The topside of a surface warship near you could soon start to look a little like a suburban driveway, judging by a Navy announcement that said the fleet plans to field waterproof equipment covers like the ones used by weekend gearheads to protect classic cars.
Naval Sea Systems Command says the covers will protect sensors, weapons and other exposed gear from salt spray and rust, saving the time and money that would’ve gone to their upkeep. In early tests, the covers reduced corrosion by 90 percent, said command spokesman Chris Johnson.
The first ship to get the covers is the Norfolk, Va.-based destroyer McFaul, and the Navy plans to spend about $6.2 million to field about 80 of them for each surface ship.
The covers are the latest brainchild of the Surface Ship Life-Cycle Management Activity, which is charged with getting the most life possible for non-nuclear surface ships.
“This is an excellent example of how the Navy is leading the effort to ... minimize the use of volatile organic chemical cleanup agents and to save taxpayer dollars,” said Rear Adm. James McManamon, NAVSEA’s deputy commander for surface warfare.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/09/navy-equipment-covers-combat-corrosion-091910w/
