under COMNAVSEASYSCOM, the DPD has the
following responsibilities:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Prepare equipment nomination reports to add
approved equipment to the DART program.
Recommend to CNM the approval or
disapproval of nominations for new DART
equipments.
Recommend to CNM that he remove equipment
from the DART program list when SYSCOM or
PM recommend and justify removal.
Brief CNM and the executive director for DART
quarterly on the status of the DART program and
DART equipment.
Disseminate the initial and quarterly update of
each approved equipment approvement
program.
SYNOPSIS OF DART IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM PROGRESS
This section is addressed to the engineer officer and
discusses some of the more important DART programs
now in operation. You can find additional information
about other DART programs in the current quarterly
progress report on improvement programs for DART
equipment.
THE 1200 PSI BOILER PROGRAM
This program has been designated as the No. 1 fleet
material problem. The major problems are premature
failure of boiler components, unreliable boiler controls
and instrumentation, lack of operational experience,
inadequate maintenance equipment, poor
documentation, and lack of spare parts. The program
covers over 90 ships and about 375 boilers. All 1200-psi
boilers and related equipment and the feedwater and
combustion control systems are included. We have
started some corrective action to reach some short-,
intermediate-, and long-term goals. These will reduce
the material condition index, average repair time, and
average time awaiting parts.
The milestones that show slippage are mostly
caused by funding delays or a temporary lack of
manpower, but we are making satisfactory progress.
Most procurement actions are now in the contracting
stage and several contracts have already been signed,
Ninety percent of the RDT&E efforts are now working.
We have completed many SHIPALT proposals while
others are in process and probably will be completed
shortly. PMS-301, the 1200-psi steam propulsion plant
project office, has assumed management control of this
DART program.
THE FIRE PUMP IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM
The goal of this program is to increase the
reliability of fire pumps on all surface ships and the time
needed to repair them. Most of the problems are in
maintenance rather than design. Because fire pumps are
used in severe and continuous service, a comprehensive
maintenance program is required. We plan corrective
action to increase parts support at the stocking
activities, fill onboard allowance lists, and gradually
upgrade pump-part material. We will measure success
in terms of increased operating time between failures
and less time waiting for parts.
THE AIR COMPRESSOR IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM
This program covers about 3500 ship’s service air
compressors in the active fleet. The problems are
recurring failures, high repair cost, repeated overhaul,
and logistic problems in getting repair material. The
principal causes are obsolescence, mandatory
maintenance requirements to prevent fires and
explosions, severe duty cycles, short compressor life,
and shortage of replacement compressors and parts. To
correct the problems, we plan to replace obsolete and
defective compressors earlier and to correct
deficiencies in design and material support. We are
continuing research and development and
standardization work that produces useful elements that
we key into the compressor improvement program. We
are getting replacement compressors at no cost to the
fleet. We hope the TYCOMs will bear the installation
costs.
THE FORCED DRAW BLOWER
PROGRAM
This program covers about 2000 forced draft
blowers in the active fleet. The problems are recurring
failures, high cost of repairs, and erratic performance of
controls. The principal causes are difficulty in making
repairs, high cost of maintenance, and lube oil
contamination of vertical barrel-type blowers. Also, we
have identified various design deficiencies in the
control and lubrication systems. We are finding specific
deficiencies, and we are developing and implementing
corrective actions at a rapid pace. The program provides
7-18
