Fusing Thermite Charges on Large Iceberg. In the most delicate and hazardous operation of the iceberg mining test, Lieut. Commander Robertson P. Dinsmore, USCG, Executive Officer, International Ice Patrol, connects a detonation cable to the electric fuses on a stack of thermite charges. At right preparing other charges are assisting Coast Guardsmen (l to r) Robert F. Wallace, Boatswain's Mate 2/c, of 200 Bay Village, New Bedford, Mass.; Lieutenant (jg) Thomas F. Budinger, of Winnetka, Ill., and Ensign Robert W. Dudley, of Liverpool, NY. Each of the thermite charges is a sheet metal box 21 inch
Fusing Thermite Charges on Large Iceberg. In the most delicate and hazardous operation of the iceberg mining test, Lieut. Commander Robertson P. Dinsmore, USCG, Executive Officer, International Ice Patrol, connects a detonation cable to the electric fuses on a stack of thermite charges. At right preparing other charges are assisting Coast Guardsmen (l to r) Robert F. Wallace, Boatswain's Mate 2/c, of 200 Bay Village, New Bedford, Mass.; Lieutenant (jg) Thomas F. Budinger, of Winnetka, Ill., and Ensign Robert W. Dudley, of Liverpool, NY. Each of the thermite charges is a sheet metal box 21 inches long, 15 inches wide by 1 1/4 inches deep, containing 28 lbs., of thermite. Each was packed in a protective wooden box making the total unit weight 55 lbs. The thermite, a mixture of powdered aluminum and iron oxide, is an incendiary charge. When it burns it can produce a temperature of 4,000 F. degrees (half the sun's surface temperature) and molten iron is released which acts as a heat reservoir for the combustion of related materials. Actually it is not an explosive. Ignited on ice, however, thermite is extremely dangerous as it react in a unique way resulting in a great explosion of steam and hot molten iron. One known fatality occurred in use of thermite in icebreaking operation off Pt. Barrow, Alaska, some years ago.
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Keywords: 17-a2-187, 26-, coast, guard, history, job, rdss, rg
