| |
Also, at the end of this section on pyrotechnics, we
provide some basic information on the proper handling
and storage of these devices.
MARINE LOCATION MARKERS
Marine location markers are used as night or day
long-burning reference markings on the ocean's surface.
They are dropped over the side from surface ships for
man-overboard marking, navigation drills, and other
similar operations. These markers may also be dropped
from aircraft for search and rescue operations. The two
marine location markers currently in use are the Mk 58
and the Mk 6.
Mk 58 Marine Location Marker
The Mk 58 marine location marker is the primary
marine location marker found aboard surface vessels. It
is approximately 21 1/2 inches long and weighs about
12 3/4 pounds. It contains a battery squib, some starter
mix, two pyrotechnic candles, and a transfer fuse
between the two candles. Before launching, the tear tape
over the water port must be removed so that seawater
can enter to activate the battery. Battery current
energizes the electric squib, which ignites the starter
mix, which, in turn, lights the pyrotechnic candle. When
the first candle has burned out (in 20 to 30 minutes), the
second candle is started by the transfer fuse, for a total
burning time of approximately 40 to 60 minutes. The
Mk 58 currently is available in two versions: the Mod
0 and the Mod 1. The Mod 0 is a hermetically sealed
can, which is opened with a twist key. Figure 6-5
illustrates this marker. The Mod 1 (fig. 6-6) is capped
with a replaceable polyethylene cover.
MK 6 Marine Location Marker
The Mk 6 aircraft smoke and illumination signal
(fig. 6-7) is a pyrotechnic device that is launched from
surface craft only to produce a day or night floating
reference point. One of its principal uses is as a
man-overboard marker. It was previously approved for
launching from low-performance aircraft as a
long-burning marker but has been replaced for this
purpose by the Mk 58 marine location marker.
The Mk 6 signal consists of a wooden body with a
flat, die-cast metal plate affixed to one end to protect it
from water impact damage and to maintain it in the
correct floating attitude. There are four flame and smoke
emission holes in the opposite end, each capped and
Figure 6-5.–The Mk 58 Mod 0 marine location marker.
6-9
|
