[ARC5] Degaussing Field and B-18's

[Roy Morgan]

On Jan 5, 2012, at 4:05 PM, Rick wrote:

> This discussion has caused me to become very interested in the  
> subject of degaussing in general.
> Can anyone recommend some sites to visit regarding the degaussing of  
> ships and aircraft, particularly during the WWII period?

Rick,

The Naval History and Heritage Command may be fruitful for you:
http://www.history.navy.mil

Also,the Fleet Imaging Command holds historic films and photographs:
(I can't easily find a URL for them.)

This picture of a ca. 1943 ship shows the degaussing cables on the  
outside of the ship:
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/s200000/s286588c.htm
(Click picture for larger version.)

Other ships retrieved with the search term "degaussing" are shown with  
the coils on the outside of the hull.

This instruction includes one item:
Degaussing Cols, energize when danger of being mined or torpedoed  
(paragraph 727)
http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/warinst-index.htm
Which is:
"727. Ships equipped with degaussing coils keep coils energized with  
appropriate settings at all times when there is danger of being mined  
or torpedoed."

This link about the Enterprise
http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/e4/enterprise-viiid.htm
says:
"The ships’ four degaussing motor generator sets were removed and  
overhauled. Degaussing “demagnetized” Enterprise, protecting her from  
magnetic mines and similar threats."  (I am pretty sure this was the  
previous Enterprise, not the one we have now.)

No doubt the history command has some books, instructions, or  
technical analyses specific to the systems with more information than  
just that they were mounted on a ship or that a degaussing slip was  
constructed.

Roy

Roy Morgan
k1lky at earthlink.net
K1LKY Since 1958 - Keep 'em Glowing!