Metz, France

SECRET

The main erection of two MPS-14 convoys was undertaken in two days due to the fact that a concentration of manpower could not be obtained for more than that length of time, and only on these days.

Before the erection began, certain preliminary details had been completed. The two convoys had been checked physically to ensure that all components were there. The outrigger legs pedestal feet and hex ring had been removed from their trailers and approximately positioned on the hardstand. This constituted the only preliminary work done before the actual erection began. During the erection, no gin poles were used, but on Lorraine Crane and two "A" Frame trucks were required for the two convoys.

Personnel employed on the erection were split into two separate crews, each crew working on their respective hardstand, one Flying Officer supervised the two hardstands while a Flight Sergeant and WO2 were in immediate supervision over each one. The crew under the WO2 consisted of 3 trained airmen who had previous experience erecting the MPS-14, 3 airmen who had no previous experience but are Radar Techs, 10 airmen who were non-technical staff and 4 French Air Force NCO’s who spoke no English and had no previous experience on the erection of the MPS-14 – a total of 20 personnel. The crew under the FS consisted of 4 trained airmen who had previous experience on the MPS-14, 3 airmen who had no previous experience but were Radar Techs, 10 airmen who were non-technical staff and 3 French Air Force NCO’s who spoke no English and had no previous experience on the erection of the MPS-14, a total of 20 personnel. On each crew there was one French speaking Canadian who acted as interpreter for the French Air Force NCO’s.

The actual erection began at 1800 hours on 15 Aug and work stopped that day at dusk (2015). Work was resumed at 0830 hours 16 Aug till 2015 hours and again at 0830 hours 17 Aug until 2000 hours. On both 16 and 17 Aug approximately 3 hours each day were consumed for lunch and dinner. By 2000 17 Aug the main erection of the two convoys was completed. The shelter huts were both up, however no internal electrical wiring had been done. One convoy’s horn assembly had been completely focused and all Antenna framework cables had been connected. Approximately half of the cables to the operations building had been laid. The other convoy had not been focused and no cables had been laid to the Ops building. The total actual working time for the erection to be completed was 19 hours and 45 minutes. It is felt that had another six hours been available the two convoys would have been fully operational providing no electronic difficulties were encountered.

The main problem in the erection was that of hardware to assemble the Antenna and base. This consisted of first finding the right nuts and bolts at the time required and secondly there was some hardware supplied which was the wrong size. One example of this is:

Fig and Index No. 2, 2-72 in TO 16-30FPS6-14 – Part number COML Screw Cap: Hex head; SS 3/8 in 16; 1 – ¾ in. lg. Ea 8

These items were found to be too short and too thick in diameter. This item was found to be wrong in all three convoys No. 26, 29 and 30. The problem of missing and incorrect sized hardware was solved by having the correct size manufactured by a local French machine shop and by substituting used bolts from the convoy wherever safe and practicable. This did slow the erection to some extent.

The following pictures give a pictorial account of the erection. The first section of photographs shows a step by step sequence of the erection, while the second section shows peculiarities of the erection and some faults noticed.

(JG Ford) F/O
Rad 1