New .50 Cal For Kingston Class?

[navymich]

Actually just a small vent blowing warm air from the ship into the tarp would make all the differance, of course it would need a shut off valve.

Wouldn't something like that just dry any water, and therefore sea salt, onto the equipment?

 

[Colin Parkinson]

One of the ongoing problems in a marine environment is condensation caused by temperature changes, this has a habit of concetrationing the salt content and increasing the corrosion. Either having dryer warm air from the ship interior or having a heating element in the equipment (sometimes accomplished by keeping it powered up). There is the old saying, use it or lose it, vessels and equipment at sea are like woman, they hate being ignored.

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

Or we could keep cleaning the weapons and make it more frequent.

 

[Kirkhill]

If you just blow hot air over exposed metal on the deck then you will get the result airmich talks about (salt concentration on the metal).

If you just seal the device in a baggie then you get the problem that Colin talks about (condensation).

You have to do both.  You have to both seal the device AND keep the contained air dry.  

The air can be kept dry by:
- using dessicants and regularly replacing them (probably every few hours at sea),
- installing a heater (although without insulation that will give you IR hot-spots),
- circulating cabin air (which is warm and humid and would likely cause more condensation inside the sealed container even with good insulation, as well as increasing the IR signature)
- or else you dry the circulated air first by super cooling it over a condenser and then blowing it into the weapon containment system.

The final option would be my preferred solution.

Cleaning and testing will always be necessary but it has been my experience that often equipment is most adversely affected NOT by regular use but by regular maintenance.  More damage occurs with people taking things apart and putting them back together again than ever happens when they are employed doing what they are designed to do.

 

[George Wallace]

See....now this is probably a good time to look at the Chaingun...... lots of grease to keep out the moisture.  ;D

 

[navymich]

If you just blow hot air over exposed metal on the deck then you will get the result airmich talks about (salt concentration on the metal).

Thank you for reading my post Kirkhill, because you know:

...vessels and equipment at sea are like woman, they hate being ignored.

:

 

[Colin Parkinson]

aimich
I take you disagree with my equating vessels with woman? 

 

[ghazise]

In regards to storing deck mounted weapons at sea, if you use a canvas gunbag (non-plastic treated) soaked in lube and a healthy amount of lube on machine-gun this low tech method works really well at keeping away the effect of condensation, sea spray and air.

 

[navymich]

In regards to storing deck mounted weapons at sea, if you use a canvas gunbag (non-plastic treated) soaked in lube and a healthy amount of lube on machine-gun this low tech method works really well at keeping away the effect of condensation, sea spray and air.

With all of that goo on it, are you going to be able to use it right away.  For example, if the ship went to action stations, are you going to be able to take the cover off, load the weapon and start firing right away, or is it going to need to be cleaned off a bit first?

And these suggestions are good if you have the chance to keep the weapons covered, but depending on what state you are in, it could mean that your guns crews are on notice and the weapons are uncovered and ready to go, but out in the elements for extended periods of time.

 

[Navy_Blue]

Should be able to lock and load right away.  The only thing the oil should contribute is more smoke from the barrel and housing.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

With all of that goo on it, are you going to be able to use it right away.  For example, if the ship went to action stations, are you going to be able to take the cover off, load the weapon and start firing right away, or is it going to need to be cleaned off a bit first?

And these suggestions are good if you have the chance to keep the weapons covered, but depending on what state you are in, it could mean that your guns crews are on notice and the weapons are uncovered and ready to go, but out in the elements for extended periods of time.

They did this for years during the battle for the Atlantic, but yes it does mean more work. Mind you with the modern metal coatings and materials used the wear and tear can be reduced.