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thedrifter
02-12-04, 06:10 AM
'Wolverines'revive old technology for modern missions
Submitted by: MCAS New River
Story Identification Number: 2004211105340
Story by Sgt. Arthur Stone



MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C.(February 11, 2004) -- Sometimes simple solutions to antiquated problems work for modern "issues," if you ask the Marines of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron-29. Presented with the problem of extending the mission range of the CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters flown by Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-263, the Marines of MALS-29 needed to find a feasible solution.

The solution came in the form of 14 Vietnam-era internal auxiliary fuel cells, stored away in dust and cobwebs in a warehouse on Camp Geiger, that belong to MALS-29, according to Staff Sgt. Curtis R. Cronin, a helicopter dynamic component mechanic with the squadron.

Pilots at HMM-263 recognized the need to extend their mission range during Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to Cronin, a native of Homer, Alaska. Cronin said they requested the refurbishing of the auxiliary fuel tanks by the Marines at MALS-29, with a desire to have them ready by January. Cronin and his mechanics went to work.

"What these tanks were originally for was before the 'bull frogs' came along with the longer fuel cells prior to Desert Storm," said Cronin. "They used internal auxiliary tanks during Vietnam then broke them out again during Desert Storm. They quit using them again after the war and sent them to Defense Reutilization Management Office (DRMO) in the late 1990s."

"Bill Jennings, the main Boeing technical representative on the Station decided they could be fixed and used," said Cronin. "They were distributed to MALS-26 and MALS-29. Now there is a big push since Operation Iraqi Freedom, because they need them."

The Marines ordered all new parts for the tanks, to include fittings, pumps, hoses, valves and gauges, according to Lance Cpl. Jason Kovach of Williamsburg, Va.

"When we got them out of the warehouse, they were pretty nasty," said Kovach. "They were rusted, dented up and covered with cobwebs and a layer of dust."

The work started in September and continued until the end of the year, according to Cronin.

"You are looking at 10-hour days from October through December to refit them," Cronin said. "That's quite a few hours. All of them are going to be finished and in RFI (ready for issue) status. We're going to continue the push to sand, repair and paint them, until we get them all back in service."

Cronin said the mechanics put in about 500 hours of work refurbishing several of the tanks to get them ready for use. This included unbolting the end plates and crawling inside the tanks to scrub down and remove every ounce of dust, dirt and corrosion.

Once the tanks were cleaned and corrosion control measures completed, they were fitted with new parts and strapped onto skids, according to Pfc. Daniel Thomas of Galena, Ill.

"We have four tanks left that we'll eventually paint and put back together," said Thomas. "It takes a lot of time."

"From what I've gathered from the Marines who have used the internal auxiliary fuel cells in the past, they are useful," said Cronin. "Weight is a factor, but they extend the flight range of the CH-46s so the CH-53s don't have to take fuel bladders out to refuel them. “By using the auxiliary fuel cells it also keeps them from having to use extra Marines and extra equipment to man a refueling station.”

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/2D79A910FDEC9FF085256E3700574FC0?opendocument

Sempers,

Roger
:marine: