Noise: Fountains are very loud but
the news is that the new Halters have a very quiet exhaust
system, but I have found that another boat can't really hear
us while underway until we are right on top of them, which
is then too late for them.
Weapons: The side mounts can handle
any of the SBU crew served weapons, but the M-60 MG is best
because its light weight and more ammo. Keep in mind that
the HSB's best weapon is their speed and tactics. HSBs can
carry a AT-4 stowed aft lashed down. This weapon has to be
fired from the forward compartment at slow speed or stopped
for easy to understand reasons.
Night Vision: NVG goggles at this
time.
Crew Duties and training: OIC is the
driver and throttle man, the Chang is the guy that takes
care of the boat and runs the drives and trim tabs while
underway. The Navigator, navigates.
OIC Training takes about 6 months, only
because it takes that long for most guys to get used to the
timing and hand coordination with the throttles. The
throttles are separated from transmission because there is
always a lot of throttle movement and in a lot of cases the
throttles are brought back to the stops. This would be real
hard on transmissions. Parking is real easy, just pull the
throttles down to idle and work the transmissions like you
would a normal set of drives.
The Navigator must do a complete PLO with
the OIC and be able to operate all Nav gear in dark while
getting beaten to a pulp.
Chang: Obviously the engines, but
learning to work the Trim Tabs and drives is critical too.
The bow pitch is controlled by the throttle
and drive angle. The higher the drive angle drive setting
the higher and lighter the bow. The Chang must control these
settings or the bow could porpoise through the water. Drive
settings are something that changes with different sea
conditions. Basically drives IN for getting the boat on step
and going into a tight turn. and drives OUT some where mid
range for open ocean running depending on sea state. The
Drives OUT as far as possible for best speed and highest
RPM.
Keeping in mind that if pulled up too far
the engines over rev and the boat will slow down. The Trim
Tabs work to keep the boat on step by acting as a brake and
forcing the bow down. Once underway the tabs will come up
and act as a extension of the water line. The tabs can also
act like a aircraft ailerons where by a left turn the right
tab will be brought down and left tab brought up. At the
same time the throttles will be push forward through turn.
In a fast tight turn at the boats Max performance, the
passengers usually get thrashed good on this turn.
Maintenance: God we spent an enormous
amount of hours prepping the boat and Post op. But the ride
is worth it!
GMG1 Brian Eschbuagh
