The bi-rail hoist lowers a spider to mate with the
highline (fig. 5-31). The highline is tensioned at 18,000
strongback that raises the missile from the centerline
to 20,000 pounds during ship-to-ship replenishment
elevator. After the strongback is raised and secured to
operations to hold the weight of a load of about 5,000
the hi-rail hoist, the hoist is moved to align with the
pounds. The highline stays tensioned even when the
hi-rail tracks. At this point the bi-rail hoist can turn the
distance between the two ships changes and when the
missile around (180), if necessary. The need for
ships roll toward or away from each other.
turning the missile depends on the receiver ship's
strikedown equipment.
The highline winch (fig. 5-31) has a
200-horsepower electric motor. The motor operates at
Component Lift
440-volt, three-phase, 60-hertz power, and 180 amperes
when working at a full load.
When the hi-rail hoist has the missile centered over
the component lift, the component lift arms swing out
A hydraulically operated antibirdcager is installed
and mates with the strongback. The bi-rail hoist
to keep the wire rope from tangling during operation of
unlatches and returns for the next missile. The
the UNREP winches. This unit keeps a steady tension
component lift raises through the hatch to the main deck
and onto the transfer head where the strongback is then
on the wire rope at the winches.
connected to the trolley for transporting. The
The ram tensioner (fig. 5-31) is a unit that helps the
abovedeck equipment on the delivery ship is comprised
of a kingpost, a transfer head, a tensioned highline, and
highline winch operator keep the highline tight. When
the ram tensioner.
the ram tensioner cannot haul in or pay out the
highline fast enough to keep the correct tension, the
Highline Winch and Ram Tensioner
highline winch operator hauls in or pays out the
highline to help the ram tensioner maintain the correct
The trolley travels between the delivery and the
tension.
receiving ship on a tensioned wire rope, called the
Figure 5-31.--Highline winch.
5-49
