Boats - Sailing - Ships

Sep. 09, 1955 - Navy Trials Cruiser Returns to Britain. Anti atomic warfare test have been carried out off Malta by the British trials cruiser Cumberland, which arrived today at Devonport (Sept. 28). Photo Shows: - Water sprays fitted around the ship thoroughly washing the decks and superstructure, a method of protection, which would be used in war to keep ships free of radioactive particles. This method of protection, known as pre-wetting, would be employed in ships operating in the fall-out area or on the outer fringe of a region affected by an atomic explosion. It involves the continual washing of all weather surfaces of the ship during and after exposure. Experiments have shown that fission matter is less likely to adhere to a surface while it subjected to a system of salt water washdown. While the system is operating, the ship company remains under cover, and continues to control weapons and con the ship from between decks. All openings are closed and would remain so until conditions on the upper deck had been ascertained by geiger- counter. An officer concerned with the technical problems of pre-wetting has stated Our aim was to produce a local rain storm exceeding the heaviest tropical downpour

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Adhere Affected Ascertained Atomic Concerned Continual Continues Cumberland Decks Devonport Downpour Employed Exceeding Experiments Exposure Fall-out Fission Fitted Fringe Geiger Heaviest Involves Less Likely Method Openings Operating Particles Problems Produce Radioactive Remain Sprays Stated Subjected Superstructure Surfaces Thoroughly

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