TB 55-1900-232-10

TECHNICAL BULLETIN

U.S. ARMY
TOWING MANUAL

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
30 SEPTEMBER 1991

TB 55-1900-232-10
TECHNICAL BULLETIN

HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
WASHINGTON, D.C., 30 September 1991

NO 55-1900-232-10

U.S. ARMY TOWING

MANUAL

REPORTING ERRORS AND RECOMMENDING IMPROVEMENTS

You can help improve this manual. If you find any mistake or if you know of a way to improve the procedures,
please let us know. Mall your letter, DA Form 2028 (Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank
Forms), or DA Form 2028-2 located In the back of this manual direct to: Commander, U.S. Army Troop
Support Command, ATTN AMSTR-MCTS, 4300 Goodfellow Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63120-1798. A reply will
be furnished directly to you.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Paragraph
LISTOFTABLES ...........................................................................................................
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ...........................................................................................
CHAPTER 1. GENERAL ................................................................................................
SECTION I.
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................
SECTION II.
GENERAL INFORMATION ........................................................... ......
SECTION III. SAFETY SUMMARY.......................... ..................................................

1-1
1-2
1-4

Page
iv
vi
1-1
1-1
1-1
1-8

CHAPTER 2. ELEMENTS OF TOWING-SHIPS AND HARDWARE .............. ................

SECTION I.
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................
SECTION II.
TOWS .................................................................................................
SECTION III. TUGS ..................................................................................................
SECTION IV. TOWLINE CONNECTION ...................................................................
SECTION V. TOWLINE ATTACHMENT ..............................................................................
SECTION VI. TOWLINE COMPONENT MATERIALS................................................

2-4
2-5.5
2-6

2-1
2-1
2-1
2-4
2-15
2-27
2-45

CHAPTER 3. TOWING PROCEDURE ........................... ...............................................

SECTION I.
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................
SECTION II.
PRE-TOW PREPARATIONS ...............................................................
SECTION III. GETTING UNDERWAY WITH A TOW ................................................
SECTION IV. TOW AT SEA ......................................................................................
SECTION V. SHIP HANDLING AND MANEUVERABILITY WITH A TOW ...............
SECTION VI. INSPECTION OF TOW .......................................................................

3-1
3-2
3-3
3-4
3-5
3-6

3-1
3-1
3-1
3-15
3-18
3-19
3-29

2-1
2-2

TB 55-1900-232-10

TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont.)

Paragraph

Page

SECTION VII. TERMINATING TOW ...........................................................................

SECTION VIII. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES IN TOWING ..........................................
SECTION IX. COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN SHIPS ..............................................

3-7
3-8
3-9

3-30
3-31
3-39

CHAPTER 4. SPECIALTOW ...................................................................... ...................

SECTION I.
INTRODUCTION..................................................................................
SECTION II.
TARGET SERVICES............................................................................
SECTION III
INLAND BARGE ..................................................................................
SECTION IV. TOWING IN ICE ..........................-........................................... ...........
SECTION V. TOWING DISTRESSED MERCHANT SHIPS....... ...............................
SECTION VI. UNUSUALTOWS .................................................................................

4-1
4-2
4-3
4-4
4-5
4-6

4-1
4-1
4-1
4-5
4-5
4-7
4-7

5-1
5-2
5-3
5-4

5-1
5-1
5-1
5-2
5-4

5-5
5-6
5-7
5-8

5-23
5-31
5-35
5-35

5-9

5-37

CHAPTER 5. TOWING SYSTEM DESIGN ....................................................................

SECTION I.
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................
SECTION II.
TECHNICAL DATA ..............................................................................
SECTION III. TOWLINE TENSION............................................................................
SECTION IV. TOWLINE TENSION AND CANTENARY .................................. ..........
SECTION V. SAFETY FACTORS, SELECTION AND SIZING OF TOWLINE
LINKAGE COMPONENTS .................................................................
SECTION VI. ATTACHMENT POINTS ......................................................................
SECTION VII. FUSE OR WEAK LINK IDENTIFICATION ...........................................
SECTION VIII. TUG CAPABILITY ................................................................................
SECTION IX. NAVIGATION LIGHTS, FLOODING AND FIRE ALARMS
AND BATTERY REQUIREMENTS .....................................................
ii

TB 55-1900-232-10

TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont.)

Paragraph
APPENDIX A
APPENDIX B.
APPENDIX C
APPENDIX D.
APPENDIX E.
APPENDIX F.
APPENDIX G.

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS IN TOWING .........................................

WIRE ROPE TOWLINE COMPONENTS ............................................
SYNTHETIC FIBER LINE TOWLINE COMPONENTS ................... .....
ANCHOR CHAIN TOWLINE COMPONENTS .................... .................
STOPPERS ..........................................................................................
TOWING HAWSER LOG .... ................................................................
CALCULATION PROCEDURE FOR TOW RESISTANCE
DETERMINATION ...............................................................................
APPENDIX H. CHECK-OFF LIST FOR PREPARING AND RIGGING A TOW ..... ......
APPENDIX I. TOWING PLANS .................................................................................
APPENDIX J. TUG CAPABILITIES ............................................................................
APPENDIX K TOWING MACHINES AND TRACTION WINCHES ................................
APPENDIX L. ESTIMATION OF DYNAMIC TOWLINE TENSIONS ................ ...........
APPENDIX M REFERENCES ....................................................................................
APPENDIX N GLOSSARY ........... .............................................................................
APPENDIX O ALPHABETICAL INDEX OF CONTENTS ............................................

iii

Page
A-1
B-1
C-i
D-1
E-1
F-1
G-1
H-1
I-1
J-1
K-1
L-1
M-i
N-1
O-1

TB 55-1900-232-10

LIST OF TABLES

Table

Title

Page No.

1-1
2-1
2-2
3-1
5-1
5-2
5-3
5-4
5-5
5-6
B-1
B-2
B-3
C-1
C-2
D-1
D-2
D-3
D-4
D-5
D-6
D-7
D-8
D-9
G-1
G-2
G-3
G-4

U.S. Navy Open-Ocean Salvage Towing Ships ......................................................

U.S. Navy Craft Not Recommended for Open-Ocean Tows ...................................
Towing Ships Operated by the U.S. Navy, MSC and U.S Coast Guard....................
Minimum Plate Thickness for Forward One-Fifth of Barge Bottom .............................
Hydrodynamic Resistance of the Towline .................................................................
Elongation of 1,000 feet of 6x37, 2-inch FC Wire Rope ................................................
Operating Range for Automatic Towing Machines on Various Types of Ships...........
Safety Factors for Good Towing Practice ................................................................
Battery Capacity Requirements ...............................................................................
Requirements for Centrally-Located Battery .............................................................
Wire Hawsers Carried by U S Navy Towing Ships ...................................................
Nominal Breaking Strength of Wire Rope 6x37 Class, Hot-Dipped Galvanized .......
Efficiency of Wire Rope Terminations ......................................................................
Fiber Comparisons ..................................................................................................
Synthetic and Natural Line Characteristics .................................................... ..........
Die Lock Chain Characteristics (MIL-C-19944)..................... ....................................
Navy Stud Link Chain Characteristics (MIL-C-24633).................................... ...........
Commercial Stud Link Anchor Chain .......................................................................
Commercial Detachable Chain Connecting Link ......................................................
Commercial Detachable Anchor Connecting Link.....................................................
Commercial End Link ..............................................................................................
Type I, Class 3 Safety Anchor Shackle (MIL-S-24214A (SHIPS)) ............ ................
Type II, Class 3 Safety Chain Shackle (MIL-S-24214A (SHIPS)) . ............................
Mechanical Properties of Shackles (MIL-S-24214A (SHIPS)) ..................................
Calculation of Steady State Towing Resistance .......................................................
Characteristics of Naval Vessels .............................................................................
Beaufort Scale .........................................................................................................
Dry-dock Towing Coefficients ..................................................................................

1-4
2-2
2-6
3-10
5-3
5-21
5-24
5-25
5-38
5-38
B-1I
B-12
B-14
C-3
C-7
D-7
D-8
D-9
D-10
D- 1
D-12
D-13
D-14
D-15
G-4
G-11
G-14
G-17

J-1
L-1
L-2
L-3
L-4

Typical Commercial Salvage/Towing Vessels for Hire .............................................

T-ATF Towing YRBM Barge Displacing 650 Tons .............................. .....................
T-ATF Towing FFG 1 Frigate Displacing 3,200 Tons ...............................................
T-ATF Towing DDG 963 Destroyer Displacing 6,707 Tons ......................................
T-ATF Towing AE 26 Displacing 20,000 Tons ................................... ......................

J-7
L-15
L-16
L-17
L-18

iv

TB 55-1900-232-10

Table

Title

Page No.

L-5

T-ATF Towing LHA 1 Displacing 40,000 Tons .........................................................

L-19

L-6

ARS 50 or ATS 1 Towing YRBM Barge Displacing 650 Tons .................................

L-20

L-7

ARS 50 or ATS 1 Towing FFG 1 Frigate Displacing 3,200 Tons ....................................

L-21

L-8

ARS 50 or ATS 1 Towing DDG 963 Destroyer Displacing 6,707 Tons ...................... .

L-22

L-9

ARS 50 or ATS 1 Towing AE 26 Displacing 20,000 Tons .......................................

L-23

L-10

ARS 50 or ATS 1 Towing LHA 1 Displacing 40,000 Tons................................. ........

L-24

L-11

ARS 38 Towing YRBM Barge Displacing 650 Tons .................................................

L-25

L-12

ARS 38 Towing FFG 1 Frigate Displacing 3,200 Tons .............................................

L-26

L-13

ARS 38 Towing DDG 963 Destroyer Displacing 6,707 Tons ....................................

L-27

L-14

ARS 38 Towing AE 26 Displacing 20,000 Tons .......................................................

L-28

L-15

ARS 38 Towing LHA 1 Displacing 40,000 Tons .......................................................

L-29

TB 55-1900-232-10

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure
2-1
2-2
2-3
2-4
2-5
2-6
2-7
2-8
2-9
2-10
2-11
2-12
2-13
2-14
2-15
2-16
2-17
2-18
2-19
2-20
2-21
2-22
2-23
2-24
2-25
2-26
2-27
2-28
2-29
2-30
2-31
2-32
2-33
2-34
2-35
2-36
2-37
2-38

Title
ARS 6/38 Class Salvage Ship .................................................................................
ARS 50 Class Salvage Ship ....................................................................................
ASR 7 Class Submarine Rescue Ship ....................................................................
ATS 1 Class Salvage Tug ......................................................................................
T-ATF 166 Class Fleet Tug .....................................................................................
ATF 76 Class Fleet Tug ..........................................................................................
Typical Rubber Fenders .........................................................................................
Pneumatic and Foam Fenders .................................................................................
Typical Towline Connection Components ................................................................
Types of Chocks .....................................................................................................
Chain Bridles Using Plate Shackles and Safety Shackles ........................................
Secondary Towline System ....................................................................................
Towing Rigs ............................................................................................................
Towing Rigs (Plan View) .........................................................................................
Towing Alongside.....................................................................................................
Christmas Tree Rig .................................................................................................
Honolulu ..................................................................................................................
Tandem Rig. ........... .............
............................. .................................
Nested Rig in Protected Waters ..............................................................................
Two-Tug Tows ........................................................................................................
Horizontal Padeyes .................................................................................................
Pelican Hook and Chain Stopper .............................................................................
Vertical Free-Standing Padeye ................................................................................
Smit Towing Bracket ................................................................................................
Strap for Emergency Tow ........................................................................................
Carpenter Stopper ..................................................................................................
Chafing Gear ..........................................................................................................
Capstans and Gypsy Head ......................................................................................
Almon A Johnson Series 322 Towing Machine with Series 400 Traction Winch.......
SMATCO Winch ....................................................................................................
Multi-Sheave Traction Winch ..................................................................................
Towing Bitts and Aft End of ARS 50 Towing Machinery Room .................................
Towing Bows ...........................................................................................................
Cap rails...................................................................................................................
Stern Rollers (ATF and ARS 38 Class) ....................................................................
Stern Rollers (T-ATF Class) ....................................................................................
Stern Rollers (ATS Class) .......................................................................................
Stern Rollers(ARS 50 Class) ...................................................................................

vi

Page No.
2-7
2-8
2-9
2-10
2-11
2-12
2-13
2-14
2-16
2-17
2-18
2-20
2-21
2-22
2-23
2-24
2-25
2-25
2-26
2-27
2-29
2-30
2-31
2-32
2-34
2-36
2-37
2-39
2-40
2-41
2-42
2-43
2-45
2-46
2-46
2-47
2-48
2-48

TB 55-1900-232-10

Figure
2-39
2-40
2-41
2-42
2-43
3-1
3-2
3-3
3-4
3-5
3-6
3-7
3-8
3-9
3-10
3-11
3-12
3-13
3-14
3-15
3-16
3-17
4-1
5-1
5-2
5-3
5-4
5-5
5-6
5-7
5-8
5-9
5-10
5-11
5-12
5-13
5-14
5-15
5-16
5-17

Title
Norman Pins ...........................................................................................................
Bulwark Forward Limits ...........................................................................................
Towing Adapters .....................................................................................................
Pear-Shaped Detachable Links ...............................................................................
Shackles .................................................................................................................
Sample Provisions for Emergency Boarding Tow at Sea .........................................
Special Draft Markings ............................................................................................
Securing the Propeller Shaft ...................................................................................
Reinforcing Bottom Plating in Barges ......................................................................
Securing the Rudder ...............................................................................................
Methods for Securing Messenger to Towline ...........................................................
Accepting a Tow in the Stream ................................................................................
Effect of Towpoint on Steering ................................................................................
Norman Pin Use ......................................................................................................
Rigging of Hogging Strap on Ships without Horizontal Stern Rollers ........................
Passing a Tow at Sea ..............................................................................................
Across Sea/Wind Approach--Similar Drift Rate .......................................................
Downwind Approach Crossing the "T" to Ship Lying Broadside to Wind/Sea ............
Liverpool Bridle ........................................................................................................
Use of Liverpool Bridle on Stranding .......................................................................
Tow-and-Be-Towed .................................................................................................
NATO Standard Towing Link ...................................................................................
Williams Target Sled Rigged for Tow with Righting Line Streamed .........................
Available Tow Tension vs. Ship's Speed for U.S. Navy Towing Ships ...................
Towline Forces at Stern of Tow ...............................................................................
Towline Tension vs. Time ......................................................................................
Catenary Tension for 1 5/8-inch Wire Rope .............................................................
Catenary Tension for 1 5/8-inch Wire Rope .............................................................
Catenary Tension for 1 5/8-inch Wire Rope .............................................................
Catenary Tension for 2-inch Wire Rope ..................................................................
Catenary Tension for 2-inch Wire Rope ...................................................................
Catenary Tension for 2-inch Wire Rope ...................................................................
Catenary Tension for 2 1/4-inch Wire Rope .............................................................
Catenary Tension for 2 1/4-inch Wire Rope .............................................................
Catenary Tension for 2 1/4-inch Wire Rope .............................................................
Distance Between Vessels vs. Hawser Tension for 1,000 and 1,800 feet of 6x37 FC Wire
Nylon Rope Grommet ..............................................................................................
Types of Wire Rope Terminations ...........................................................................
Minimum Padeye Design Requirements...................................................................
Sharing Towing Load Between Bitts .........................................................................

vii

Page No.
2-49
2-50
2-53
2-54
2-55
3-4
3-5
3-7
3-9
3-11
3-16
3-17
3-21
3-24
3-25
3-28
3-33
3-34
3-40
3-41
3-43
3-44
4-2
5-5
5-7
5-8
5-10
5-11
5-12
5-13
5-14
5-15
5-16
5-17
5-18
5-22
5-27
5-30
5-32
5-34

TB 55-1900-232-10
Figure

Title

5-18
Example of a Flooding Alarm Schematic.................................................................
B-1
Popped Core............................................................................................................
B-2
Bird Caging ..............................................................................................................
B-3
Kinks and Hockles....................................................................................................
B-4
Re-...........................................................................................................................
B-5
Wallis Brake ..........................................................................................................
B-6
Nomenclature of Wire Rope ....................................................................................
B-7
Measuring Wire .......................................................................................................
B-8
Poured Sockets FED Spec. RR-S-550D Amendment 1 ..........................................
D-1 Types of Chains and Connecting Links ..........................................................................
D-2
Detachable Link with Identifying Marks for Assembly ..............................................
D-3
Typical Method for Modifying Detachable Chain Connecting Links for
Hairpin Installation ..................................................................................................
E-1
Typical Stopper .......................................................................................................
E-2
Half Hitches ...........................................................................................................
E-3
Crisscross Fiber Stopper .........................................................................................
E-4
Crisscross Chain Stopper .........................................................................................
E-5
Double Half-Hitch Stopper........................................................................................
G-1
RH/I vs. Tow Speed .............................................................................................
G-2
Rs vs. Wave Height and Wind Force ...................................................................
I-1
Towing Plan NO 1--Chain Bridle with Chain Pendant ..............................................
I-2
Towing Plan No. 2--Wire Bridle with Wire Pendant..................................................
I-3
Towing Plan No. 3 Christmas--Tree Rig, Chain Bridle .......................................
I-4
Towing Plan No. 4--Christmas--Tree Rig, Wire Bridle .............................................
I-5
Towing Plan No. 5--Honolulu Rig ..........................................................................
I-6
Towing Plan No 6--Four-Barge Tow Ready for Streaming ........................................
I-7
Towing Plan No. 7--Chain Bridle and Pendant in Christmas Tree Rig .....................
I-8
Towing Plan No. 8--Flounder Plate........................................................................
I-9
Towing Plan No. 9--Plate Shackle and Pin for 2-inch Closed Socket .......................
I-10
Towing Plan No. 10--Plate Shackle and Pm ..........................................................
I-11
Towing Plan No. 11--Plate Shackle and Pin ............................................................
J-1
Tug Bollard Pull vs. Towing Speed for lugs with Controllable-Pitch Propellers and Nozzles
J-2
Anchor-Handing/Supply Tug ..................................................................................
J-3
Point-to-Point Towing TU g ......................................................................................
J-4
Salvage Tug ............................................................................................................
K-1
AAJ, Inc. "250 Special" Automatic Towing Machine (ARS 6/38 Class)......................
L-1
Six Independent Ship Motions .................................................................................
L-2
Extreme Tensions (Curves 0 to 24} .........................................................................
L-3
Extreme Tensions (Curves 25 to 49) .......................................................................
L-4
Extreme Tensions (Curves 50 to 74) .......................................................................
L-5
Extreme Tensions (Curves 75 to 99) .......................................................................

viii

Page No.
5-40
B-2
B-2
B-4
B-4
B-6
B-8
B-9
B-13
D-16
D-17
D-18
E-3
E-4
E-4
E-5
E-6
G-15
G-16
I-2
I-3
I-4
I-5
I-6
I-7
I-8
I-9
I-10
I-11
I-12
J-4
J-5
J-5
J-6
K-7
L-2
L-11
L-12
L-13
L-14

TB 55-1900-232-10
CHAPTER 1
GENERAL
Section I. INTRODUCTION
1-1. PURPOSE.
Clearly, the primary mission of the Army is defense rather than commercial ocean towing or rescue salvage. It
should be emphasized that U.S. Army ships are not designed to be in the commercial ocean towing or salvage
business.
Section II. GENERAL INFORMATION
1-2. TYPES OF TOWING
The Navy recognizes several distinct types of towing which will be briefly listed here and discussed in more
detail in the following paragraphs. These include:
a. Harbor or inshore towing-both barge towing and docking (berthing)
b. Ocean or offshore towing, which subdivides services into point-to-point scheduled or fixed- scenario
towing, and general multi-scenario, special project towing
c.

Salvage work, including combat salvage, domestic/CONUS towing, and rescue towing

d Tow-and-be-towed or emergency ship-to-ship towing.

1-2.1
HARBOR WORK. Harbor towing and base support, which includes berthing, is the province of what
is referred to as "yard tugs." The Navy has had three classes of yard tugs: YTLs, YTMs and YTBs. The larger
YTBs currently have as much as 2,000 shaft horsepower and are similar to commercial harbor tugs performing
similar types of services. They are employed at major naval bases, overseas operating bases, ammunition
depots, submarine bases, and in shipyards. In addition to berthing services, these tugs perform standby and
safety escort duty. Of particular interest is the specially designed fender system on YTBs and YTMs configured
for servicing submarines.
1-2.2
OCEAN AND OFFSHORE TOWING. The development of these activities within the Navy also
depended to a large degree on the Navy's operations during WWII and thereafter.
1-2.2.1 Point-to-Point Towing. From WWII until the 1960s, point-to-point towing was performed by
Auxiliary lugs, Fleet Tugs, Rescue Salvage Ships, and civilian-manned, government-owned tugs of the MARAD
V-4 type. The ATAs were generally home- ported in each naval district in the continental U.S., Alaska and
Hawaii, as well as at selected overseas bases. They were used for coastwise towing of various kinds of floating
equipment (barges, pile drivers, dredges, etc.).
1-2.2.2 General Multi-Scenario Towing and Special Ocean Engineering Projects. General multiscenario towing and special ocean engineering projects include the following types of missions:
a. Fleet or Task Force standby duty and rescue towing services-Generally assigned to the Fleet Tug
(ATF) and now to the Rescue Salvage Ship (ARS) and the Salvage Tug (ATS) Classes. The MSCoperated Fleet Tugs (T-ATF) also perform these tasks.
b. Submarine Rescue and Escort-The primary mission of the ASR Class is rescuing submarine
personnel. ASRs are

1-1