TM 55-607/NAVSEA OP 3221 Rev 2
d. Stowage Orientation. It should be kept in mind that barges are stowed aboard the LASH ship in the
athwartship direction when cargo is stowed in LASH lighters. Thus, cargo oriented fore and aft with respect to the lighter
is actually positioned athwartships with respect to the mother ship. In view of this, overhanging unit loads, which are
stowed in both fore-and-aft direction and athwartships within a lighter, should be positioned with their greatest bearing
surface against the sheathing.
10-6. Standard Block and Bracing Requirements
a. General. Since a LASH lighter is essentially an individual dry cargo hold, the general blocking and bracing techniques
presented earlier in this manual apply. Unlike a break-bulk freighter, however, the basic interior dimensions of a LASH
lighter do not vary significantly for different designs. Consequently, many dunnaging structures can be prepared in
advance of' the actual loadout operation. The blocking and bracing structures unique to LASH loading are discussed in
the following paragraphs.
b. Sheathing. Sheathing is required between military explosives cargo and the smooth steel sides of a LASH lighter,
since moisture condensation on the inner bulkheads may be significant. Since this material will normally be in
compression between the cargo and the smooth steel sides of the barge, only 1-inch boarding is necessary. Two
boarding uprights should be spaced per unit load and laced with 1by 6or 2by 4-inch material above the cargo. Two-by-
four-inch or heavier material may be used if necessary based on material availability, as long as space permits. The use
of reclaimed lumber is also acceptable for sheathing; however, the lumber must be inspected to ensure that all nails have
been removed. Overhanging unit loads, such as MK 82 bombs, require sheathing between each projecting unit and the
barge hull. In the case of MK 82 bombs, this would mean placing a vertical 1by 6-inch plank behind the base end of
each row of' bombs (bombs should never be stowed nose end against the hull in LASH lighters). In situations where
voids occur at the hull of the barge and full-block structures must be constructed,
sheathing should be at least 2by 4-inch lumber in order to receive nails from the kickers. On ribbed LASH barges, the
spaces between the ribs allow for sufficient clearance to minimize any moisture condensation problems. However,
sheathing is required along the surface of the ribs, since Federal regulations require dunnage between ammunition cargo
and steel ship's structures. The sheathing is in direct compression with the cargo, as with smooth-sided LASH barges,
and 1-inch boarding is sufficient for most palletized rectangular unit loads. In the case of overhanging unit loads, such as
low drag bombs, the projecting cargo must not make consistent contact with the ribs of the lighter. Therefore, horizontal
2-by-6-inch minimum face boards should be attached to the uprights to form a uniform bearing surface for the cargo.
c. Encasements. The four stacking posts and two access ladders found in LASH lighters must be encased to provide a
firm bearing surface for the stowage unit loads of explosives. Whenever cargo is to be stowed tightly against these
obstructions, basic encasement structures can be constructed. Since the size and location of each of these obstructions
are known, the shoring structures will not vary in size and can be fabricated efficiently in advance. Figure 10-10
illustrates the construction details for a bulkhead jack needed to encase a stacking post, which protrudes approximately
14 inches into the lighter hold. These jacks should be spaced on either side of the stacking post and face-boarded with
2by 6inch minimum boarding, spaced equally with the top and bottom of the unit loads to be stowed against them, as
shown in figure 10-11. The encasement structure should extend out an even number of rows of cargo. On the sides of
the barge containing the access ladders, the structure may be extended out to include the ladder, which extends
approximately 9/2 inches into the compartment. This situation is illustrated in figure 10-12. Normally, the encasement
structure would be extended flush over the ladder as shown; however, where stowage space is at a premium, the
encasement structure may be "cut back" after the stacking post, with the use of 9%-inch jacks on either side of the
ladder. In any case, cargo should never be secured so that its weight will be borne by the access ladder, since the ladder
is relatively weak.
10-12
