Thursday, October 23, 2008

B-52 Salvage Operations Continue



OCT23-01:SUPSALV

B-52 Salvage Operations Continue
By Naval Sea Systems Command Office of Corporate Communications


WASHINGTON – The U.S. Navy’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) directorate, continues to provide salvage and fleet support during B-52H recovery operations near Guam.

The B-52H Stratofortress bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean on July 21, killing all six crew members. SUPSALV, at the request of the U.S. Air Force, is providing direct technical support by recovering key aircraft components to assist in their investigation.

“The SUPSALV Recovery Team completed eight dives with more than 20 hours of bottom time since returning to the site on Oct. 17,” said Michael S. Dean, Deputy SUPSALV. “We returned after we re-engineered the Remotely Operated Vehicle CURV21, making it even more efficient for the operating environment. The field engineering efforts are really paying off; as a result the USAF Accident Investigation Board is pleased with the debris field video and hardware recovery that has been completed to date.”

The Recovery Team has faced numerous challenges in keeping the ROV functioning, but work continues to increase the productivity and bottom time of the vehicle. During one recent dive the vehicle spent 11 hours on the ocean bottom surveying the high concentration area of the debris field, yielding three priority items; a large and small tail section actuator and the elevator control surface.

These efforts directly support military readiness and sustain the core elements of our nation’s maritime strategy of forward presence, deterrence, sea control and power projection.

- NAVSEA -

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