Importance

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Abstract

Apparatus for recovery and launch of secondary watercraft such as SALM bases, barges and the like onto and from the deck of a host ship, comprising a pair of elongated inclined skid beam assemblies extending transversely across the host ship defining a pair of parallel skid paths spaced apart longitudinally of the ship, each skid beam assembly comprising a stationary skid beam section and a hinged skid beam section. The stationary skid beam section has a substantially rectilinear skid surface spanning a major portion of the width of the ship's deck and extending in an inclined plane relative to the deck defining a wedge-like skid formation converging toward a side of the vessel for slidably supporting the secondary watercraft during launch and recovery thereof. A hinge block supports the hinged beam at an end of its associated stationary skid beam section adjacent a lateral margin of the deck for swivel movement about a pivot axis lying in a vertical transverse plane and extending perpendicular to the inclined plane of the skid surfaces of the stationary and hinged beam sections.

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First Claim