·~:

June through .A.ucust - Frequent light winds from SE, swinging to SW•

Sopfo11~b qr throuch October .. N to NVT winds with blustery storl!I\{ weather.

0, Snow o.ncl ro.in. Tho hoo.viost snovrfalls are in September o.nd October,,
' t'ifroquOrit snq\'w throui::;h Hovor:i.ber.Tho lar i::;ost recorded snovvf'o.11 is 17
,;_c· os i n October', Tho o.voro.go yoo.rly snowfall is o.bout ~ inchos of snow·,
u!':c Lent to c. p:rooipitv.tion of 4.2 inches. Tho r:w.ximum recorded rainfall is
. i.c i nch.on i n Aue;ust. The avers.go ammal rc.info.11 is 4.5 inches,, Giving an
1.u.tl :?rocipi t ation of s. 7 inohos.

d. I<'o g. July is tho fo ggiest month, but fo gs prevail thrcughout Juno and
~u;ust, October ·b~ough March are froo of fog, while April, Mo.y.'I c.nd Septombor
ho.vo occasional fogs. The rocords of tho Canadian Moteorologicc.l Service show
c. t otal of 15 to 28 days of fog oach yeo.r.

6, FLYING YVEl.1.THER
Murch 11.nd April are considered tho best months for flyi~1g, except fc 1· -th o low
te;-.1por 0.tul'os which roach -40 do groas. Unstei.blo weo.th0r during Octobur c.r_d
li:n 0:1bor no.ko then i.mfo:\rerable months for flying.

7, IONOSPBERIC COND ITIONS

Iono:.:;phoric disturbo..nc os co.use complete loss of radio contact, sometimes r o::.::'.;_n·.-

ins c01:u'.cUJ.1ication s y stor.is us e less for several de.ys at a time.

35
 Section III. MARINE Li.\.NI/Ii.m AND OPERl•TlONS

s. 11ISSIOH
Tho r;Us sion of the Mo.rine detachment was to test various typos of equipment and
clothing and study combo.t conditions and problems under arctic ice-co.p condi..
tions, Tho opcro.tions, which included landing, ground movements,, mD.king camp,
v.nr1 hc.ncUin€; supply probletuJ, woro intondod to simulate acti vi tios of a smD.ll
coi:'bo.t c;roup in like· circumstances. Prolirninary reconnaissance of the o.roo. o.nd
odon-Co.tion of porsom1ol in typical problems wore important.

Tho Marine cloto.chment consisted of c;~r:i f o::. !.ovring person-

--
Marino Corps•

2 officersa

Comm~nding
Officer
E:x:ocutivo Oi'ficcr
l warro.nt officer in chr.rg;o of equipment o.nd mo.inteno.nce

5 gunnery sorgoan-ts1
l oporo.tions NCO
1 o.ssisto.nt OP'Jrationa NCO
2 o.mphibious tractor crowmon
l amphibious tractor mocho.nio

2 tecr. .nico.l sergeants:

1 utilities chiof
l ro.clio teclmicio.n

1 supply sergeant

4 platoon sergoo.ntst

l dotach1:i.ent record.or
1 donoli tions sorr;oo.nt
l o.mphibious trr.ctor nochanic
1 munitions technici~n

l sto.ff sorgo~nt, pionoor construction

1 sergoo.nt~ corrospon~o:1t
1 sergoo.nt, o.ssisto.nt,. oporc.tions
 l oook

7 privo.tes first clo.ss, including 3 ro.dio opera.tors

l privo.to

Toto.la 2 officers
l wo.rro.nt officer
26 enlisted raen

b. .\.c:.cli tiono.l riorsonnol. A Na.vy modico.l officor o.nd o.n obsorvo:r fron tho
Qu~r·h ,r:.81;or Gonoral' s Offico of the .i.\:rmy vras a.tto.chod to ~:.ho Tu/1rinc doto.ch-
nc:1-G, In o.dcliti on, res mu-ch r:i.on o.nd obsorvor s fron t!ie fo:. ~-O'\Jin.f~ cx-go.nizo:bions
rront o.shoro with tho :Mc.rines:

No.val Cor:ir;mnico.tions
No.va.l Orc1no.nco Lo.boro.torics
No.val So.nito.tion Dopo.rt!:l.ont
Co.no.dio.n .Army
T:ro.nsp?rto.tion Corps, US .Ax-my
US Duroo.u of Sto.ndo.rds

16, L..'i.:iI1IHG CR.lJi'T, VKJ:ICLES, Aff.0 EQUIPMENT

a.. Landinr_; cruft. r:r·:ro LCJ..I' s 111oro usod to unloo.cl oqu.ipr:iont f:~0m t.:1c s~--.L~.).~
und tlvo LCVP' s ·t:;o transpor·c visiting shoro po.rties.

b, Vehicles ~nd oquipnont to.ken o.shoro. Tho Marinos lei.nclod. vri<J~. ·'.~]-.'.)
fol"LowinG vehicles umt oq;.u-p-:~ont:

l lo.nding vehicle, tro.c~:od, El.: "!>

1 lo.nding vehicle, trn.cked, I.:r?: 4
2 cargo co.rriers H29C
l snovv tractor M7

11, Lii..1:1J I1'JG OPElmTIONS

n • u. Selection of lo.nding site. (1) J).ftor roco11110.isso.nco o.nd s·~ ;~C~/ rJ,_
~:v-J.1lD:'blo photo~p11.s, mo c.1ofocbnont decidocl to lo.nd on tho vwst sh,,ro ('.('
JJU:l(lo.s IIo.rbor o.nd then novo c1.ovm tho beo.ch to tho glacier o.t tho .:m'..l. o:+: -;<.,_,\
va.lloy.

(2) Both LVT ts: vmro usod in tho ini tio.l lo.nc1ing. Soo figure 26<> :..~:.ny
curried a. fow non o.nd o.doquo.to oquipnont to osto.blish o. co.nu from. whi0h ·::-o
cc.rr~r on shore o.cti vi tics. liJ;J. u.nsuccossful o.ttonpt ·wus :r.i.o.d~ to broo.k t:l:~c tCh,
~r clir:1b onto, tho ice puck o.t tho head of tho valley. Both LVT's succoo r'.yJ.
~n r;ottine; o.shorG on tho rocky boo.oh north of tho point on.the harbor's west :,J,u
ut thoy hn.d difficulty booo.uso of ico on tho shore.
37
 Fic;uro 26. Lm·-orinc LVT ovor tho s:ldo of the USS Bol tr11nio

(3) Hovonont o.lons thu shore towo.rd the f;lacier vms ho.:i.:ipo:~od GY ·:.:;l:1 ·, ~. u_,_d
~mnps noc-¥r <lro.inc.r.~o ch'"".12.r.:.Jls o.11d
vmshos fro1n tho raountc..in89 Th.J bJu0)1 '!;".U '"'.c~'"""'
jo.cont 1~round ·uoro rocky nnd boulder-strovm. Tho proc;ress of tho !.:t"''='' vt,-.3 :n.....
t ror..oly SlOVJ" rmd the [;lD.cior.? vYhich D.ppeo.rocl fc.irly 1100.r When t:l':.: ·:1..0~~o.. ;.h.cL·:'.".~­
lr.1101ocl , did not soo::n. to cone closer. Tho party vms hc.ndico.r;::iod ·o:' l:.~~k ') [ r
dozer to help prepc.ro tho r outo a.nd assist tho vehicle::: t~u·c'-1eh tu:11lrn.,, f~c c.~;_~r.; 1 :
of the rough terrain o.nrl sluw progress, tho Marinos C.ud.d.od to r eturn tc ·~~.o
ship :'.nd try c.nother location.

(~.) Tho c.ltorno.tivo location was o. sno.11 rocky boo.ch neo.r tho bo. :.,c .,r . . ;
kcior, o.bout 2 nilos e8.st of tho Mounted Police post on tho south sh o:rc : f
t'.10 islr.nd., Thero tho g lacier discho.rgos into tl10. ocoo.n. It seemed fo[, s:.1 ~'"
t o brnl just oo.st of tho gle..cior 1 and fro:ra there to :raovo equipment o.nd f- •..i..-,1<1 '~;
up the clo.cior to tho ice cc.p., l.i. smo.11 terrace o.t the foot of the ic 0.- -~ ,:r;t.
abovo tho boo.ch,, wo.s chosen for the bo.se co.mp.

(5) .:.£tor the LVTt s r o turnoU. to tho ship from their first l c.nrli:nr,;,. ~-1.~'J i
rufuolocl o.nd stc.rtod out for tho o.ltorno.tive location. They wont aGho;·c N <·c
er.iv.11 rocky boo.ch in tho southoc.st corner of tho harbor, crossed tho li.r,io: ;_.• J·,'.c
spit, c:·ossod tho bc.y in front of the Mounted Poli co Post-, o.nd finally c :._: ·h·i·;·l
onto tho boo.ch bosiclo - the ·· lo.cior. No difficulty wn.s oncountored on tl:..i~. -,)o~i.-)r
O.ncl o.r:i.plo co.nping spc.co wa.~ found on the terrace. The landing party o.nd ,,.;•. t'i.:·~
.ont :ronainocl a.shore hero, while tho LVT1 s returned to the ship.

38
 b. Uhloo.cling. (1) Unloo.ding wn.s begun tho next morning, . but it wns
hampered sone::rl:o:E by rrdn c.nd wincle Tho LVT' s wore loo.dod o.nd sent to the boo.ch.
uuloo.ding n cc s cor1plo-Goc1 from tho ship by LC?.It Sa One crev.r in the ship's hold
sortc <l cn.r r:o, ~mother crow unloade cl, rmd a. sI:J.o.11 sroup of men set up cru:ip on
t ho shore. Cc.r r;o wr.s put over tho side of tho ship by bo01iIB, o.nd lo.nclinc nets
and po.llots wcro usod in tho LCH's• Time required for unloo.clinf; wus increo.sed
beco.uso of tho \1istance tho LCM' s ho.d to tr::vo l to and fron the ship o.t anchor
in DtmJ.o.s Harbor. Tho lo.st loo.d of supplioa ·:ms to.ken a.shore the mornini:; after
t ho tmlor. :.li nc: wo.s b or,un. Unloo.dinr; on tho shore, includinc; tho unloa.ding of
gasoline r,r..c. c1runs, wo.s done entirely by hand by a sr.10.ll crew. Woo.sols o.nd the
snow tro.ctor i:.roro not used in unlo e. ding.

(2) LCH's c.ncl LVT's proved so.tisfc,ctory o:i the whole. The LCM's expor-
iencoc~ no dmn.o..co in lo.nclinc, except to tho propellers which were bo.dly bent
o.nri broJ-::on. Tho hull of o.n LVT vms punctured on tho rocky boo.cha Go.saline
consumption of . tho LVT's soonod oxcossivo, ancl the bows shipped oonsidoro.blo
wl\ter vrl1ich cr.uso cl oxtronc cliscornf'ort to operators boco.uso of tho low t enporo.-
ture. Tho proforrod typo of LVT is tho Model 3 which rides co:m.paro.ti voly high
in tho bow.

(3) Do..tos o..nd tine of unloading oporo.tions wore as follows:

1915 - Ini tio.l roco!1I10.issc.nco of first boo.oh wu.s me..do by LVT's•

2230 - LVT's returned to ship.
2315 - LVT's ccpo.rtod for o.ltorno.tivo lo.ncling site.
20 July;

0230 - LVT's returned to ship.

0900 ... LVT' s wore loo.dad o..nd sent to fino.l ln.nding beo.ch. LC~.: t s
be[;D.n to.king co.rgo from ship.
2300 • Lo.st LCH returned to ship o.fter unloading or. beach.

29 Julyt

0930 - L:i.st loo.cl wus taken to boo. ch by LCH.

1200 - Un1oa.uing oporo.tions woro camplotede LCM returned to ship.

Toto.l loo.els:

4 loo.els to.ken a.shore by LVT's

7 loads tn.kon n.shoro by LCM's

39
J.2, EldBIJUC£i.TION Li.T CONCLUSION OF OPERLi.TIONS
At 0500 on 20 .U.ucust 19~.6, tho USS Be ltra.rni o.nchorecl off tho Marine lo.nding
beach to pick up tho po..f"ty and equipment. Evorythint; on tho boo.ch wn.s roo.dy
for roloo.dinr;. ii.t 0800 1 loo.. ding -vvo.s bot;un with the use of two LCM' s f'.nd two
LVT' s. Soo fi c;uro 27. Soo.s woro smooth o.nd winds li ght a.ll clo.y but operations
;1Cre dolo.yetl whon LC!~ ' s vrcro boc.chod boco.use of fo.lling tide. The n.ctua.l load-
i:lc took 4 to 5 hours 1.mt wus not crn;iploted until 16oo.

Picuro 27. LVT's roturninc to tho ship at tho conclusion

of operations at Devon Island.

40
 ANNEX B
THULE AND NORCH STAR BAYf GREENL.Ai"\JD

CONTENTS

Section I. GENERAL

1. Wolstenholme Fiord 46
2. North Star Bay 46
3. Villages 47
4.- Glacial Valley 51
Section II. WE1Wll1ill

5. Observed Conditions 55
6. Information from Danish Weather Station 55
•
Section III. L.'\.NDTI-:G OPER.il..TIONS

7. Cargo 58
8. Landing Si to 58
9. La.ndinc; C:caft, Vehicles, and ~c:_ni;i::1ont 59
10. Coordination 59
U. l·Inndl:i_n~~ of Cargo
60
12. IJandins 1-roblons 64
13. -~7eathcr
65
Section I>!. C1)ES'D ,1CTION Qt<' EMERGb'NCY Ll\.NDING STRIP

14. Specifications 66
15. Personnel 66
16, Ii;q11ip1:ient 66
17. Site :/0
13. Fin1.1 Construction :Layout 74
19. Actual Construction 75
Section V. CONS'I'l1UC'l'IOJ.IT OF WEATHER BURE.":..U STLTION
82
2e. Project 82
21, Co.i:1p Sito
22. Faci.1itics
8.3
23. Personnel 84
2l:. Vforkinc; 1i.rr2.ngements 85
25. Equipnent 85
26. Construction Hothods 88
27. Labor Hequirenents 9f'
28. Utilities 99
 CONTENTS (contd)

Section VI. EQUIPMENT .£iJID DEI-IICLES USED .i..l..T TJIDLE IJIJ"""D

1'JOi1TH STAi.~ T3!...Y, GREENLlJilD

29. List 100

30. Condition 100
31. Spn.ro J?o.rts 101
32. Lubrication and Mn.intono.nco 101
33. Oporo.tion and Malfunctions 101
34. Conditions During Opcro.tion 105
 WOL.S TEN HOLM£ rlORD

77• ¥.{' ~i~r

~ 7>
~~
.
~

~" ~

••
00 .,,.
_, ,o
MT.DUNDA$ I

-· o~
,o
t
NORTH STAR __ ,
---
,,-/ --
~l
BAY
''
~~~~~~
--...._____-;,'
'
+ WEATHER
'
/IVlfCAV

,•'
,
CAMP
r·~~~
''C
,
~ LANDING .STRIP

t'"..,~M..\U\l\~
'
"" 'fl06E-IDOO'

---:t---+.-~~
,..
~ 69. 611.
nnnnnl I I I
~ 0 ~
Miles
~ ~
..51(£TCH or
WOLSTE'NHOLMC FIORD THULE' AND NORTHSTAR
GR££ NL AND BAY
Traced f&rom A"rt?novf1cal Chart - SmH·JJ No Scale
Sovnd(Lq
Figure 30. YfolstenholTie Island.

•
44
,I

Figure 31. Entrance to North Star Bay, with

Ht. Dundas at left.

Figure 32. Shoro lino north of rocky point,

looking south.

45
 ..:•.NNEX B

T~1ULE ~.ND NORTH ST. .:.R B...'..Y, GREll.~®

Section I. GEEER..'.iL

,olstenhol:10 Fior 'l on ];::i_ycs Peninsula, northwest Greenland (fig 28) extends
ast fron t.ho coo.st. of' Bo.ffin Bay for c.bout 25 r:tllcs. Several isla..'1ds, of
hich tho lc.rgcst o.ro Saunders rmd Wolstcnholno (figs 29 and 30), lie a cross
tho wid.o catro.nco. ri'ho cast end of the fiord is about 6 milos ·nido and tor-
d.nc.tcs in D. lo.rgo glacier frol'l the iJ.1lo.nd ico cap. This glo.cicr and smo.J..lor
ones north of tho fiord discharge icebergs, S0"«1C of vrhich arc quite letrge.

NOR'I'.:~ ST.J1 B.... Y

a. Loco.tion. North btar Bay (figs 28, 31, n.nd 45) lies on ·tho south shore
of JolstLl.1hol:jo Fiord at approxim;;.tc l<'.tit o.do and l ongitude of 76°30 1N and
69°451w. It is about G nilos long Mel is protected froi.1 icebergs o.t tho north
y o. 1011~ lmr spit of land, at tl10 tip of Trl:.ich j_s the pronincnt land:"1o.rk Mt.
Dund8.s, c. 616 -foot trtmc.:i.tod cone (fig 31 ). •... j utting rocky point lies off
th3 so,uthcrn shore of tho bay (figs 32, 33, and 34).

- __,
I'ig·urc 33. Shore lino s )~'.th of rock;:r point,
looking norti1.
46
 Fie;uro 3~.. Shore line s01.rth of rocky point,
1 oold..ng south.

b. Shores and landing sites. (1) Shorelines are rough and beaches
boulder-strefrn. The north ~)art of the bay affords anchorage for large vessels,
though the bottom · is muddy and icy. The south portion is shallovf, with off-
shore roc1.cs visible at lo·;, tide.

(2) A beach south of the rocky point was the site finally chosen for land-
bg, See figures 32 through 36 inclusive. The only other available landing
sites '.rere narrov; short beaches on the shores of the low spit connecting Mt.
D,1J1das with the mainJ.al'ld, but the ·water near these sitGs contained treacherous
undor-surf ace rocl~s.

(3) There Ymro no docks in the bay Vlhen the expedition arrived there, ex-
ce.)t flimsy frai11G landings bull t by Danes at Thclo for small boats. Sec fig-
1ire 39 •

3, VILLl..GES

a. Thu.lo. The Danish vi..llage of Thcle (fig L~O) is on the spit on the
~orth-shore of tho bay, et1st of l.v1t. Dundas. It contains about 12 bui..ldings,
~nc~u~ing wcatl:ier and. radio station~, h.~sp~tal, church, and vr~rohouscs. 'i'he
anisn and EskJJno residents trade TD.th .l!iskimos at other locations. Small
Da.11is~1 schoo;.1urs stop at Thcle in SUitlffiOr and numerous arctic exped:Ltions hav8
stopped there.

h7
Figure 35. I,ooking north, a few hundred yards
from landing beach.

Figure 36. View from landing beach, looking

north toward location shawn in
figure 35.

48
Figure 37. View of landing beach, looking
northwest from the terrace off
the ond of the landing strip.

ir:i_gur0 .:HJ. tioach below c111 1 of thu landing

strip, look:i_nt~ :::outln11c'st. Note
prof ile of bcac '.1.

49
:B'igure 39. Unloading supplies from Danish ship
nt Thule landing.

Fi gure 40. Thule , at t ho hoad of North Star Bay.

so
 b. Eskino village. The Eskimo village (figs l.D-, 42, 43, and 44) l:les on
the ojiposite ···Siwre--oi'the spit, near Mt. Dundas ancl about 1/2 mile from Thule.
It is inhabited by 30 to 35 adult male Esk;i..mos and their families.

·
4•
GUCUL VA.Li-..:EY
The glacial valley (fi;;s 4~; and Lf6) extends east about 10 miles from North
Star Bay to t.ho ice cap. Near the shore it is approximately 3 miles wide.
orttrward ·t,~1e ground rises in broken ridges and rolling hills to about 1000
feet. Tho south side of the valley is bounded by a straight, 1000-foot high
ridge, 5 m:iJ..es long, with steep talus slope on the valley side. Tho valley's
pper ond, lying betvmon rough rolling hills, is boul.dor-strevm and cut by
nlllllerous ch·e.inago channels. 'l'he valley bottom is of glacial till with ma..YJ.y
small lakes and hills, and is cut through by a swift stream from tho ice cap.

Figure 1.0.. Sod hut in Eskimo village.

51
igurc 42. Eskimo ·woman and daughtor Figure 43. Male Eskimo in typical cos-
at entrance to sod hut. t tune. Vali Paluk, tho head
man of the Eskimos.

52
Figure 44. Eskimos on rocky beach nt Thule.
Note low wet ground behind beach.

53
 Figure 45. View of ~·Torth Sta r Bay area from t he ridge south of the glacial valley-.
\Jl.
+:""

.:. ..,.j

Fig~.:_::'.' C
! ,
Lj.~.
Horth side of glacial v e.lley, viewed from end of r2- d.gc to south. ·
This spot is about 5 miles from the beach.
•Q ,.
CJ rl Q)
H (\~ ~
ro ?·
:>., s
qj ~Li\
r.o •rl
H
c\]
~ tl
rl 0
+'
!}) Oll{l
rH
rC. 0 UJ
~ 0
·rl
0
~~_,;
'U +>
·rl 0
(/) p.,
(+--j (/)
0 ..c:
..
:;,.
, +>
H
UJ
·rl
0
·rl
0 ..c:
~8
:>
• '0
•
1..(\ ~..:::-
....::t
i.J
('.)
fl
~ttO ,.l
t.Ul
·r--1
·ri µ:..
fx-1
 Section II. "iVE.ll.TBER

5, OBSERVED CONDITIONS

o.. "ffoo.thor in tho Thule r.,reo. wo.s mostly fo.voro.blo from 31 July
Go:noro.l.
to 24 !u'Gt'l.st" 19L~6.
During this period, 7 do.ys woro cleo.r and calm, 8 partly
cloudy vri th light fog, 3 heavily overcast with ruin and fog, o...11d 5 oxtromely
foggy o.nd cliso.e;roco.blo.

b. Tomporo.turo. Tomporature recorded aboard ship, which is always o. few

doe;roos hic horthan tomporaturo o.shoro, variod from /35 to /65 degrees Fahren-
heit. lJifforonoo boi;"vveon ship r.nd shore tomporo.turo is grcc.ter o.t night and
durinc periods of low clouds o.nd fog.

c, Wind. (1) \"finds wore predominantly SE. Winds of highest volooity

blovr between 2400 and 0600. Those woro SSE and ESE, reo.ching 15 to 20 mph, or
NE roaching 25 nph, .Approxir.nto porcontc~ges of wind directions woro o.s followsa

Direction Porconto.e;e of timo

46 percent
22 ·percent
2() percent
12 percent

(2) Direction of provailinr; wind cc.n i::: . dotecto d on the ground surface of
gravel vo.lloy bottons and similo.r r.reus by sr:1C1;ll ridges o.nd furrows in fine
soil or silt, and by o.cci.:mulc..tion of soil on the shelterod side of clumps of
moss or [;ra.s s •

d. F'oc;. Little fog wo.s oncountored around Thule o.nd North Star Bay, but
fog bunks!uy ri.lnost continua.Uy along the entrance of Wolstenholme Fiord· o.nd
o.t Co.po .A.tholl,, So.unders Islo.nd, a.nd Granville Fiord to tho north. Seo figure
47,
6, INF01TI.Ii..TIO~T FH.01.'1 D~1.lrISH "ilEl.TBER ST;1.TION
Only linHod information wo.s avv.ilo.blo at tho Danish sto.tion in Thule. De.ta
for t\·ro poriods is listod below. Tcmporo.tures aro Fnhrenhoi t.

n, E=ords for August 1945 to Juno 1946.

Tonporaturo1 :rnrudmum f51 degrees,, minimu."'l -42 degrees

Procipito.tiona 7 inches
Predominant windsa ESE o.nd E
Mo.:ximu."'!l wind vcloci ty: 50 :mph from ESE in May

55
 b, Ii.ocords for oa.rlior poriod. Further inforno.tion wo.s suppliod by the
c.n oo.r!i or 4-yoc.r period ( do.tos not l:nown ).
.o sfa:.tio1ii':"or

(1) Monn ·cor:1pero. tur os.

Jo.nua.ry -21° July f4o0

'Fobruo.ry -210 Aucust ~oo
Ho.rch -15° Soptenbcr 28°
li.pril 1.10 October /14°
00
Hay f?30 November
June './35° ?lo cor,1bor -13°
(2) lico.n proci pito.tion. Yo c..rly prcci pito..tion is usuo.lly lovr, li.ccuro.to
·viros o.ro ir;tpOS"S"ible because wind-blown snow is so!'l.otines recorded o.s newly
allon sn ow. Tho follO'\·dng fi gures givo o.pproxir.w:l:;o moo.n precipito..tion over
o Lf-yoar poriodt

.Jo.nua.ry 0.1 11 July 0.1 11

February 0.1 11 Auc;ust 0.7"
Hc.rch 0.3" So ~Jt01:ibor 0.3"
.i..I.Jril 0.1 11 . c c·cobor 0.1 11
Mny November 0.2 11
Juno 0.3 11 T)ocombcr 0.1 11

c, Ice, (l) Re ports indica.ted tho.t ico be gins to form on North Star Bo.y
ytino o.i"cor l Scptcmbor, c.nd tho.t by oc.rly October it is' stronG enouch for
skinos to tra vel over it by sle dge to noa.rby islands.

(2) Evon durinr:; sm:i.:c_ior n onths 1 a 1'ino layer of skim. i oc sonotimos forns
hon t ho vr.:~ter is co.lm. 'l'his is believed to be co. used by ro.pid cvn.porntion un-
er proper conditions of t omporo.t1).r o c.nd hu:r.iicli ty. So c fi c;ure 48.

Fi c;uro Li.B. Skin i co loft on 11 00.ch on the norning

of 18 .i~ucuot 1946.
57
 Section III. Ll1,,,.'"DING OPEIU;.TIONS

j, Cl\J.WO

a. Co.rgo on shi:)s. Two cargo ships, the USS 1.lcona a.nd the USS Beltrami,
carri0d constrnd;ion m.c.terials and supplies for building tho 15-rna.n weather
station nncl. ·bho Cli10rgoncy lo.nding strip. Tho cargo included supplies for
future 01~cru:cion of the v:oa.ther station, as Woll o.s aircraft equipment, gas-
olino, and lubricants for future use o.t the landing strip.

b. Tonno.go unlos.ded. EstimL~tod

tonnages unleo.dud and time roquirod to
ianrsupp!i"oi..cYo' gfvontolow. Exact quantities are not known bocauso of lD.st-
rfouto cho.nges in roquiromonts o.nd shifting of cargo from one ship to D.nothor.

Unloo.dod from USS J.lcona Unloaded from USS Beltrami

1,800 ship ·bons in l,4oo ship tons in

13 singlo .. shift days 9 single-shift days

8, WDING SI1'E

o., !lea.ch, Tho lo.ndine; beach chosen wus on the shore of North S·to.:r Bay
south of--=-STi.0-rocl'..)'- poh1t (pc,r 2b(2)). This wn.s halfway bc'tl:reon tho locations
soloctod for tho 1·:cc.thor sto.tion o.nd tho lnnJ.:i.nc strip (fig 49 ). Tho most
fo.voro.ble po.rt of tho bench vro.s tho point ,; Jro n stream, entering tho bo.y,
provided n.ddi tiono.1 bc1..;.ch spo.co which slopoct gradually to higher gro.vol ground.
ilocks c.nd boulders wore i·omoYod from this o.roa o.nd tho cleared section marked
off for use throughout tho operation.

View fr(Jl'l ·:;oo.thor Bureau camp site showing ridge south of glacio..l
valley, ··sith landing boo.ch and sorting urea at oxtrome right. Tho
<:n:i.orconcy landing strip wc.s built pnrallol to and ap11:roximatoly
1000 fout from tho bo.so of tho ridg0,.

58
 b, Sorting e.reo.. Tho location choson for tho sorting o.roa was 200 foot
:Je.nd from ·bhe beach, on the higher gravel ground mon"!:;ionod in subparagra.ph e.
abOV0t

9, Lii.NDING CUL.FT, VEHICLES, ..uT'J EQUIPMENT

o., ~nding ere.ft. The following lo.nding craft were carried on the cargo
shi1is:

L~ lo.ndins craft, vehiclo, personnel (LCVP' s)

(2 on co.ch ship)
4 fonding craft, mechanized, Mk 6 (LCl-,I' s)
(2 on oo.ch ship)

b, Landing vehicles and oquipri.ont used ashoro. (1) Tho following vohi-
clos-o.nd oquipr.i.cn-c (f'igs 50 through 55 incluSl veTwere usod on tho beach and
in tho sortine; uroat

1 5-ton Byers crane

3 Caterpillar trn.c·cors D7 (loaded without blades)
4 6-ton A.they ·wu.gons
2 Ii-rberno.tiono.l tractor-mountod fork-lifts TD9
3 LeTourneau 8-cubic-yo.rd scrapers LS
Several sleds for use in the LC"T~'s and LCM's

(2) Tho ere.no wc..s oi, oratod by See.boos and the caterpillars by Aviation
Enginoors,

10, COORDINL.'.L IOH

1

a. Rosponsibili ty, Ship personnel handled cargo in the ships' holds,

loe.dotl it intOlanding era.ft, and retainod responsibility for it until it reached
shore. Iiandling of ct~rgo on the beach became tho rosponsibility of the Sea.bee
dctacbr1:.cmt of 18 men vvho unloo.dod tho lo.nding craft c,nd moved the contents to
the sorting area.. Thero, groups ma.do up of Sea.bees,· Avio.tion Engineers, ::md
·;1oo.ther Duroau porsonnol sorted tho mo.tori-al, La;bor, the crew of Soaboes was
split, oo tk1:b ho.lf rom.o.inod at tho boo.ch while half assisted Vieo.thor Buroo.u
personnel sort, chock, and move supplies to tho sit;o chosen for their station.

1)• Schedule. Unloarling ·was conducted on a. one-shift bn.sis, excopt when

nighCshifts of~oo.thor Bureau personnel Htoved supplies to their camp si to to
cxpodi to construction. i ..11 personnel lived nboo.rd ship, vvont ashore at 0745
~11ch morning, e.nd returned ·co their shil' S botvroon 1730 and 1800 each evening.
ost of tho"11 returned to tho ships for tho noon meal (1130 or 1200 to 1300)
though sono c.to K-ro.tions o.shoro. Tho use of K-ro.tions on tho beach ·was not
entirolv satisfo.ctorv bocanso of lack of suuorvision
.c
in their distr:i.bution and
use, " v

59
 a. Cou; mnico:bion s. i,.doquo.to ro.dio cor.1!Tl.unico.tion vms mo.into.ined botvrnon
s!Jips~·u11d....Fir6""Fo."0.16-s·ots o.shoro• ono at tho lc.nding boo.ch; and one o.t tho ·;rco.thcr
Burco.u si to. Tho lo.ttor vvn.s used uftorwurds ut the omorgoncy landing strip.
'.

lli H1Ji!DLIHG OJ.i' CiJlGO

cargo wo.s loo.da d frm. ships into lo.nding cro.ft by moans of po.Hots, nets~ o.nd
slincs. Tho only i:10.t erio.l po.llotizoll before shipnont wo.s helium for tho
jcathor Duroci.u. Cra ft vwro not ulvro.ys lo[l.aod to cc.po.city, but sometimes
carried only c. sinf).c pioco of oquipnont, such o.s one woo.sol.

o.. l)ri_ori ty. l'Tiori ty of ho.ndling wo.s o.s follows 1

(1) Boo.ch c.nd construction equipment

(2) Con struction supj)lies for VToo.thor Buroo.u
(3) Other ce.rgo

FiGuro 50. Viaw of lt\nding sito looking south, with

cro.no o.nd LCVP' s on boc, ch.

60
F:i. guro 51, era.no tmloo.ding fuol from lo.nding oro.ft.

Fie;U?"o 52. Trn~tor-r:.ionr'"ccd fork-lift.

61
 Figure 53. Sled usod in unloo.di1ig.

Figuro 5h. D7 Caterr,illo.r trac·cor pulling loaded

s lod frm:i LCM.

62
f

Fi ~;ur o 55. Cro.no r oplo.cinr, onpty sled in LCM.

Pi [~ur c 56. She lf-ico und fo rz on bn.nk neo.r lnn ding beach.
 (1) Tho Byers crane vms used to loud Athey wagons a.nd sleds.

(2) Tho Co:i:;orpillnr tractor::i moved lo: .ds from the bench to the sorting
ca.

(3) Nots o.nd pallets woro loft on the equipment when it was moved to tho
orting o.r oc. •

(L1.) Sleds, usod on land to supplement Athey wagons, wore dosignod to fit
nto lcmcl.int; craft, 2 in 0.11 LCM e.nd l in r.m LCVP, by resting on timber fro.mo-
ork. '.l'ho cargo uns loo.cloc.l on tho sleds in the lo.nding oro.ft. At tho boo.ch,
ho slodo vroro pullocl from tho craft by tro.ctor o.nd novod to tho sorting o.roo..
ho loE'.clod sled vro.s loft at tho sorting o.ro-o. while tho tro.ctor returned o.n
r.ipty ono to tho bar.ch, to bo replaced in the landing cruft by tho era.no. See
;'icuros 53, 5~., and 55.

(5) Tho tro.ctor-r.10untod fork-lifts woro used nt the sorting o.roo. to ho.ndlo
nll co.rgo not roo.clily sorted by hand. Those lifts unloaded mo.torio.l, whether
,nllctizod, · cro.tod, or loose, and. moved it to tho o.ppropriut0 section of tho
.rting e.roo..

12, U.H1 >ING ELODLE1IS

a.. Boo.ch limito.tions. Boct1.uso the boo.ch wo.s no.rrow, especially a.t high
tido,vror]dng; sro.co "V'ms limited o.nd co.ution vvus required when o.pproaching o.nd
loo.ving tho lo.ndi~1g si to. .ii.djo.cent bo..nks containing fr oz on gro.vel or largo ice
lonsos .. und old shalf ice, restricted tho usnblo aroo.. Seo figures 56 o.nd 57.
?err.ir.nontly frozen so.nd close to the boo.ch surfo.cc co.usod difficulty in obto.in-
ing tro..ction with tho Co.torpillc.rs •

b. Porforr.Jr;nco of vehicles and cquip; '_ont. (1) The LCV.i?ts ho.d difficulty
on tho boach,-os}Jocio.i!y o.t lovr tide, a.nd --fonded to run aground before reo.ohing
0

shore. Ono was ~Jco.chod o.ftor tho unloo.ding of tho first cc.rgo ship. Their use
wus lirD:cod durinr; tho bo.lo.nce of the unloo.ding oporo. tions •

(2) Tho LCif ' s movocl cr.rgo, including such equipment as tho LoTourneo.u
roo.d scro..pors, oc.sily enough. They performed so.tisfc.ctorily except for mal-
functioning of tho bolt-driven landinc-rrun.p mocho.nism. Propellers were bo.dly
do.tlagod duo to rocks arnl coo.rso grc"vol boo.ch conditions• These cruft o.lso ho.cl
occa.siono.l difficulty roo.ohing the bc(\ch bccc.usc of rm offshore bar built up
by \W.sh fr on tho propollors. Two wcro bo(\chod nftor tho unlon.ding of the first
curgo ship.
 (3) Slo els wore usod so.tisfo.ctorily on tho whole, though sometimes the
ioight of tho lo~\d n:.L>.do it ho.rd for tho. TJ7 Co.tor pi llo.r tractor to novo the
)oo.dod sled fr01:i tho lo.ndinr; crt:.ft. 11. J8 tro.ctor, if avo.ilo.blo, woulcl ho.vo
ullod tho first sled with case but would hc.ve required o. long hitch to remove
tho soconC:L~ ·;nth thq use of a Hyster tmit, however, either o. D7 or a D8 could
o.sil:;r stci.rt tho s lod with its load. This is beer.use tho Hyster c1rm;1 is hie;her
than the co..blo-:md-dr6.vrbar hookup, so tho.t the sled would be pulled close to
tho tro.ctor rmd its front rnisod,

',ioathor nc.G e;onorn.lly frworo.blo durinc bnding o.nd unloo.ding. Vlind go.vo a
'.ittle trouble o.t tir.10s when boats vrere tied to ships, ospecia.lly in oa.rly
:iorning hours. DurinG heavy foe, boo.ch c.nd ships woro difficult to loco.to.
:ho ~1rcsonco of icoberss in tho vici~1ity nocessi tG.tcd caution, pc.rticulc.rly in
foggy 1roc.t!1or •

Figure 57, Ice o.nd frozen bunk noo.r lo.nding boo.ch •

•
 Section rv. cm:s•rcLUC'l'IOl~ OF K -:bRGENCY LA.TDI:.m STHIP

Cons-t,ruc::.ion o.'. an omergc,nc~ l cndjJ1g strip nea r the Weather Duroau site was
assigned to tho •~vi at:i.on ~c~ng ineors. Specif'ic:itions were as follows:

Tlinimum sizo: 100 by 3, 000 feet

120 by 3, 600 foot, with future extension ti")
Dosiro c'~ s ize:
6 ' 000 foet,
.
if nossiblo
i
Parkinr; area at each end: 200 hy 400 feet

Thu striil, when .c'rozen, was to bo able to eiupport C-h7 aircraft or heavier.

AviaUon :Cnginocr personnel responsible for the project consistod of 2 offi-

cers, o. captaj_n and first lioutenant 'i'lith previous construction exporionco,
and 22 cnJ.istod ;non quolified in skills as indicated below.

l construction foreman (1st sergeant)

6 tractor operators
2 comprGssor operators
2 grndcr operators
3 Diesel mechanics
1 demolition mnn
1 welder
1 carpcmter
l ~Jlumber
Lr surveyors

16, EQUIPlvD.::H'r

Tho foll owL1g en ;inoor equ:Lpment was used:

3 Ccct. orpillar tractors D7, vrith cable-oper2.ted blades nnd power tako-off
2 Lo'fournoo.u 8-cub:Lc-;yo.rd cable-operated roa d scrapers IS
1 LGTourneau 3-tooth cablo-oporo.tod rooter ~n
1 CnterpilJ.ar grader Dl2
1 LeRoi 105-cfm truck-mounted compressor
1 tro.ilor-mountcd ;;asolino-ongine-dri von 300-amp electric-arc w dor
Gll-300-.5

66
J i ; urs 58 . Eme r gency l a::ding str i p viewed from 1, 000- f oot r i dge . Equipment 2.t
l eft i s working on the strip . JJar ge c rates c:"t r ight center ar e on the
f ar side of t~10 s t r i p . 'I'he t hi n dar k lines j u.st bc:yond t he pond at
extreme right is a row of barrels f or t he culvert at stati<Jn 34 +00 .
Smc:.11 p onds s.r e visii-:l e 1)etv:ec11. t he s trip an d t he toe of t he tal us slop e .

Fi gure 59 . Lool-;::;..:::-L"" soc;tl-r,;cst al ong the s h oulder a.n3 elite:" on s outheast sido of
emer gency Lmding strip . The transit is on t he e dge of t he strip
at -st at ion -1?.·-· + )0..
h.gurc.: 60. Vio-v;,r alonu_: southeast side of emergency landing strip
from station 0 + OO, l ooking northe<.cst.

l''.i. 1_;uro 61 . Center line of l andint; s trip 1200 feet

f rom northocJ.St end, before construction..

'I
68
 ii'igurc 62. I.coking northeast along t.on of talus
slop~ opposite station 25 -1- 00.

Figl1rc: 63 . Viow from odgu of cmergoncy lancling strip at station

25 + 00, looking northrn:ist. ~·It. Dundas socn in
c:.istancc .

69
11• SI'.l.'E

a. Loco.ti on. The soloctocl si to is on tho southeast side of the 1;ln.cio.l

vnlloy, po:i·O.Y'foT~-bo ·che 1000-foot ridge and about 1000 foot from tho too of the
('alus slopo. Seo .figuro l+9 and fie:,-uros 58 to 63 inclusive. Tho avoro.go elo-
viition is 100 foot and tho bob.ring If77°F, b~- l~stro compass. Tho southeast end
of tho strip is on o. ·!;erro.co which drops to tho southern shore of North Sto.r
bay just south of tho landing beach, Tho northeast ond is on a gently rising
slope of a lm-r l:noll in the valley botton.

b. Surfo.co o.ncl soil~ (l) Tho ground in tho o.roo. is covered with loose
:ro.vo!, r10.t stone6-, o.ncrgro.ni to boulders (4 foot or more i'l'.l diameter) lying
~nor noo.r the surfo.co. Tho only vegoto.tion consists of o.ren.s of tundra,
olunps of eraso in low or wot areas, and moss on slopes of knolls c.nd terraces.
Seo ficuros 6h 8.ncl 65.

(2) Soil is stro.tified according to tho size of material. · Tho larger,

heavier stones lie on tho surface with gravel bolow, then sn.nc.l vtlth silt, thon
clay resting on tho pormo.frost tr..blo. See subpo.ro.gro.ph c belmv. Hore and
there, pockets of clay ho.vo beau forced to the surface by frost uction nnd the
crouncl is lo.eccl with cracl:s in irroguln.r polygonal po.ttorn. Those cre.cks are

F'i[.; uro 6~.• Gravel o.lmg northwest side of onorqmcy

landing strip, soon froT:l station l ; 00.
70
 ...

J:i'igm·e 65. Typical ground sm·::;:i.co o:t landing strip

site, with drainag0 lines and clumps of
moss.

'illod vr.Ltll ~noss or clumps of grass. Soil which has no pockets of clay or sUt
\o act as oincling m0.torial is 1 ooso and dries rapidly; thoroforo it cannot be
:ompactoc1 1\ ) ' m.:ual mut110ds.

c. Test holes i11 ) errn.'.lf!'os t. Bef oro c-onstJ'uction , f ive test holes vrnre
iug o~i t!1o sitc·;-C-O.i:l'.:=:c1rtanC1-:-0:itl1nt of so:il tynes from the surface down is in-
Jc2:~cd bc1 cnr.

ld to 24 j_ 1chccs - Well-gradod clean sand 2.nd gr .::.vol with fow fines.

0

Larger grc.vel and rrtones on top

6 inches - S.:i.nd containing excess of silty fines
3 inches - Silt and fine s c:.ncl of l uw com)rcssibil:i.ty
.3 inchos Clay and sUt of lmv compres sibility
- Permafrost table o.nd grolU1d wator

71
Figure 66. View of stations 11 + 00 to 14 -1- oo, show:ing
t errace and drainagG b olow tho emer gency
l anding strip and gr01md-surf acc conditions.

Figure 67. View of cut alone; s out hwest s ide of emor [r,ency
soft ground and dra inage .
+
l an di ng strip o.t st.:i.ti on 0 00, show:ing

72
 5 feet - sand and Gravel

d, Terrn.in, ground water, and drainage. The terrain drops gradually to-
rd the Vc:1ffeyr3-··-c;er1~Ger-fn a serj_es o1'1o;rl r01.mded t.erraces, with small ponds
,1 tho foot of ca.ch terrCJ.ce and other indications of ground-vm.ter drainage.
:~e highest of tho terraces, 0~1 which the landing strip was constructed, slopes
in a northerly direction (o.t an azimuth of about 60 degrees from the strip for
'.:U-ee-fourths it::; length) to the lowest point on tho strip. From this low
1oint, r;rmmd rises gently to the north and northeast to a low rounded knoll
1~d the foot of "tll8 talus slope. Between the strip and tho foot of the talus
o.re small poncls, from which surf ace and ground-water dro.inago crosses the strip
at the o.nglc of ·~ho general ground slope. For about 300 feet from tho toe of
;nc talus, the grm.mcJ. carries considerable vm.tor o.nd shows evidence of movement
cc.used by dro.inagc.:: and pressure from tho slope. Sec figures 66, 67 ,. o.nd 68.

Firsure 6u. DrainagG across the emergency lc:i.nding st.rip

at st::Ltion 23 + 00.

73
 Figure f:r;;. Fill alone; c0ntor lino of strip o.t stations
llfoo to 14/oo.
18, FI'Nii.L cmrSTRUCTIOW Lli.YOUT

a. Description. (1) Tho strip wns la id out 150 feet wide with 50-foot
shoulders -;-m1cf4,000 foet long with 500 foot on tho northeast end prept.l.red o.s
:m approach. J... 200- by L!.OO-foot parJ:.:inr.; oroo. was located on tho northwest side
of tho strip 11otvmori. sto.tions lfoo and 5/00. Di-t;chos were to slopo frora tho
shoulder (lt 7 to 1 v1ith a. tacl:-slopo of 2 to 1. Tho surface of the strip vms
to be sloped l~- percent from right to loft should.er, o.nd tho sa.m.e slopo carried
ncross tho pc,rk:i.ng aroo.. ~\;\:; station 3L~foo, tho lovrost point on the loco.tion,
n double culvert of' fuel drums was plan.nod to co.rry hro1.llld o.nd surfo.ce dro.inae;o
from the talus southon.st of tho strip.

(2) Tho finc.l s ra.de on tho strip required r-i.. ro::dmurn fill o.t sto.tion 34/oo
of 6 foot (fig f:f) ). Tho t-werago fill was from 2 to 3 foot. .A slight cut was
nocosso.ry a.long -tho southeast side of tho strip at station 26.joo. Tho south-
ov.st sido arnl end o:b sto.·bions o/oo to 2/oo required o. deep cut (fig 67 ). This
ox.posed tho por1,JB.f'rost 1:1.nd vro.s oxpoctccl to result in loss of the first 200 foe:t • .

( 1) Grado on cantor lino.

---··-
Stations ofoo to ll+foo /o.24 percent
Stn.tions 14_,loo to 34/oo -o.Li2 percent
Sto.tions 3L1foo to 45/oo I o.s1 percent

(2) Vortico.l curves.

Sta ti on 11.~/oo 450 feet

Station 34/00 900 feet

74
 Sto.tion o,loo 97el0 feet
Sto.tion tl.~/oo ioo.12 foot
Sto.tion 3hf.oo 92.68 feet
Station 1+5fOO 99.53 feet

(h) 'l'oto.l ostima.tcd volume • .

-·- ~·----,---·-

85 ,000 cubic yn.rds

19, · ii.C'.i. Ul1.L CONSTRUCTION

1

o.. Equipment schedule, (1) After tho site ho.d boon choson o.nd prolLtln-
ary s"urvoys-mi2n.O.you:-& completed,. construction was dolo.yod until ossentio.1
oquipmont vrns tu1loa.dod n.nd rolco.sed from initial Vfoo.thor Bureau oporc.tions.
Tra.c-Gor:::; vmro shifted ·t;o tho landing strip construction n.ftor work ho.d pro-
gressed on tho unloading at tho bench,, the noving of supplies to tho ·:Tco.thor
Duroau, o.nd propr.ring of tho building sites, Tho i:;rader o.nd o.ir compressor
(figs 70 to 73 inclusive) vmre n.vo.ilablo t\t all tines,, tho fatter being used by
tho Uoo.thor lJuroo.u when not in uso at tho landing strip,

Fi c;uro 70.· Southwest end of em.orgonoy lo.nding strip, looking north,

Crn'.rprossor is soon o.t station lfOO, ·

75
 I
I

Figure '11. Compressor bcdng used to compact fill

from stations 1 -/- 00 to 8 +
00.

F'i Gur c 72. Scra:;:x:r oper ating in pit on southeast

side of omt-rgc,ncy landing strip a t
s t ation 1 -/- 00.

76
 l!'iguro 73.. Scraper in pn. on northwost side of
omergcncy t2..nc1J · 1~; s-GI'ip ;:rt. station
11 -/- 00 to lL.j. ·I- 00, looking east.

(2) '.i'ho follm~-.Ln.g is n schud.ulo of equipment usod in dt'.y and night shifts
during the first 9 dD.ys of construction. On the. ev(;ning of 11 August 1946, D.11
&quipmont boco.mc av2.il:::.blc for construction on a 24-hour basis.

Date liight shift

3 August 1946 None 1 rooter

4 August l scraper 1 scraper

(nftornoon only)

5 August 1 scraper 1 scraper

1 dozer

6 August 1 scraper 1 scraper

7 Au.gust 1 scrape:r 2 scrapers

1 dozer

l scrc..per- 2 scrapers
1 dozer
1 grader

9 August 1 scraper 2 scrB.pers

1 e;rador l dozer
1 grader

77
 Dato Day 3h.ift Night shift

10 August 1 scr0.per 2 scrapers

1 gr<'-dor 1 dozer

11 .1ugust 2 scrapers 2 scre.pers

1 grader 1 doze!'
1 grc_-:.der

b. Equit)mont-hours. 'l'he foJ.lmving Hi an o::r0ii11.:·.t:.:, of equi;Jment-hours

s?CffG on lr;nd.ing.:..str:Lp construction from 3 ..~ugust to 22 ..i.ugust 191+6:

Hours

B.ootor 12
Scro.pars 570
Dozer 320
Grader 220
Compressor (Hours of usage not ostimated. This equipment
(was er;1ployecl for a short time when blasting
(boulders, and again for sover~l days ( in lieu
(of rollers) to compact filled. earth.

c. Usr_; of oquil)mont in specific operPtions. (1) The rooter was used

onl~· :i_'o:c oreakin_; the-·ori:..;-Inill -e;rom1d surface in prop3.ration for the fill.
s.je fj.g1trc 74.

(2) 'l :.1e scrn.pors T;or 0 required to make o:nly short he:uls or circuits aver-
1

2.ging frorr. 600 to 1, 000 foot, <::.s mo.terial usoct for the fill w2.s to.ken from the
sides of tho l.:cndi!lg strlp. No difficulty was experienced in strippin'_; un-
frozon gr,:iv0l to tho permc.frost. Figures 72, 73, 75, and 76 show equipment
·.1orlcing in borro-;1 pits, rend illustrate soil and permafrost conditions in tho
pits,

(3) .~ doz•.:-r vm.:_; used to clear boulders from the site, cut ditches from
Ponds o.~1d from ti10 soHtho:c.st end of the strip over the terrace, and cu-C, o.nd
shape ditc~1ss :J.ong t!1u strip. OccasionoJ. r 1 ifficul ty was co.used by ;nud in nnt-
urai dro.j_ne..go cho.n~1ols and tlEiidng of peril".:' . .'rost .

(4) T!"ie gr.dcr Yrc.s used for finished gr2.ding, and for shaping Cl. roJ.d from
the 'ooc:Lch n.:1c1. ~'- J.onc tho strip.

d. Blasting boi.11ders.Trm men COiTm1cnced blo.st ing granite boulders on 5

·•\l.gUst and finishccr:'Clj"(i<.;ys.
lfost of the bolll.ders lay just below the Sllrfo..ce
an~ were o:::-~·)Qsod by che rooter. Plasters vmre used on the majority of them,
bnu.i, a fG·;,- roau:Lred drilling. TNT and C-2 wore used, th0 latter being profcrr..od
Yt i •

i1c domolit:Lon men boc2.uso it was eo.oior to handle and give better results.

78
Fi gnr o 7L~. Northw·est s:Ldu of omcr gcnc;)r l:ind.ing
strip 2.t st ation 30 + 00, showing
surfac e broke n by thG rooter.

:i..n b orrow pit on southeast side

~:ou rnnfros t
of emer gency 12.nding strip f r om stations
1 -f 00 to 3 + 00.
79
 .' ~. :

-o, Onlondo.r of pl"ogressl"

· :; August 1946 Uork begun on pre~arntion ot site.

12 August Grnde, 150 feet 'Wide, eompletod to station 8./oo.
South approach completed.
16 August 1iTork dono on grade, 150 feat wido, at station
17./00. Ditch and shoulder prepared on south-
east side of strip from station lfOO to
20100. .
18 ~ugust Vfork done on grade, 150 feet wido, at station
18,150. Shoulder slopos to grade on northwest
side or strip,
22 lo.ugust Grado completed to station 23/00.
Notoa Estimated completion do.te wns 30 August 191+6.

Figure 76, Clay ruid oil~in borrow pit ·on ·n-ol"thwest side
of €1!ll.orgenoy landing strip at station l3foo•

80
 V"4!:°1fq TIC~L ,_,D.,,llVe
ANTCNNA

.JY're

-'TORAGC
D RADIO AND ADMIN.

------ - -
0 INS TRUMLNT
0 I \ ~HELT£~
BARRACKS

SKETCH
WEATHER STATION
THUL£,GREENLAND
Scale 1:..100'
No conlo~r ;,,fervotl

1',igure 77. Plan.of Weather Bureau station near Thule, North Star Bay, .Greenland .
 Section V. C()i,: STHUCTION OF VVEATHER BUREAU STATION

20. PHOJEC 'f

In conju•10tion with .Qr.er a t1:_~E..J.foE.~k, the US Weather Bureau selected a site

and und"lrtook construction of a principal meteorological station near Thule,
Greenlm1d, during the summer of 1946. Future plans call for establishment of
a supply depot fr\W1. which a satellite station can be set up and maintained.
Figure 77 shows tho layout of the sta tion and facilities.

21. C.~11P SITE

a. Lor;at:i.on. The site chosen (figs 78 and 79) is on the WtJSt slope of a
low eTovatT0ri-no.a:c the center of tho glacial v1;.lley, 1/2 mile from the landing
beach on the south shore of North Star Bay and about 10 miles from the glac ior
at the head of the valley. The altitude is approximately 100 feet.

Fi2~ure 78. V\\w.thor Buror:rn camp site and r Lit.ids from bouch.

82
 Figuro 79. Vioo.thor Buroo.u loo· '; i·.)n, viowod £'rom beyond
tho st1tull stream n . ."·;hJast •J f tho camp.

b. Duscr5.;tio:t. (1) The top of the elevation is rocky, and th0 slope
on which tl~c"71m?-;~;_-s built js covered with moss with considerable water o.nd
tundra towo.rd th" botto'.n. Permafrost is at a depth of 12 to 18 inches. The
ground is glacial till, composed of rock, gravol, silt, 1:1.nd ice. Areas near.
streams on the base of slopes are covered with tundra.

( 2) The follo1·Jine; ground conditions were noted when holes were drilled
for ra.d.io towers and guy 1 i11es.

(a) In areas of heavy moss, the frozen ground lay about 1 foot below the
su:-face u:i.der moss and soil.

(b) In areas of coarse gravel and scattered clumps of moss, water and
?ermafrost were fl>und 2i
feet below the surface.

(c) In sandy soil, on the lower part of the slope, water and permafrost
i.cre about l~ feet below the surface.

Z2, FACILITIES

The camp was planned to houso 15 perma!lent Weather Bureau employees and also
~r~nsient ?ersonnel, and to con tu.in the equipment required to operate and main-
19.in the base station and ?roposed satellite station. The summer schedule for
946 called for construction of' the following buildings:

83
 2 prefaor.icated steel huts:
1 ro..dio and administration
1 tral".,sient quartc ' ·s
3 prefabiicated barr~~ Gl
1 quarters and moss
1 trapsient quarters
1 storage and office
3 double Jamosway huts (or a total of 8 huts):
ull .for storage
1 garage and maintenance shed

23, PBB.SmT:TEL

Thu cv.mp w;:..s built by Weather Bureau personnel with assistance from Seabees
md Aviation Engineers.

s.. Seabees. The Seabee crew of one officer and nine enlisted men worked
... ·-···· --
· -~·

on cau"lp co:1struction only and almost completed the huts and barracks. These
structures v;ere finished by Weather Bureau 'nen. As u.nloading progressed, men
from the be:::tch crew li'.iere assigned to assist in installation of the radio tovvers
(figs 80 and 81).

Figure 80. Raising radio antenna towfJr.

84
 Figure 81, Line of ·poles on dire~tional a~tenna
fur BV!8, Greenland. Boaring is S39030'E
for 3, 500 feet. Ice cap is visible at
extreme right.

E_. ~.Y}:.~:~~~oq_,.~!:u:;.~~_r;~C:.9.£..3-· 1~ night-shift crew of six Aviation Engineers as-

sisted moving suppl io:ls rl.uring tho unloading. As the work progressed, the en-
tire detccchmont of twenty-two vnrked on construction of barracks and instullo.-
tion of diructionul radio antenna.

24. WORKING AHRANGE;~;IENTS

D1ring most of tho constructi rm , work was o:p. a one-shift basis. ~Jleals were
eaten aboard cl1ip becuuso there were no facilities for transporting hot food
from ohips u.nd K-i'Cttions provGd unsatisfuctory. So much time was lost ·travel-
ing to and fro-:1 r:ic:c<.ls tho.t thu working day averaged only about 6 hours.

The follr.ming uquipment wo.s used:

l D7 Caturpillar tractor and scraper, used to prepare building

sitas
1 crane, usud to ruise rudio towers
l compressor, us·::>d wj_th excavation tools and jack hammer to
inGttdl ru.dio towers and antenna
2 tractor-mounted fork-lifts, usod to sort and move sup 1?lies

85
Fig;w.~ e 8:2. Fou.11.dt:..tion fill and posts for prefabricated
b· trre.cks (quarters a.nd mess) .

Figure 83 . S•rnth end of prefabricated barracks

(quart Grs and mess) with storage
barracks se 0n in background.

86
 Figure 8t1. Interior of prefabricated barracks
(quarters and mesa).

Figur ~ 5. Celotex iTot.n·- insulation and sUb1l.oor

in orofabrioo.ted barracks (quarters
and, muss).

87
 2:.· _Pro_p_~'.r...:~tigp__ _£.f building sit~. Each site was stripped by a dozer
which cleared tho moss and ground to the permafrost. The hole was then back-
filled with sann and gravel by a scraper, This fill {.fig 82) which covered
fill area slightly largor than the building, was from 1 to 2 feet thick and in
genero.l followed the g;round slope. No special care wa.s taken in leveling tho
fill·

b. Bui 1.dine;s. Descriptions llnd specifidations of the principal buildings

are ~;iv,.:in~·Tr~··-:tlu,:;-following subparap.;raphs. Construction details va~iod v:ith thG
typo o.nd pur;:)Qsc: of the structure, and two kinds of foundations wore used.

(1) ~2:'.t,5.f.r.:i:2ricatod barracks (guartGrs and mess). (l::) ~· Barracks,

portable, precut, 20 by 48 foot; insulated. Soo TM 5-9617.

(b) Modific'..J.tions. 'l'he structure was built with additiomi.l B-unit, muk-
Lg the comploto ...,.buii"cflng 20 by 56 i'cot. It was modified .for arctic use.

(c) Foundation. '.L'he site was stripped and sand-fillod ( 18 to 24 inches

to perm~fr·;·;,-:ry:-Holes were due; through the fill and about 6 inches into the
permafrost, and 6- by 6-inch posts set in place in accordance with instruc-
tions in T~1;l 5-CJ 617. See .figure 82.

(Q) F~:~~E.· 'I'.be standard floor .framing was strapped to the foundation as
prescribed. Celotex, 3/4 inches thick, was cut and placed on the led§;crs of
the floor :fru.min;;, allowing an air space m1der the floor (fig 85). Ono-inch
strips wero nailed to the underside of joh'. s to koep the Celotex from .falling
out. Standard pl;ywoocJ. floor panels wore b.il and w'.l.11 f'ra.·ning constructed.
The floor was finished with a. layer of 30-pound felt, then 3/4-inch furring
strips, th<:Jn -.mothor la;.rc:ir o.f plywood and 30-pound felt, and then covered with
1/8·inch Armstrong 1 :LnoJoum <Jementod in place.

(e) Walls. Horizontal sheathing, 1-inch, was a'Jplied on the outside

lialls and covered with 30-pound felt and 1-inch siding. The inside walls were
finishod with Kimsul blan~cet insulation and 1/2-inch wallboard.. Plywood,
ordinarily used on the outside of walls, was laid over the wallboard on the
inside, u·1 to the height of the window sills. Wall framing was standard with-
out angle bracing.

(f) Roof. Trwrnos and rafters prescribed for standard barracks were used
for tho ro.of'[fig 86) and 1-inch sheathing anplied. The roof was covered with
50-pound roofinP.; paper, but no laths were placed ovor the paper..

(g) Ceiling. Kimsul insulation was tilaced between the trusses and raft-
ThirtY:-pou.nd. folt wa3 laid ovor the insulation, and the ceiling finished
3/4-inch Coloto:~.

88
Figure 86. Profabric&tod barracks (quarters and mess)
..... ..:+i.... ""''' ..... .('I .: ....... _ _ ..... ,..,. _ _ _ _ ,r. __ ....__, .... +..: - -

storage barracks.

89

'
 (h) DcGrs o.ncl vD.nllows. ;)oors wcro or str.ndard typo o.nd only one end of
tho tuTl·U'i.1'G h•td fl.;loor-.-x storm door w::i.s to bo installed la.tor. '.Vinclows were
of substituto r-:luss furnished with the profo.bricr.tocl barracks. Those were to
be re:;:)lo.cocl ·when ru.orc sui fo.blo m::i.torinl~ be co.mo · n.vo.ilo.ble.

(i) Miscollo.noous. Louvers nerc-J not used in tho ends of tho building,.
Eight f ocd;-a"E-ci!iOond of tho structur•3 vm$ to be pa.rti tim10d off for o. washroom
and vosti1Julo. ~t vms plo.nnod to subdiyidc tho living section into s:..:a.11 rooms
vii.th pa.rtitions 6 inches from floor r.nd', ceiline;. Kitchen and mens 'Nore to be
locc.tod in tho end i'J.oxt to tho vesti'hul9. ··c;a.t wus to bo furnished by one
l-0 1 000 Btu per hour, oil lmrning, spr-.ce . he<. . ·~or o.nd ono cociking stove~ a No 5
brrrry coo.l rO.llf,O•

(2) !Jn.rro.cJrn (storc,f;o ). (o.) ~"-. Same as prefabricated barracks

(quo.rte rs D:'ildmo ssl~.--~·-·-
(b) Modifications. The structure wri.s built with o.n additional B-unit,
makin1ttho com.ploto i)uilcling; 20 by 56 foot. It wa.s only slightly modified.

(c) F oundo.tion. The site wus not stripped or bo.ckfillod• :east holes
were due r.cl f3famlarc1 6- by 6-fuot foundf.tion posts installed. Soe figure 87.
(<1) Floor. Stand.D.rd floor ')O.nols •woro lo.id. Tho only o.ddition to the
floor st:rncti.:ii:O vro.s tho doublin2; of the ·tvto' longitudinal 2- by 4-inch joists
on co.ch sido of tho contor. Plywood pnnols, 1/2 inch thick, vroro lo.id for
flooring. Uo insulo.tion vms used.

(o) ";la.lls. Outside wnlls wore composed of 3/8-inch plywood, 11 layer of

)0-pou_'Dd fol t, and 1-inch dding. Walla wore not insulated or lined inside.
Sto.ndo.rd vmll construction vro.s used wi thou-~ ancle brn.cing.

(f) Roof. Sto.nda.rd rc.ftors a.nd trusses wore used (fig 88 ). Plywood,
3/8 inch thicJ:, was J.D.id on tho roof and covered with 50-poutl.d roofing. ThJ.s
roof, v:hich v-m.s built in accordo.ncc vrith the plans furnished, did not a.pper.r
to bo so.tisfactory for A.retie use. Tho truss c..nd rafter structure wus weak
nnd tho pa.nr:>ls of plyrrood sa.ggod between trusses.

(g;) 9oil~nc;. :No ceilini:; was plo.rm.od,

(h) Doors c..ncl ·windO'ws. Sta.ndo.ru doors wero plo..cod in both ends of tho
building a.nd -iiii.1clows of substitute glo.ss wore used.

(i) Miscellanoous. Louvers were instr.Hod at both onds of this building.

Part of tho struc"'.'forO'"Wc..s to bo po.rti tionod off for office use, insulated, o.nd
hoatod by o. 6o,ooo Dtu per hour, oil burning, spa.co hoo.ter.

(3) Prefv.brico.tod bo.rro.cks (trc.:r.siont quD.rtors ). (~) Typo. So.mo as

profo.brico.tod bnrra'CkS-rquo.rtors- '.:1.nd r;:o'Ssy;----

90
:~1 'ie;u.re 88. VimY of' storage barracks, showing roof
construction.

Fi gure. 89. Fom1d3.tion posts ror prer ~:·.c ricc.-c.a a.

tr J.ns:Lunt b;;.rra cks.

91
 (.£) ;~~dif~_E~~· This building, intended to house transient person-
iel, was built with an additional B-unit, maicing tho c omplete building 20 by
;~feet. Modifico.tions wero approximately the same as for the quarters-~nd­
~JsS barrn.c}cs.

(.,£) Foundations. Tho si t o was stripped and back-filled with sand !ll1d
iravel. E~):i OS wcro dug through the fill and about 6 inches into tho perma-
;rost, and 6- by 6-inch foundution posts sut in. place (fig 89). This site
contairwd oxc o ssivo ground water which wn.s not drained out.

(Q.) £lo(~. Tho floor was the same as in the quarters-and-mess barrackc;
,x~e;_)t th,rl:; t his building did not have the 3/4-inch Celotex and air space w der0

the st'.m(b.rd f'l oor.

(~) Walls. Yfri.11 framing was standard with out angle bracing. The outside
wall was co:nposod of 3/8-inch ply1.v1)od) a. L--,:;r of 30-po-und felt, and 1-inch
arop siding. The inside was lined with iZL'. ,u.l blan·:et insulation ar..d 1/2-inch
heuv0rboard.

(£) Roof. '.;.'ho trusses and. rafters wore of standard construction. Ply-
;;ood, 3/8 incl; thic:C, covered with 50-oou.."ld roofing, was used on the roof.

(g) Ceiling. The ceiling was finished with 1/2-inch beaverboard on the
rafter3. Ea-insulating blanket or felt was used.
(h) Doors and windows. Doors and v;indows ·were standard. Only one end
of the-bi.1i1ding hb.d a door.

(i) d iscella.neous . In most respects, this building was of the same con-
struction ·;s--ih~-othor-quarters-and-mess type buildings. Arta."lgements for
heating, cooking, and othe r f~ilities were the same. Louvers were installed
in each end of the buildbg. tee figures 90 and 91 for outside views of the
structure.

(4) Prefabricated steel hut (radio and ad.ministration). (~) ~~ Hut,

steel-arch-rfO:-us-N07'vy ;-20 by 48 foet.

(b) Modifications. This hut was built a.s designed, with modifications
ii: ins;lation !:l.nd floo·; for arctic use. Seo figure 92.

(c) Fou:.dation. Tho site was strioned of sod and moss and back-filled
With s;1d ~:J:;~c1ci"i::Wol. Th o permafrost t~bio was 8 to 18 inches below tho sur-
faco, The snnd-f'jJ.l was from 8 to 24 inch es thick. Tho foundation had 4-
by 4-ir.ch sills 'Ni-Ch 2- by 6-inch sleepers running lengthwise under t hom. It
Was nec(JSSCLry to dig sand and gravel from b,_ croon tho sills to got n1Uterial
to bring thom up to thu corroct level.

92
Figure 90. North end of trrmsient barrack&.
Emergoncy landing strip seen Lri
dist:mce at base of ridge.

Figure 91. South . ::nd of transient. b2rracKs.

93
 Figuro 92. R<'ldio and adminis-t;ration hut in process
of construction.

1..-- - - - - - - - - - - --

Figure 93. Foundations, double f1.oor, and gcner;-:tor

foundation of r adio m1d administration hut.
94
 •

(tl) F'loor. Sto.ndn.rd floor structu.r.o wo.s lo.id and 1/2-inch plyvrood panels
,5 tal!0d,-·"'11ii'rty~pou11d folt po.per appiied, then 3/4-inch furring, thon
1 '
,0thor 1/2-inch 1)lyi;ro od floor, then o.nothcr lo.yor of fol t 1 o. nd finally 1/8-
ich A,rmstron[; linolou:m. Soe figure 93•· ·

(o) L~ch soctio:?.1s. Two layers of Ki':rasul insulc,tion wero laid betrrnon the
·0s of thO"C:'rch. T'hirJcy.,pound :folt vvu.s. placed, longthvr.i.so with the hut, over
~e tibs and tho metal sheathing put in place.

(£) Doors and vvindmvs, Doors and windows wore standard, the windows
:eing of sUi)Sti tute" ~lass.

(c) Miscollo.noous, Ono ond of this building vms ptlrti tion.od of'f for the
~sto.l!o.tim10f "b:.ro ~crntor uni ts (fig 92 ), A 10- by 12-foot fro.no exten-
don no.s built en tho gonor~.tor end of tho hut. The muin section of the struc-
;JJ'e vra.s to be heated by a 6o,ooo Dtu por hour, oil burning, spa.co hon.tor,
is buildine; was plmmed to house ro.clio o.nd weather equipment,

(5) Profubrj_catod stool hut (transient quarters). (a.) Typo, Sar.i.e as

:refo.bricatod stecl 11'.ut (re.dio and ~d..."llinist"rntion).

(b) Modi fi ca. ti ons, So.me as profo.bri co. ted stec l hut ( ro.di o and o.drain-
!strc.tTon )-;--

(c) Founcle.tion. Tho sit~ wa.s stripped u.n<l filled with sand a.nd ;~ro.vol
18 to TI+ i11chos- cloop, '.l.'his fill wo.s not sufficiently level. Tho 1+- by €-inch
'irdors noro lo.id flo.t vrj_th 2- by 8- by 12-inch pads placqd at 8-foot intervals and
at the joints. Deco.use the :fill was off-L; .-0 1, it vms necc.sso.ry to remove an
ixccssi vc ru::1ount of mo.torio.l botwoon the gj_rdors along one side of tho building
to briri.g tho cirdors to gro.dc. Seo figure 94.

(d) Floor. Sc.no o.s for prefabricated stoel hut (radio nnd adninistra.-
tion).-

(e) liXch sections. One layer of Kimsul insulo.tion was lo.id botwoon the
ribs of thourc11. Two lo.yors of 30-pound felt woro lo.id. ovor this o.nd also
oot¥mon tho ribs. '.['ho metal shcn.thing wc.s insta.lled in prescri bod r:ianner. Soo
fisu:re 95.

(f) Doors and windows, So.me o.s .for prefa.brico.tod stool hut (radio c.nd
adninistra.ti-onJ •.,___ _

([;) Miscello.noous. This stool hut, which wns to be used for quarters
Ql\ly, was to ·be fie-o.tod with two 6o,OOO Btu per hour, oil burning, space hea..t-
:rs,
•

95
Figure 94. Foundations for tr2.nsient hut.

figure 95. Transient hut ne~.lring completion.

96
 (6) other strL;d,ures. (a) Shod on r£'.dio anc'. administration building.
,rr::.me shucl;-16 -b;i·12·· feet, was built as an c:-.dclitionto the-r2. cli0 c.~nd adminis-
:ra~i on buil dii ir,; •

1. Sj_lJ.s., Lr b~r L1. inches, with 2- by 6-inch box and 2- by 4-inch joists
:)aced 2 feet on center, woro useci for floor framing.

2. The floor was of rough 1- by 6-inch boards, covered with 30-pound folt
"1d 374-i..Ylch furring and finished ·with 1/2-inch plyvrnod.,

3. 'l'ho outsi(}J i,,nJ.J.s were of 3/4-inch Celotex, JO-pound felt, and drop-
siding.

4. ri'hc :inside wall was lined with 3/8-inch pl;yvwod and tho ceiling with
J/4-inch Celotm~.

5. The roof was of 1- by 6-inch '.Joards coverud ·with 50-pound roofing

:;aper.
(b) Gen.Jr,'.".tors. The end o;f the ro.dio o.nd o.dministr2.tion buHding, onto
Jlich tho snod vrro.s built, w:::,s pn. rti tioned 12 f cot from thu end bulkhead for a
iener<::t;or roO:i1.· Two gonerators (fig 93) wlth tho following specificat.ions Trero
installed:

Signal Corps power unit. PE 207...:B gener.:itor, GE ac model

12G660, type J~T-1, fr.:~c 9HiE, 3-ph2.se, 60-cycle,
1 3 .7.5 kv?., 220-volt, 49.?-:'.m~, 1200 rpm;
PmK:r, Int,cr::.10.t:Lon::.l H;;.rvo;J·~ ~'.:.' U.D-9

'.he Uoor o.nd flo or framing wero built around t.ho gener<:. t.or foundo.tions which
consistoc)_ of ti,-rn 10- by 10-inch t rabors, 6-1/2 feut long, with tvro !+- by 6-
bch pieces l ~J.id boue:J.th J.s spreo.ders. The 10- by 10-inch timbers wcru indc-
pendunt of tho floor rmd ffx:tunded about an inch o.bovc Door levol. The sond-
fill on tho peru:1frost wo.s G to 12 inches thick under tl1e f oundntions.. i.. few
d:J.ys nfter j..nstolldion, t~·lG f oundntions vroro off level by l/~. inch in 2 fcot.

(c) Sign."'.l Corps sholt,or. pref Qbricntod Signal Corps instrument

shclkr 5-1/'l<'I:I "Tfig "96 ) 1-io:SS-ct up on tho crest of the knoll near tho radio
and o.dministr;.~tion building~

(d.) Jamosway huts. Two Jamcsvmy huts irnre built bet-aeon tho storag,:, be..r-
racks and tl1o-~:K~dlo and o.r1J.ninistro.tion building.

( e) Hefri gurated box. .~ 1.50-cubic-f 09t refriger".ted box (fig Tl) was
c t up-nox:no t11e qiio.rl::urs-and-Dess bttrracks.

97
Figure. 96'. Prof.e.b ricated SignE'l Corps instrument
sheltGn

Figm:·<J 97. Ii.efr:L,sGr [ttod box, l SO-cubic-foot

capacity.
 u.. .f..£1:.mdations. ( 1) Without posts. The preparation of the building
sitos-by romr.>val of soil a:·1d bu.ck-filling was done in two shifts. If more
timo and caro had boon tc.kon to' level tho fills in sites whore thuro were no
;st foundations, much -Gime would have been saved and bettE:Jr foundations
built. Sottine; tho foundation for the offico and administration hut roquirud
about 100 man-hnurs; tho so.mo typo of foundation was set bY. tho same crew for
th·:i transient hut tn about 75-um.n-hours.

(2) }':[J.._tl-1;_.E_ost·s. Tho post foundation for tho prefabricated barracks

(quarters o.nd mcss}roquir'Jd 50 man-ho:urs and for the storage barracks, 40
man~hriurs. Ground wr;.ttor caused difficulty and do lay in placing the posts for
the profn.bricatod barracks (transient quarters), so that a total of 70 man-
hours vms ruquirod.

£· Buildin~;s. The prefabricated hut '. tranoient quarters) with double

floor was practically completed in 4 days by a crew of 8 men. The prefabri-
cated barracks (transient quarters) was completed, except for ceiling and in-
side details, in 6 days by 15 men. The storage barracks was built by a 6-ma.n
crew who had the roof finished and all siding in place at the end of 7 da.ys.
Several crews worked on the other buildings, but no estimate could be made of
actual time consumed.

c • ~_._t'f~_c t ....2.f.~h-..::!.£.-2!2:....PE? e; res s • Neather was favorable most of the

time. Construction progress was normal in spite of temporary delays caused
bY.vnnu,
. rain, a:nc1 'n0avy I,., og.
,J •

28, UTILITIES

Obser<.'::J.tions by the reoresentative of The Engi::i.eer School did not include the
com9letion of tho camp and all its facilities. The followi:".lg plans for utili-
ties wero rrntlin0d.

u. Y'{§:.·te_r_2~_l:l• Tl1e pluri vvas to use a srnall strea1n about 100 ;yards
from tho ca.mp, aEd also to melt snow.for kitchen use.

b. §an:i;_tat ion. Chumical toilets were planned •

.2.• Ligl~~E.· 2clW8r wa~ to be orovidod by the two Signal Corps genorator
units, and li:~hting furnished by &. 32-vol t battery system.

99
 Section VI. EQUIPMENT i.NJ VEHICLES USED li..T THULE i~iID
NORTH ST..'.J.t J1'S, G~IBEHL!.JQ

~). LIST

Tho follmrh1c oqui:;:iraont f'.ncl vchiclos were used during the opero.tions nt Thule
and Hortl1 Stc.r Jay:

3 tractors 1 Cntor1;illo.r D7, with bla.dos

2 scrapers, LoTournoa.u LS
1 cro.no, Byers, 5-ton
l cro.dor,. Co.terpillo.r Dl2
1 rooter, LoTournenu H3
1 com?rossor 1 truck-mounted, LoHoi, 105 cfm
~- tr[l.ilors, J.i.thoy, 6-ton
2 for::-lifts, trC1.Ctor-r.10unted, 1'D9
2 co.rriors, ca.r;;o M29C
l cc..rrior, co.rgo M29
1 tractor, high-spood (Cletrac)
1 vrcldor, oloctric, truilor-mou.."1.tecl Gil-.300-5
1 tro.ctor, Clo.rl:: o.irborno Ci1.-l (Clo.rko.ir), with blo.de and towing winch

30, CON1JITION

!Jost of the oquipmon.t and vohiclos wore oi-'cher now or in oxcollent condition
vrhon unlo~:.dod, except ns Hotod bolaw. None ho.d any special cold-wea.thor opera-
tion oquipnont.

a.. Co.tor:_:- illr.r i:;ro.c1er. Tho grader, Yrhich n.rri vec1. cro.tod, ho.d :clot boon
inspoctoc(IJ'o"i'orolt Ytc.s IoC'.'ded for shipnont. Uhen 1 t wo.s i..mcrated at tho job
locution, tho following doficiencios woro fou."1.d:

(1) Lael: of lip~hto

(2) IP.cl: of s c'..trifior
(3) IJ:i.c~c of spc.rc po.rts and tools
(1.~) Bent clutch ~)oclo.l, which o.ppoo.rod to ho.vo been hoo.tocl a.nd bu:rnod
(5) Oil-coolint; system uiscormectod o.nd bypo.ssod
(6) Clutch worn c.nd cell a.djustm.ont to.ken up
(7) L.11 tires flf.',t, sovoro.l having boon vulcc.nizod. A 4-inch cut
throu[)l the co.sin.1; of one front tire
(8) ·;Torn-out tooth on tro.vors:Lng-ring gear
(s1) ·Jorn coo.rs in o:rorc.ting trans:ai..ssion

b. Electric welder. One bc.ttery cc 11 on tho v:o ldor was cro.ckod during
tro.nsit.

100
 __ ________ --- --
c, Co:borpillar tro.ctor
, ... • Tho bro.kc shoe on c. power-control unit wc.s
cro.ckocl,

d• Co.rc o co.rrior M29C. Tho stooring unit vras jo.nnnod or worn so tho.t the
10hic!o co-u.ld rwt bo--:s't;:rnocre

31, SPA.HE PiJ1TS

a., Ene;inoor equipment. Tho only ~·ioces of' one;inoor equipment for which
spo.ro-pctrts vroro'sup::~)li o d vvoro tho Ce.torpillo.r trr.ctors. Spare ca.blo vvo.s
avo.ila.blo for both tra ctors c.nd scro.pors,

b. Tires. No opo.ro tires or tubes were o.vailo.blo nnd no tire-po.tching

cquipnon·fofnny kind wn.s provided.

n. Sup•:)lios f or lubrica tion o.nd maintonn.nco. Ho lubrico.nts \-:ere shipped

for tho VOhl;los"aii(i oquiJ)mm-i't.-Oil for cro.:nk case s YK'. S providei from. tho
ships' su;ir ly, Smull o.moturcs of c oo.r grease c..ncl r;rado II gra.phite lubrico.tin~
grco.so (for use insteo.d of GOnoral pnrposo ;;roo.sc) wore obtn.inod fron the om:10
source, So:.:i.o lubrico.nts, C\ S well o.s tires o.~'ld tubes, wore clropp ecl by a.irplnno.
Host of Jcho lubrica.nt wo.s lost bocc.use it broke loos e from tho po.rachuto, but
it r e liev ed t ho n:~i nt on::mco prob lem to son o ex tent.

be Porfor:-.JD.nce of mo.inteno.nco. (1) · .via.tion Engineer r,1ochc.nics 1 who

porfor ned un1irtermico..at th.om1Ci.()f on.ch s,i.i..:Ct, v:oro rosol.U"coful o.ncl did o.
good job in s pitG of tho lo.ck of par·cs, tools,. lubricants~ tires, tubos, and
othor supplies. Those n ochr:i.nios m11into.inocl. tho following 0quipnont1

3 tro.ctor s
2 scrui)ors
1 rooter
l conprossor
l gr~~ dor
l u ol clor
1 hi r;h- sp(50d tr:1.ctor

(2) Dao.ch cquipnon·l; cmd vehicles wore E1cdnto..~.ned by Senboots o.nd Tioa.thor
Buroc.u porsom1ol.

33. OFE.t"l::.'.l.'IOIT ~i21TIJ kiiJli'UWCTIONS

a. Tho oporo.tors of o.11 heavi; o.nd unl.on.ding e qui pment woro qualifj.od men
~rho wore o.ssir_:no cl to the s pecific equipment o.nd opera ted it rogti.lo.rl:y-. '.1. h0 1

.loo.sols, Clo.rl: tr o.ctor, c.ncl hi t;h-spcod tr o. ctor, on the other ho.nd, wore oporo.tod
by vo.rious persons•

101
 b. Usos, r.:o.lfunctions, t:1.nd o.djustmonts. (l) D7 Co.torpillo.r tro.ctors.
(a) 'Thoso- tr:~c"fOrs-'WCrousOd- for unloo.dinf~ during wm.ch they frequo1itly1ind
to o~:orL~to in sol'. vmtor. They wore also us ;(1 for ~)ropo.ro..tion of building sites
und lo.ndinc-stri~1 construction, during which ncti vitios thoy usually worked in
snnd, grc.vol, G.nd mud. Thoy wero opornted with scrapers o.nd rocoi vod rough
trentnont vrhilo striprinr; grlw0l from tho permafrost to.blo.

(]?) Tho following doficioncios a.nd relfunctions wore notods

l, Dlock in st:\rting motor wo.s dofecti ve and coolcmt wo.s found in cra.rik:
c~.so,~lu0 to unlmovm co.uses. Tractor we.s stc~rtod by pushing.

2. Dro.ko shoo on power-control unit wns ere.eked when tractor was received,
This choo wo.s roplo.cocl. by o.. bro.kc shoo from power-control unit or. tho Cater-
pillar o:)or n:bod with blr>.do,

3• Loft steering-clutch roloo.so bee.ring wo.s burned out because tho sroo.so
lino 11o.d bocomo plur;r,od as o. result of impro;?or lubrication. Now boa.rinGS were
insto.llod.

(2) LS LoTournoo.u scre.;_Jers. (a) Tho scrapers wero used for landing-strip
construction c.nd ~.mrT:od a.t '"o.11 times-in sand o.nd grci.vol. Thoy woro subjected
to tho r.wst strain while strip:;.:·inr, por:m.o.f'rost table in pits.

(b) Thero wore no r:10.lfunctions except tho.t tho loft roc.r tiro blew out
throe tinos a

le Tho fi:!'.·st b2.ow-out wo.s ~)robo.bly co.used by oporo.ting vn th law prossuro

rosultin1.~ f'ron o. loo.I: in the valve stom. Tho tire wus rope.ired by using o. boot
ri.D.do fron pc.rt of' o.n oil drun v1rappod in a. section of tho l;lawn-out tube and o.
23-inch r.irpbno tube. This ropo.ir lasted for 19 hours of oporc.tion.

2, Tho soconcl 1)low-out W['.s cc.used by tho boot r inching tho tube. Il.epa.ir
vms m'e:do ·with ho.lf an nirplo.no tai 1-wheol tire used as a. boot, c..nd o.nothor 23-
inch tubo. '.L'lLi.. s rop:dr lo.steel 5 do.ys.

3. ';[hon tho third blow-out occurred, new tiros o.nd tubes ho..d been recoi vcd
by nir-drop.

(3) b'yors 5-ton era.no. (a) The en.no vrn.s used by the Seo.bees on tho
boach ror -un10a~::.frl'E;:.-i°nd o..lso for raising o.ntonnuo towers ror tho rndio in-
ato.llntion c.t tho "iioa.thor Bureo.u station.

(b) No r:inlfunctioi'ls or doficioncios wore noted. Sufficient lubricants

Md boon stored in the cab boforu the era.no vvns lo'.1r1od on ship1)ot:\rd.

102
 (Lt) D2 C:::d;or:;_)illo.r r;rn.dor • (a) The r,ro.dor, which nns ro coi vod in poor
condition,--v;:::\S1.1So"Cl'i'or !'im.shod grudins on ·bho landing strip and for shaping
Cl roucl from boo.ch to lc..nding strip.

(~) Tho folloYiing broo.kdovms o.ncl r.i.o.lfunctions occurred:

1. Tho clutch riodo.1 broke o.ftor l~ hours of O~)Cro.tion. It wus bent and
r,·\cCD.rod to hO.VO boon ho11tod in O.n O,ttompt to stro.ighten it. Ho:;::iair wus rode
~'·:l we 1dint;•

2. The teeth on the traversing ring vrere worn and the ring was slipping.
Teeth-were built up vri th a welder and filed to shape.

3. Tho t;oar-shift fork, used for low and reverse gear, broke. This wns
o.ttrioutod to ·che norn condition of tho grader• Hepair vro.s made by welding
o.nd finishinci viith emery whoel o.nd file.

4. Tho loft front tire blow out. It had a. !1--inch cut through the casing
when tho grader was rocoi vod. No tires or tubes wore available, but o.n ex-
pedient repair \7D.G maclo by welding the whool o.nd tire from a 600-t;o.llon fuel
tro.iler to t ho gro.(1or vrheol.

5. Tho e:;o~'.rs in tho power control box i,yoro worn whon tho gro.dcr vvas
rccoivecl. Those vroro roplncod by using scc.rii'ie'r fork and goo.r o.sser;ibly.

(5) H3 LoTournoo.u roote~. (o.) Tho rooter was used to break ground sur-
face in prep~~r~'-ti®~ i'lU:--c(illctruct:i.on of tho lr\ncling strip.

(!:,) No broo.kclovms or mo.lfunctiohs occurred.

(6 ) LoI?.oi truck-mounted compressor, 105-cfm. (a) The compressor equip-

mcrrt; vm.s used in bTc:Stin~· bouluors o.nd e:x:co.vo.ting for-radio-antonno.e installa-
tion. For sovorc.l cln~rs, tho vehicle was o.ri ven bo.ct: and forth on tho runway
to compc,ct tho fill.

(b) No n:o.li'unctions occurred. Tho principa.1 deficiency VJO.S lo.ck of oxtra

··u1 'bi ts.
(?f £~t_]-:.;:y 6-t~:.:_-~_:o.i~. (_::.) Movonent of supplies from landing craft
to sor·c1nc nreo.. o.nL1 conutruction si to wo.s co.rriod out by Atho~r trailers which
wore o~~cro.tod in soo. ;.mtor 1 on tho boo.oh, und on so..nd and [;re.vol.

(!;:) ~To r:10..l:f'unctions or deficiencies wer0 noted.

(8 ) T:.; Intarnu. tiono.l trn ctor..mou.ntod fork-lifts• (o.) Tho fork-lifts,

0P0 ro.tod by·-~roc..l)Oos- i11l'uiioo.dinc;, sortinG,, nnd moving' supPJ..ies 1 wore mrciroly
so.tisf:c.ctory. They '.mro imlisponsi:.blo in hc.ncUing c.nd sorting m'1terio.l moved
~om .1cho boo.ch, f'..:.J.r1 sometimes transported cT~J~>lios qui to long clistnncos,.· Dur-
~i; installo:bion of ro.dio md;o:rmo.o, o. forl:- l if-t; vrc~s used to broa.k g,T ound for
di tchos by laworin[; a.nd tilting its forks•

103
 ,.

(!;) Tho follovdng breakdowns o.nd malfunctions occurroda

1. Tio :roJ from tho clutch lover of o. fork-lift unit broke because of
poor moto.l or oxcossivoly deep thron.ds, Tho broo.k vms o.t the base of the
throo.cls on 0110 ond of tho rod. (This rod is closignod with a bond in it.)
Rcpo.ir vms accomplished by vwlding.

2. Sturter bondix spring brclco tmd vms not repaired. Tho fork-lift was
stnrtocl by pushing •

.3, Clutch was worn o.nd slipping, possibly duo to oporo.tion of the oquip-
mcnt oiror excessive cJ.istn.ncos with heo.vy loo.ds, or on work for which it was
not intondod.

h. Bushing in front idler burned out beco.uso of incorrect lubrico.tion

and oporntion. No replaconont wus mo.do.

(9) F09 o.nd M29C co.rgo carriers. (o.) Tho co.rgo co.rriors vroto o.ssignod
to the "i'ioo.t11or Buroo.u tmd Seo.boos, and wore used for co:mmunico.tion, transporta-
tion of porsoimol., o.nd for towing tho 1-ton sled. They were operc.ton by vo.rious
persons, sometiI!les o.t excessive speeds t\n<l over rough terro.in. During trips
to tho ice cup, thoy wore dri von ovor oxt:;.~ o:i:oly rugged, rocky torrain, and one
was tried out on tho slopes of tho ico cup.

(b) No nlD.lfunctions wore noted, but all co.rriors showed effocts of ho.rd
use. Ono 1129C had a clofccti vo steering mochc.nism when rocoi ved o.nd could not
be ·(;urned. This doficioncy wo.s not corroctode

(10) H:i bh-Gpood tractor (Clotro.c~. (o.) This trc.ctor wus used for gonero.+
tre.nsporto.tion over rough torroin. No permanent operator was ussi gncd.

(b) Difficulty wns encountered with rocks betv;oon the tro.cks and ro~lers.
The vehicle boco.me stuck in soft i;ro.vol and mud o.t tho edge of o. small pon<l
und ono tro.ck ·wo.s broken. No ropo.ir parts were avo.ilo.blo..-

(11) Tro.ilor-mountod eloctrio welder GR-300-5.- (~) This welder was used
by tho .L\.viution Ene;1neers ' and wa'Sl.ndispensablo.-

(b) Ono cell of the battery 11ms cro.ckod, probably during shipment. The
,uttory vro.s roplo.cod.

(12) CA-1 Clo.rk airborne tractor ( Clnrkair) with blade o.nd towing winch.
(~) i...lthough this· ·&actor was intendoc'. prirno.rily for use by the Woo.ther
ilureo.u on insto.llutions· plc.nned for tho future, it was enployod il'l burying
Cublo, r.ioving small rocks from tho runway, a.nd vo.rious odd jobs.

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 (b) No difficulty Yms encountered except tho.t tho tractor became stuck
in a bog, and its 1'vinch :J.ncl cable were dame.cod when it was pulled out.

34. CONDITIOHS DURING OPEllhTION

!Jo unuRual conditions were experienced during the operation of vehicles a.nd
equipmon~,, and temiJer9.tures were not low enough to have adverse effects,_ A
longer period of opero.tion and obs0rvation would hnve been necessary to deter-
mine results of lubrication shortages and other factors. Difficulties were
attributed to poor condition of equipmen·c before shipment, cv.reless handling
on the job, i:md the 11or:mally anticipated quota of mechanical malfunctions.

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Df"MC O 38·297