Martin,

I've also done an isolated LORAN tour (Kure Island, Hawaii from
1980-1981) as an engineman (we call them MK's - Machinery Technician's).
But Kure was a "Gilligan's Island". Thoroughly enjoyed it, but was
island happy by the time the year was up and was glad to leave. I was
able to do an overnighter on Midway Island after about 8 months on Kure.
Wish I could go back, but the LORAN Station has been shut down and
leveled (for the most part) and the island is now an animal sanctuary
watched over by the State of Hawaii. You have to get special permission
to go on the island from the state.

Extinguishers won't freeze stuff when used like they're supposed to. I
actually tried to cool a six pack of my favorite beverage one time with
a CO2. Nadda. However, if you take a container of the liquid and drop
a ball, insect (don't ask me how I know), hot coffee, etc., you get some
interesting results. Same thing with halon (back then we didn't know
about the ozone damage from it). You can spray someone down with CO2
and it won't hurt them, but will scare the hell out of you if you're not
expecting it (again, don't ask me how I know this). The noise and white
"smoke" will make an internal mess of your pants, if you know what I
mean. If you get a flake of CO2 on you you'll feel it; but it's not
really what I'd call painful. It evaporates pretty fast. If I'm ever
on fire (God forbid), please feel free to spray me down with CO2 or halon.

Dave Young



Martin H. Eastburn wrote:

Great! I'd spray myself or you down if we were on fire. with CO2 I'd
jump into the sea. Ever see what CO2 does to a rubber ball - shatters
it.

Also aboard ship, as in those, rollovers might inject water into
compartments
and freezing water from CO2 might do as much damage as the fire.

A cousin of mine was a Loran Radioman - His station was mid pacific.
His island
was smaller than the 110 WPB you mention. Just coral heads with
sand. We met him
one day when the 'fleet' was in and brought him food and swapped
partial crew and
gave all a day off on our island - 1.5 miles long, 500 yards wide and
6 ft. (yes ~2M)
tall at the highest. We fed him after we looked him up - better than
the local
food hall.

Best Regards,
Martin