TESTS OF 24-HOUR CLOCKWORKS AT FORT BELVOIR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-03642A002500040050-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 22, 2011
• Sequence Number: 50
• Publication Date: April 24, 1956
• Content Type: MEMO

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/22 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO02500040050-5
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CONFIDENTIAL
24 April 1956
P'~V~ 9D FNNITEA V
SUBJECT . Tests of 24-Hour Clockworks at Fort Belvoir
1. During the month of February 1956 fourteen 24-hour clockworks were
tested at Fort Belvoir for leakage resistance, functioning and accuracy. The
work was done at the Demolition Test Area of the Mine Warfare Branch by
25X1
2. This testing was conducted as a result of discussions with TSS/WAD
concerning the possibility of using the 24-hour c'ockwork with the Sea Pup.
TSS/ED was advised that the depth requirement would approximate 200 feet of
water. Hence, all testing was conducted under combined air and water pressure
of 90 psi. This pressure is equivalent to 203 feet of sea water and 207 feet
of fresh water.
3. To simulate an operational situation, the units were prepared for
testing by utilizing a firing system comprised of the delay, special adapter,
and lifer M-34 detonator. For safety reasons, the firing pins and springs were
removed from the clockworks. It was found upon5hat assembling the
detonator-adapter combination bottoming of the adapter in the detonator well
occurred. This was corrected by substituting a 7/64" gasket for the original
one used on the adapter.
The adapters were hand-tightened into the clockworks with a 1" x 15/16"
standard machinists open end wrench. Detonator - adapter connections were
made by hand without the use of a wrench. The safety and start-stop glands
were tightened a turn and the cover caps were tightened 2 turn beyond finger
tight.
Before the firing systems were immersed, the delays were wpund and
set for 23 hours 45 minutes with the firing arm outside the drum so that
functioning could be verified,
After 24-hour immersion under pressure, clockworks were given time and
functioning checks and detonators were fired using the adapter and pull-type
firing device.
4. The results of the testing appear on the following pages:
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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/22 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO02500040050-5
CONFIDENTIAL
4.
Unit # True Elapsed Time Clock Reading Error
1 25 hr. 45 min. 25 hr. 43 min. -2
2 25 hr. 44 min. -1
3 25 hr. 44 min. -1
4 25 hr. 30 min. -15
5 25 hr. 41 min. -4
6 25 hr. 44 min. -1
7 25 hr. 42 min. -3
8 25 hr. 45 min. 0
9 25 hr. 43 min. -2
10 25 hr. 44 min. -1
11 24 hr. 12 min. 24 hr. 9 min. -3
12 24 hr. 13 min. 24 hr. 10 min. -3
13 24 hr. 14 min. 24 hr. 3 min. -11
14 24 hr. 15 min. 24 hr. 12 min. -3
Average error
slow
50
3.6 min.
=
* Each and every clockwork completed the test with no functioning
failures/
5.
Unit #
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Detonator End
or
Det nator-Ada ter
x
x
x
x
Cover Ca
x
x
x
x
Adapter-Clock
x
x
w Order Firina
x
*
x - Failure be i nc
* - These detonators were fired successfully 3 days afterrremoved from the tank
It is interesting to note that even though leakage occurred, no
clockworks failed to fire.
ONHHDENflAL
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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/22: CIA-RDP78-03642AO02500040050-5
CONFIDENTIAL
6. The testing of detonator-adpater clockwork combinations revealed
a high incidence of failures with moisture in the detonator well. It was
reasoned by TSS representatives that this moisture entered through the
gasket sealing the detonator adapter connection cr clockwork. Subsequently
however, it was thought that a possihility existed for moisture to enter
through the detonator base. Testing gs now underway to substantiate
this theory.
:jl
-3-
CONEBDENTIAL
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/22 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO02500040050-5