U.S. ARMY
JOHN F. KENNEDY
SPECIAL WARFARE CENTER
CACHING
Caching is the process of hiding
equipment or materials in a secure storage place with the view to future
recovery for operational use. The ultimate success of caching may well
depend upon attention to detail, that is, professional competence that
may seem of minor importance to the untrained eye. Security factors,
such as cover for the caching party, sterility of the items cached, and
removal of even the slightest trace of the caching operations are vital.
Highly important, too, are the technical factors that govern the
preservation of the items in usable condition and the recording of data
essential for recovery. Successful caching entails careful adherence to
the basic principles of clandestine operations, as well as familiarity
with the technicalities of caching.
Section 1
Caching Considerations
Caching considerations that are vital to
the success of the caching operation may be done in a variety of
operational situations. For example, cached supplies can meet the
emergency needs of personnel who may be barred from their normal supply
sources by sudden developments or who may need travel documents and
extra funds for quick escape. Caching can help solve the supply problems
of long-term operations conducted far from a secure base. Caching also
can provide for anticipated needs of wartime operations in areas likely
to be overrun by the enemy.
PLANNING FOR A CACHING OPERATION
Caching involves selecting items to be
cached, procuring those items, and selecting a cache site. Selection of
the items to be cached requires a close estimate of what will be needed
by particular units for particular operations. Procurement of the items
usually presents no special problems. In fact, the relative ease of
procurement before an emergency arises is one of the prime
considerations in favor of caching. When selecting a cache site,
planners should always ensure that the site is accessible not only for
emplacement, but also for recovery. When planning a caching operation,
the planner must consider seven basic factors.
1. Purpose and Contents of the Cache
Planners must determine the purpose and
contents of each cache because these basic factors influence the
location of the cache, as well as the method of hiding. For instance,
small barter items can be cached at any accessible and secure site
because they can be concealed easily on the person once recovered.
However, it would be difficult to conceal rifles for a Guerrilla Band
once recovered. Therefore, this site must be in an isolated area where
the band can establish at least temporary control. Certain items, such
as medical stock, have limited shelf life and require rotation
periodically or special storage considerations, necessitating easy
access to service these items. Sometimes it is impossible to locate a
cache in the most convenient place for an intended user. Planners must
compromise between logistical objectives and actual possibilities when
selecting a cache site. Security is always the overriding
consideration.
2. Anticipated Enemy Action
In planning the caching operation,
planners must consider the capabilities of any intelligence or security
services not participating in the operation. They should also consider
the potential hazards the enemy and its witting or unwitting accomplice
s present. If caching is done for wartime operational purposes, its
ultimate success will depend largely on whether the planners anticipate
the various obstacles to recovery, which the enemy and its accomplices
will create if the enemy occupies the area. What are the possibilities
that the enemy will preempt an ideal site for one reason or another and
deny access to it? A vacant field surrounded by brush may seem ideal for
a particular cache because it is near several highways. But such a
location may also invite the enemy to locate an ordnance depot where the
cache is buried.
3. Activities of the local Population
Probably more dangerous than deliberate
enemy action are all of the chance circumstances that may result in the
discovery of the cache. Normal activity, such as construction of a new
building, may uncover the cache site or impede access to it. Bad luck
cannot be anticipated, but it can probably be avoided by careful and
imaginative observation of the prospective cache site and of the people
who live near the site. If the cache is intended for wartime use, the
planners must project how the residents will react to the pressures of
war and conquest. For example, one of the more likely reactions is that
many residents may resort to caching to avoid having their personal
funds and valuables seized by the enemy. If caching becomes popular, any
likely cache site will receive more than normal attention.
4. Intended Actions by Allied Forces
Using one cache site for several
clandestine operations involves a risk of mutual compromise. Therefore,
some planners should rule out otherwise suitable caching sites if they
have been selected for other clandestine purposes, such as drops or safe
houses. A site should not be located where it may be destroyed or
rendered inaccessible by bombing or other allied military action, should
the area be occupied by the enemy. For example, installations likely to
be objects of special protective efforts by the occupying enemy are
certain to be inaccessible to the ordinary citizen. Therefore, if the
cache is intended for wartime use, the caching party should avoid areas
such as those near key bridges, railroad intersections, power plants,
and munitions factories.
5. Packaging and Transportation Assets
Planners should assess the security needs
and all of the potential obstacles and hazards that a prospective cache
site can present. They should also consider whether the operational
assets that could be used for packaging and transporting the package to
the site. Best results are obtained when the packaging is done by
experts at a packaging center. The first question, therefore, is to
decide whether the package can be transported from the headquarters or
the field packaging center to the cache site securely and soon enough to
meet the operational schedules. If not, the packaging must be done
locally, perhaps in a safe house located within a few miles of the cache
site. If such an arrangement is necessary, the choice of cache sites may
be restricted by limited safe house possibilities.
6. Personal Assets
All who participate directly in
emplacement will know where the cache is located. Therefore, only the
fewest possible and the most reliable persons should be used. Planners
must consider the distance from the person's residence to the
prospective c ache site and what action cover is required for the trip.
Sometimes transportations and cover difficulties require the cache site
to be within a limited distance of the person's residence. The above
considerations also apply to the recovery personnel.
7. Caching Methods
Which cache method to use depends on the
situation. It is therefore unsound to lay down any general rules, with
one exception. Planners should always think in terms of suitability, for
example, the method most suitable for each cache, considering its
specific purpose; the actual situation in the particular locality; and
the changes that may occur if the enemy gains control.
Concealment.
Concealment requires the use of permanent
man-made or natural features to hide or disguises the cache. It has
several advantages. Both employment and recovery usually and be done
with minimum time and labor, and cached items concealed inside a
building or dry cave are protected from the elements. Thus, they require
less elaborate packaging. Also, in some cases, a concealed cache can be
readily inspected from time to time to ensure that it is still usable.
However, there is always the chance of accidental discovery in addition
to all the hazards of wartime that may result in discovery or
destruction or a concealed cache or denial of access to the site. The
concealment method, therefore, is most suitable in cases where an
exceptionally secure site is available or where a need for quick access
to the cache justifies a calculated sacrifice in security. Concealment
may range from securing small gold coins under a tile in the floor to
walling up artillery in caves.
Burial.
Adequate burial sites can be found almost
anywhere. Once in place, a properly buried cache is generally the best
way of achieving lasting security. In contrast to concealment, however,
burial in the ground is a laborious and time-consuming method of
caching.
The disadvantages of burial are that-
* Burial almost always requires a high-quality container or special wrapping to protect the cache from moisture, chemicals and bacteria in the soil.
* Emplacement or recovery of a buried cache usually takes so long that the operation must be done after dark unless the site is exceptionally secluded.
* It is especially difficult to identify and locate a buried cache.
Submersion.
Submersion sites that are suitable for
secure concealment of a submerged cache are few and far between. Also,
the container of a submerged cache must meet such high standards for
waterproofing and resistance to external pressure that the use of field
expedients is seldom workable. To ensure that a submerged cache remains
dry and in place, planners must determine not only the depth of the
water, but the type of bottom, the currents, and other facts that are
relatively difficult for non specialists to obtain. Emplacement,
likewise requires a high degree of skill. At least two persons are
needed for both emplacement and requires additional equipment. In view
of the difficulties - especially the difficulty of recovery – the
submersion method is suitable only on rare occasions. The most
noteworthy usage is the relatively rare maritime re-supply operation
where it is impossible to deliver supplies directly to a reception
committee.
Caching supplies offshore by submersion
is often preferable to sending a landing party ashore to bury a cache.
SELECTION OF THE SITE
The most careful estimates of future
operational conditions cannot ensure that a will cache will be
accessible when it is needed. However, criteria for a site selection can
be met when three questions are answered.
Criteria for Site Selection
Can the site be located by simple
instructions that are unmistakably clear to someone who has never
visited the location? A site may be ideal in every respect, but if it
has no distinct, permanent landmarks within a readily measurable
distance it must be ruled out. Are there at least two secure routes to
and from the site? Both primary and alternate routes should provide
natural concealment so that the emplacement party and the recovery party
can visit the site without being seen by anyone normally in the
vicinity. An alienate escape route offers hope of avoiding detection and
recovered at the chosen site in all seasons? Snow and frozen ground
create special problems. Snow on the ground is a hazard because it is
impossible to erase a trail in the snow. Planners must consider whether
seasonal changes in the foliage will leave the site and the dangerously
exposed.
The Map Survey
Finding a cache site is often difficult.
Usually, a thorough systematic survey of the general area designated for
the cache is required. The survey is best done with as large-scale map
of the area as is available. By scrutinizing the map, the planners can
determine whether a particular sector must be ruled out because of its
nearness to factories, homes, busy thoroughfares, or probable military
targets in wartime. A good military-type map will show the positive
features in the topography; proximity to adequate roads or trails,
natural concealment (for example: surrounding woods or groves), and
adequate drainage. A map also will show the natural and man-made
features in the landscape. It will provide the indispensable reference
points for locating a cache site: confluences of streams, dams and
waterfalls, road junctures and distance markers, villages, bridges,
churches, and cemeteries.
The Personal Reconnaissance
A map survey normally should show the
location of several promising sites within the general area designated
for the cache. To select and pinpoint the best site, however, a
well-qualified observer must examine each site firsthand. If possible,
whoever examines the site should carry adequate maps, a compass, a
drawing pad or board for making sketch maps or tracings, and a metallic
measuring line. (A wire knotted at regular intervals is adequate for
measuring. Twine or cloth measuring tapes should not be used because
stretching or shrinking will make them inaccurate if they get wet.) The
observer should also carry a probe rod for probing prospective burial
sites, if the rod can be carried securely. Since the observer seldom
completes a field survey without being noticed by local residents, his
action cover is of great importance. His cover must offer a natural
explanation for his exploratory activity in the area. Ordinarily, this
means that an observer who is not a known resident of the area can pose
as a tourist or a newcomer with some reason for visiting the area.
However, his action cover must be developed over an extended period
before he undertakes the actual reconnaissance. If the observer is a
known resident of the area, he cannot suddenly take up hunting, fishing,
or wildlife photography without arousing interest and perhaps suspicion.
But he must build up a reputation for being a devotee of his sport or
hobby.
Reference Points
When the observer finds a suitable cache
site, he prepares simple and unmistakable instructions for locating the
reference points. These instructions must identify the general area (the
names of general recognizable places, from the country down to the
nearest village) and an immediate reference point. Any durable landmark
that is identified by its title or simple description can be immediate
reference point (for example, the only Roman Catholic church in a
certain village or the only bridge o n a named road between two
villages). The instructions must also include a final reference
point (FRP), which must meet four requirements:
(1) It must be identifiable, including at least one feature that can be used as a precise reference point.
(2) It must be an object that will remain fixed as long as the cache may be used.
(3) It must be near enough to the cache to pinpoint the exact location of the cache by precise linear measurements from the FRP to the cache
(4) It should be related to the immediate reference point by a simple route description, which proceeds from the immediate reference point to the FRP
Since the route description should be
reduced to the minimum essential, the ideal solution for locating the
cache is to combine the immediate reference point and the FRP into one
landmark readily identifiable, but sufficiently secluded. The following
objects, when available, are sometimes ideal reference points: small,
unfrequented bridges, and dams, boundary markers, kilometer markers and
culverts along unfrequented roads, a geodetic survey marker, battle
monuments, and wayside shrines. When such reference points are not
available at an otherwise suitable cache site, natural or man-made
objects may serve as FRP's: distinct rocks, posts for power or telephone
lines, intersections in stone fences or hedgerows, and gravestones in
isolated cemeteries.
Pinpointing Techniques
Recovery instructions must identify the
exact location of the cache. These instructions must describe the point
where the cache is placed in terms that relate in to the FRP. When the
concealment method is used, the cache ordinarily is placed inside the
FRP, so it is pinpointed by a precise description of the FRP. A
submerged cache usually is pinpointed by describing exactly how the
moorings are attached to the FRP. With a buried cache, any of the
following techniques may be used.
Placing the cache directly beside the FRP.
The simplest method is to place the cache
directly beside the FRP. Then pinpointing is reduced to specifying the
precise reference point of the FRP.
Sighting the cache by projection
This method may be used if the FRP has
one flat side long enough to permit precise sighting by projecting a
line along the side of the object. The burial party places the cache a
measured distance along the sighted line. This method may also be used
if two precise FRP's are available, by projecting a line sighed between
the two objects. In either case, the instructions for finding the cache
must state the approximate direction of the cache from the FRP. Since
small errors in sighting are magnified as the sighted line is extended,
the cache should be placed as close to the FRP as other factors permit.
Ordinarily this method becomes unreliable if the sighted line is
extended beyond 50 meters.
Placing the cache at the intersection
of measured lines.
If two FRP's are available within several
paces, the cache can be one line projected from each of the FRP's. If
this method is used, state the approximate direction of the cache from
each FRP . To ensure accuracy, neither of the projected lines (from the
FRP's to the point of emplacement) should be more than twice as long as
the base line (between the two FRP's). If this proportion is maintained,
the only limitation upon the length of t he projected lines is the
length of the measuring line that the recovery party is expected to
carry. The recovery party should carry two measuring lines when this
method is used.
Sighting the cache by compass azimuth.
If the above methods of sighting are not
feasible, one measured line may be projected by taking a compass azimuth
from the FRP to the point where the cache is placed. To avoid confusion,
use an azimuth to a cardinal point of the compass (north, east, south,
or west). Since compass sightings are likely to be inaccurate, a cache
that is pinpointed by this method should not be placed more than 10
meters from the FRP.
Measuring Distances
The observer should express all measured
distances in a linear system that the recovery party is sure to
understand - ordinarily the standard system for the country where the
cache is located. He should use whole numbers (6 meters, not 6.3 or 6.5,
etc.) to keep his instructions as brief and as simple as possible. To
get an exact location for the cache in whole numbers, take sightings and
measurements first. If the surface of the ground between the points to
be measured is uneven, the linear distance should be measured on a
direct line from point to point, rather than by following the contour of
the ground. This method requires a measuring line long enough to reach
the full distance from point to point and enough to be pulled taut
without breaking.
Marking Techniques
The emplacement operation can be
simplified and critical time saved if the point where the cache is to be
buried is marked during the reconnaissance. If a night burial is
planned, the point of emplacement may have to be marked during a
daylight reconnaissance. This method should be used whenever operational
conditions permit. The marker must be an object that is easily
recognizable but that is meaningless to an unwitting observer. For
example, a small rock or a branch with its butt placed at the point
selected for the emplacement may be used.
During a personal reconnaissance, the
observer must not only pinpoint the cache site, but also gather all the
incidental information required for planning the emplacement operation.
It is especially important to determine the best route to the site and
at least one alternate route, the security hazards along these routes,
and any information that can be used to overcome the hazards.
Since this information is also essential
to the recovery operation, it must be compiled after emplacement and
included in the final cache report. Therefore, the observer should be
thoroughly familiar with the Twelve-Point Cache Report before he starts
a personal reconnaissance. This report is a checklist for the observer
to record as much information as possible. Points 6 through 11 are
particularly important. The personal reconnaissance also provides an
excellent opportunity for a preliminary estimate of the time required
for getting to the site.
The Alternate Site
As a general rule, planners should select
an alternate site in case unforeseen difficulties prevent use of the
best site. Unless the primary site is in a completely deserted area,
there is always some danger that the emplacement party will find it
occupied as they approach, or that the party will be observed as they
near the site. The alternate site should be far enough away to be
screened from view from the primary site, but near enough so that the
party can reach it without making a second trip.
The Concealment Site
A site that looks ideal for concealment
may be revealed to the enemy for that very reason. Such a site may be
equally attractive to a native of an occupied country to hide his
valuables. The only real key to the ideal concealment site is careful ca
sing of the area combined with great familiarity with local residents
and their customs. The following is a list of likely concealment sites:
*Natural caves and caverns, and abandoned mines and quarries.
*Walls (hidden behind loose bricks or stones or hidden a plastered surface).
*Abandoned buildings.
*Infrequently used structures (stadiums and other recreational facilities, and railroad facilities on spur lines).
*Memorial edifices (mausoleums, crypts, monuments).
*Public buildings (museums, churches, libraries).
*Ruins of historical interest.
*Culverts.
*Sewers.
*Cable conduits.
The concealment site must be equally
accessible to the person emplacing and the person recovering. However,
visits by both persons to certain interior sites may be incompatible
with the cover. For instance, a site in a house owned by a relative of
the emplacer may be unsuitable because there is no adequate excuse for
the recovery person to enter the house if he has no connection with the
owner. The site must remain accessible as long as the cache is needed.
If access to a building depends upon a personal relationship with the
owner, the death of the owner or the sale of the property might render
it inaccessible.
Persons involved in the operation should
not be compromised if the cache is discovered on the site. Even if a
cache is completely sterile, as every cache should be, the mere fact
that it has been placed in a particular site may compromise certain
persons. If the cache were discovered by the police, they might suspect
the emplacer because it was found in his relative's house.
The site must not be located where
potentially hostile persons frequently visit. For instance, a site in a
museum is not secure if police guards or curious visitors frequently
enter the museum.
To preserve the cache material, the
emplacer must ensure the site is physically secure for the preservation
of the cached material. For example, most buildings involve a risk that
the cache may be destroyed or damaged by fire, especially in wartime.
The emplacer should consider all risks and weigh them against the
advantages of an interior site.
A custodian may serve to ease access to a
building or to guard a cache. However, the use of such a person is
inadvisable, as a custodian poses an additional security risk. He may
use the contents of the cache for personal profit or reveal its
location.
The Burial Site
In selecting a burial site, consider the
following factors along with the basic considerations of suitability and
accessibility:
Drainage
This includes the elevation of the site
and the type of soil. The importance of good drainage makes a site on
high ground preferable unless other factors rule it out. Moisture is one
of the greatest natural threats to the contents of a cache. Swam p muck
is the most difficult soil to work in. If the site is near a stream or
river, ensure that the cache is well above the all-year-high-water mark
so that it will not be uncovered if the soil is washed away.
Ground Cover
The types of vegetation at the site will
influence the choice. Roots of deciduous tress make digging very
difficult. Coniferous trees have less extensive root systems. Also, the
presence of coniferous trees usually means that the site is well
drained. Does the vegetation show paths or other indications that the
site is frequented too much for secure caching? Can the ground cover be
easily restored to its normal appearance when burial is completed? Tall
grass reveals that it has been trampled, while an overlay of leaves and
humus can be replaced easily and will effectively conceal a freshly
refilled hole.
Natural Concealment
The vegetation or the surrounding terrain
should offer natural concealment for the burial and recovery parties
working at the site. Planners should carefully consider seasonal
variations in the foliage.
Types of Soil
Sandy loam is ideal because it is easy to
dig and drains well. Clay soil should be avoided because it becomes
quite sticky in wet weather and in dry weather it may become so hard
that it is almost impossible to dig.
Snowfall and Freezing
If the cache must be buried or recovered
in winter, data on the normal snowfall, the depth to which the ground
freezes in winter, and the usual dates of freezing and thawing will
influence the choice of the site. Frozen ground impedes digging and
requires additional time for burial and recovery. Snow on the ground is
especially hazardous for the burial operation. It is practically
impossible to restore the snow over the burial site to its normal
appearance unless there is more snowfall or a b risk wind. Also, it is
very difficult to ensure that no traces of the operation are left after
the snow has melted.
Rocks and Other Subsurface Obstructions
Large obstructions that might prevent use
of a particular site can be located to some extent before digging by
probing with a rod or stake at the exact spot selected for the cache.
The Submersion Site
To be suitable for a submerged cache, a
body of water must have certain characteristics. The presence of these
characteristics can be determined only by a thorough survey of the site.
Their importance will be understood after familiarization with t he
technicalities of submersion as discussed in Section 3, Emplacement.
Submersion usually requires a boat, first for reconnoitering, then for
emplacement. Thus, the accessibility problems involved in submersion
usually narrow down to the availability of a boat and the action cover
for using it. If there is no fishing or pleasure boating at the site the
cover for this peculiar type boating may be a real problem.
In tropical areas the course of streams
or rivers is frequently changed by seasonal rainfall and can cause many
problems. Keep this fact in mind when choosing the site and when
selecting reference points.
Recovery
Since the method for recovering a cache
is generally similar to that for emplacing (Section 3) a cache, it need
not be described in full. However, several important considerations
should be stressed in training for a recovery operation.
Practical Exercises
Anyone who is expected to serve as a
recovery person should have the experience of actually recovering dummy
caches, if field exercises can be arranged securely. It is especially
desirable for the recovery person to be able to master the pinpointing
techniques. Mastery is best attained by practice in selecting points of
emplacement and in drafting, as well as in following instructions.
Equipment
Although the equipment used in recovery
is generally the same as that used in emplacement, it is important to
include any additional items that may be required in recovery in the
cache report. A probe rod may not be essential for emplacement, but it
is necessary to have some object roughly the same size as the cache
container to fill the cavity left in the ground by removal of a buried
cache. Some sort of container of wrapping material may be needed to
conceal the recovered cache while it is being carried from the cache
site to a safe house. Recovery of a submerged cache may require
grappling lines and hooks, especially if it is heavy.
Sketch of the site
If possible, the observer should provide
the recovery person with sketches of the cache site and the route to the
cache site. If the recovery person must rely exclusively on verbal
instructions, as in the case when communications are limited to radio
telephone (RT) messages, he should draw a sketch of the site before
starting on the recovery operation. He should use all the data in the
verbal instructions to make the sketch as realistic as possible. Drawing
a sketch will help to clarify any misunderstanding of the instructions.
Also, a sketch can be followed more easily than verbal instructions. It
may also be helpful for the recovery person to draw a sketch of the
route from the immediate reference point to the site. But he should no t
carry this sketch on him because if he were apprehended the sketch might
direct the enemy to the cache.
Preliminary Reconnaissance
Checking the instructions for locating
the cache may be advisable, especially when the recovery operation must
be performed under stringent enemy controls or when there is no extra
time for searching. Careful analysis of the best available map can
minimize reconnoitering activity in the vicinity of the cache and thus
reduce the danger of arousing suspicion. If recovery must be done at
night, the recovery person should find the cache by daylight and place
an unnoticeable marker directly over it.
Probe Rod
The recovery person can avoid digging at
the wrong spot by using a probe rod before starting to dig. He should
push and turn the probe rod into the ground by hand, so that it will not
puncture the cache's container. Never pound the probe rod with a hammer.
Procedure for Digging and Refilling the Hole
The recovery procedure is the same as for
the burial, except for two points. First, never use a pick for digging
the hole because it might puncture the container and damage the cached
items. Second, it may be necessary to fill the hole with other objects
in addition to soil after the cache is removed.
Sometimes it is possible to fill the hole
with rocks, sticks, or other readily available objects at the site. If
no such objects are found during the preliminary reconnaissance, the
recovery person should carry to the site an object roughly the same size
as the cache container.
Sterilization of the Site
As with emplacement, the recovery
operation must be preformed in such a way that no traces of the
operation are left. Although sterilization is not as important for
recovery as for emplacement, it should be done as thoroughly as time
permits. Evidence that a cache has been recovered might alert the enemy
to clandestine activity in the area and provoke countermeasures.
Section 2. Packaging
Packaging usually involves packing the
items to be cached, as well as the additional processing in protecting
these items from adverse storage conditions. Proper packaging is
important because inadequate packaging very likely will render the items
unusable. Since special equipment and skilled technicians are needed for
best results, packaging should be done at headquarters or a field
packaging center whenever possible. However, to familiarize operational
personnel with the fundamentals of packaging, so that they can improvise
field expedients for emergency use, thus section discusses determining
factors, steps in packaging, wrapping materials, and criteria for the
container.
Determining factors.
The first rule of packaging is that all
processing is tailored to fit the specific requirements of each cache.
The method of packaging, as well as the size, shape, and weight of the
package is determined by the items to be cached, by the method of
caching, and, especially, by the way the cache is recovered and used.
For instance, if circumstances require one man to recover the cache by
himself, the container should be no larger than a small suitcase, and
the total weight of container and contents no more than 30 pounds. Of
course, these limits must be exceeded with some equipment, but the need
for larger packages should be weighed against the difficulties and risks
in handling them. Even if more than one person is available for
recovery, the material should be divided whenever possible into separate
packages of a size and weight readily portable by one man.
Another very important factor in
packaging concerns adverse storage conditions. Any or all of the
following conditions may be present: moisture, external pressure,
freezing temperatures, and the bacteria and corrosive chemicals found in
some soil an d water. Animal life may present a hazard; insects and
rodents may attack the package. If the cache is concealed in a exterior
site, larger animals also may threaten it. Whether the packaging is
adequate usually depends upon how carefully the conditions at the site
were analyzed in designing the cache. Thus, the method of caching
(burial, concealment, or submersion) should be determined before the
packaging is done.
It is equally important to consider how
long the cache is to be used. Since one seldom knows when a cache will
be needed, a sound rule is to design the packaging to withstand adverse
storage conditions for at least as long as the normal shelf life of the
contents to be cached.
STEPS IN PACKAGING
The exact procedure for packaging depends
upon the specific requirements for the cache and upon the packaging
equipment available. There are Nine Steps that are almost always
necessary in packaging.
Inspecting
The items to be cached must be inspected
immediately before packaging to ensure they are complete, in serviceable
condition, and free of all corrosive or contaminative substances.
Cleaning
All corrodible items must be cleaned
thoroughly immediately before the final preservative coating is applied.
All foreign matter, including any preservative applied before the item
was shipped to the field, should be removed completely. Throughout the
packaging operation, all contents of the cache should be handled with
rubber or freshly cleaned cotton cloves. Special handling is important
because even minute particles of human sweat will corrode metallic
equipment. Also, any fingerprints on the contents of the cache may
enable the enemy to identify those who did the packaging.
Drying
When cleaning is completed, every trace
of moisture must be removed from all corrodible items. Methods of drying
include: wiping with a highly absorbent cloth, heating or applying
desiccant. Usually heating is best, unless the item can be damaged by
heat. To dry by heating, the item to be cached should be placed in an
oven for at least 3 hours at a temperature of about 110'F. An oven can
be improvised from a large metal can or drum. In humid climates, it is
especially important to dry the oven thoroughly before using it by
preheating it to at least 212'F. Then, insert the equipment to be cached
as soon as the over cools down to about 110'F. If a desiccant is used,
it should not touch any metallic surface. Silica gel is a satisfactory
desiccant, and it is commonly available.
Coating With a Preservative
Apply a light coat of oil to weapons,
tools, and other items with unpainted metallic surfaces. A coat of paint
may suffice for other metal items.
Wrapping
When drying and coating are completed,
wrap the items to be cached in a suitable material (see paragraph below
on Wrapping Materials.) The wrapping should be as nearly waterproof as
possible. Each item should be wrapped separately, so that one
perforation in the wrapping will not expose all items in the cache. The
wrapping should fit tightly to each item to eliminate air pockets, and
all folds should be sealed with a waterproof substance.
Packing
Several simple rules must be observed
when packing items in the container. All moisture must be removed from
the interior of the container by heating or applying desiccant. A
long-lasting desiccant should be packed inside the container to absorb
an y residual moisture. If silica gel is used, the required amount can
be calculated by using the ratio of 15 kilograms of silica gel to 1
cubic meter of storage space within the container. (This figure is based
on two assumptions: the container is completely moisture proof and the
contents are slightly moist when inserted.) Therefore, the ratio allows
an ample margin for incomplete drying and can be reduced if the drying
process is known to be highly effective.
Air pockets should be eliminated as much
as possible by tight packing. Thoroughly dried padding should be used
liberally to fill air pockets and to protect the contents from shock.
Clothing and other items, which will be useful to the recovery party,
should be used for padding if possible. Items made of different metals
should never touch, since continued contact may cause corrosion through
electrolytic action.
Enclosing Instructions for Use of Cached Equipment
Written instructions and diagrams should
be included if they facilitate assembly or use of the cached items.
Instructions must be written in a language that recovery personnel can
understand. The wording should be as simple as possible and unmistakably
clear. Diagrams should be self-explanatory since the eventual user may
not be able to comprehend written instructions because of language
barriers.
Sealing & Testing Seals by Submersion
When packing is completed, the lid of the
container must be sealed to make it watertight. Testing can be done by
entirely submerging the container in water and watching for escaping air
bubbles. Hot water should be used if possible because hot water will
bring out leaks that would not be revealed by a cold water test.
WRAPPING MATERIALS
The most important requirement for
wrapping material is that it be moisture proof. Also, it should be
self-sealing or adhesive to a sealing material; it should be pliable
enough to fit closely, with tight folds; and it should be tough enough
to resist tearing and puncturing. Pliability and toughness may be
combined by using two wrappings: an inner one that is thin and pliable
and an outer one of heavier material. A tough outer wrapping is
essential unless the container and the padding are adequate to prevent
items from scraping together inside the cache. Five wrapping materials
are recommended for field expedients because they often can be obtained
locally and used effectively be unskilled personnel.
Aluminum Foil
For use as an inner wrapping. aluminum
foil is the best of the widely available materials. It is moisture proof
as long as it does not become perforated and provided the folds are
adequately sealed. The drawbacks to its use for caching are that the
thin foils perforate easily, while the heavy ones (over 2 mils thick)
tend to admit moisture through the folds. The heavy-duty grade of
aluminum foil generally sold for kitchen use is adequate when used with
an outer wrapping. Scrim-backed foil, which is heat-sealable, is widely
used commercially to package articles for shipment or storage. Portable
heat-sealers that are easy to use are available commercially. Or,
sealing can be done with a standard household iron.
Moisture-Resistant Papers
Several brands of commercial wrapping
papers are resistant to water and grease. They do not provide lasting
protection against moisture when used alone, but they are effective as
an inner wrapping to prevent rubber, wax and similar substances from s
ticking to the items in the cache.
Rubber Repair Gum
This is a self-sealing compound generally
used for repairing tires; it makes an excellent outer wrapping. Standard
commercial brands come in several thicknesses; 2 mils is the most
satisfactory for caching. A watertight seal is produced easily by
placing two rubber surfaces together and applying pressure manually. The
seal should be at least 1/2 inch wide. Since rubber repair gum has a
tendency to adhere to items, an inner wrapping of non-adhesive material
must be used with it, and the backing should be left on the rubber
material to keep it from sticking to other items in the cache.
Grade C Barrier Material
This is a cloth impregnated with
microcrystalline wax that is used extensively when packing for storage
of for overseas shipment. Thus, it is generally available, and it has
the additional advantage of being self-sealing. Although it is not as
effective as rubber repair gum, it may be used as an outer wrapping over
aluminum foil to prevent perforation of the foil.
Used without an inner wrapping, three
layers of grade C barrier material may keep the contents dry for as long
as three months, but it is highly vulnerable to insects and rodents.
Also, the wax wrapping has a low melting point and will adhere to many
items, so it should not be used without an inner wrapping except in
emergencies.
Wax Coating
If no wrapping material is available, an
outer coating of microcrystalline wax, paraffin or a similar waxy
substance can be used to protect the contents against moisture. It will
not provide protection against insects and rodents. The package should
be hot-dipped in the waxy substance, or the wax can heated to molten
form and applied with a brush.
THE CONTAINER
The outer container serves to protect the
contents from shock, moisture and other natural hazards to which the
cache may be exposed to.
Criteria for the Container
The ideal container should be:
*Completely watertight and airtight after sealing.
*Noiseless when handled and its handles should not rattle against the body of the container
*Resistant to shock and abrasion.
*Able to withstand crushing pressure.
*Lightweight in construction.
*Able to withstand rodents, insects, and bacteria.
*Equipped with a sealing device that can be closed and reopened easily and repeatedly.
*Capable of withstanding highly acidic or alkaline soil or water.
The Standard Stainless Steel Container
The standard stainless steel container
comes in several sizes. Since the stainless steel container is more
satisfactory than any that could be improvised in the field, it should
be used whenever possible. Ideally, it should be packed at headquarter s
or at a field packaging center. If the items to be cached must be
obtained locally, it is still advisable to use the stainless steel
container because its high resistance to moisture eliminates the need
for an outer wrapping. Packers should, however, use a single wrapping
even with the stainless steel container to protect the contents from any
residual moisture that may be present in the container when it is
sealed.
The Field Expedient Container
Obviously the ideal container cannot be
improvised in the field, but the standard military and commercial
containers discussed below can meet caching requirements if they are
adapted with care and resourcefulness. First, a container must be
sufficiently sturdy to remain unpunctured and retain its shape through
whatever rough handling or crushing pressure it may encounter. (Even a
slight warping may cause a joint around the lid to leak.) Second, if the
lid is not already watertight and airtight , packers can make it so by
improvising a sealing device. The most common type of sealing device
includes a rubber-composition gasket or lining and a sharp metal rim
that is pressed against common sealing device is a threaded lid. Its
effectiveness can be increased by applying heavy grease to the threads.
(Metallic solder should not be used for sealing because it corrodes
metal surfaces when exposed to moisture.) Whenever any non-stainless
metal container is used, it is important to apply several coats of
high-quality paint to all exterior surfaces.
Instrument Containers.
Ordinarily, aircraft and other precision
instruments are shipped in steel containers with a waterproof sealing
device. The standard instrument containers range from 1/2 gallon to 10
gallon sizes. If one of suitable size can be found, only minimum
modifications may be needed, In the most common type of instrument
container, the only weak point is the nut and bolt that tightens the
locking band around the lid. These should be replaced with a stainless
steel nut and bolt .
Ammunition Boxes.
Several types and sizes of steel
ammunition boxes that have a rubber-gasket closing device are
satisfactory for buried caches. An advantage of using ammunition boxes
as a cache container, is that they are usually available at a military
depot.
Steel Drums.
A caching container of suitable size may
be found among the commercially used steel drums for shipping oil,
grease, nails, soap, and other products. The most common types, however,
lack an adequate sealing device, so a waterproof material should be used
around the lid. Fully removable head drums with lock-ring closures
generally give a satisfactory seal.
Glass Jars.
The advantage of using glass is that it
is waterproof and does not allow chemicals, bacteria and insects to pass
through it. Although glass is highly vulnerable to shock, glass jars of
a sturdy quality can withstand the crushing pressure normally
encountered in caching. However, none of the available glass container
have an adequate sealing device for the joint around the lid. The
standard commercial canning jar with a spring clamp and a rubber washer
is watertight, but the metal clamp is vulnerable to corrosion.
Therefore, a glass jar with a spring clamp and a rubber washer is an
adequate expedient for short-term caching of small items, but it should
not be relied upon to resist moisture for more than a year.
Paint Cans.
Standard cans with reusable lids require
a waterproof adhesive around the lids. It is especially important to
apply several coats of paint to the exterior of standard commercial cans
because the metal in these cans is not as heavy as that in metal drums.
Even when the exterior is thoroughly painted, paint cans probably will
not resist moisture for more than a few months.
Section 3.
Methods of Emplacement
Since burial is the most frequently used
method of emplacement, this section describes first the complete
procedure for burial, followed by a discussion of emplacement procedures
peculiar to submersion and concealment. The last area discussed is the
preparation of the cache report-a vital part of a caching operation.
BURIAL
When planners have designed a cache and
selected the items for caching, they must carefully work out every step
of the burial operation in advance.
Horizontal and Vertical Caches
Ordinarily, the hole for a buried cache
is vertical (the hole is dug straight down from the surface). Sometimes
a horizontal cache, with the hole dug into the side of a steep hill or
bank, provides a workable solution when a suitable site on level or
slightly sloping ground is not available. A horizontal cache may provide
better drainage in areas of heavy rainfall, but is more likely to be
exposed by soil erosion and more difficult to refill and restore to
normal appearance.
Dimensions of the Hole
The exact dimensions of the hole, either
vertical or horizontal, depend on the size and shape of the cache
container. As a general rule, ensures that the hole is large enough for
the container to be inserted easily. The horizontal dimensions of the
hole should be about 30 centimeters longer and wider than the container.
Most importantly, it should be deep enough to permit covering the
container with soil to about 45 centimeters. This figure is recommended
for normal usage because a more shallow burial risks exposure of the
cache through soil erosion or inadvertent uncovering by normal
indigenous activity. A deeper hole makes probing for recovery more
difficult and unnecessarily prolongs the time required for burial and
recovery.
Excavation Shoring
If there is a risk that the surrounding
soil will cave in during excavation, boards or bags filled with subsoil
may be used to shore the sides of the hole. Permanent shoring may be
needed to protect an improvised container from pressure or shock.
Equipment
The following items of equipment may be
helpful or indispensable in burying a cache, depending upon the
conditions at the site:
*Measuring instruments (a wire or metal tape and compass) for pinpointing the site.
*Paper and pencil for recording the measurements.
*A probe rod for locating rocks, large roots, or other obstacles in the subsoil.
*Two ground sheets on which to place sod and loose soil. An article of
clothing may be used for small excavation if nothing else is available.
*Sacks (sandbags, flour sacks) for holding subsoil.
*A spade or pickax, if the ground is too hard for spading.
*A hatchet for cutting roots.
*A crowbar for prying rocks.
*A flashlight or lamp if burial is to be done at night.
The Burial Party
Aside from locating, digging, and
refilling the hole, the most important factors in this part of the
emplacement operation may be expressed with one word: Personnel.
Since it is almost impossible to prevent
every member of the burial party from knowing the location of the cache,
each member is a prime security problem as long as the cache remains
intact. Thus, planners must keep the burial party as small as possible
and select each member with utmost care. Once selected, each member must
have adequate cover to explain his absence from home or work during the
operation, his trip to and from the site, and his possession of whatever
equipment cannot be concealed on the way.
Transportation for the burial party may
be a problem, depending on the number of persons, how far they must go,
and what equipment they must take. When planners have worked out all
details of the operation, they must brief every member of the burial
party on exactly what he is to do from start to finish.
The Operational Schedule
The final step in planning the
emplacement operation is to make a schedule to set the date, time, and
place for every step of the operation that requires advance
coordination. The schedule will depend mainly on the circumstances, but
to be practical it must include a realistic estimate of how long it will
take to complete the burial. Here generalizations are worthless, and the
only sure guide is actual experience under similar conditions. Planners
should consider three things with respect to scheduling. A careful
burial job probably will take longer than most novices will expect.
Therefore, if circumstances require a tight schedule, a dry run or test
exercise before taking the package to the site may be advisable.
Unless the site is exceptionally well
concealed or isolated, night burial will be required to avoid detection.
Because of the difficulties of working in the dark, a nighttime practice
exercise is especially advisable. The schedule should permit waiting for
advantageous weather conditions. The difficulties of snow have already
been mentioned. Rainy weather increases the problems of digging and
complicates the cover story. If the burial is to be done at night, a
moonless or a heavy overcast night is desirable.
Site Approach
Regardless of how effective the cover of
actions during the trip to the cache site, the immediate approach must
be completely unobserved to avoid detection of the burial. To reduce the
risk of the party being observed, planners must carefully select the
point where the burial party disappears, perhaps by turning off a road
into woods. They should as carefully select the reappearance point. In
addition, the return trip should be by a different route. The burial
party should strictly observe the rule for concealed movement. The party
should proceed cautiously and silently along a route that makes the best
use of natural concealment. Concealed movement requires foresight, with
special attention to using natural concealment while reconnoitering the
route and to preventing rattles when preparing the package and contents.
Security Measures at the Site
The burial party must maintain maximum
vigilance at the caches site, since detection can be disastrous. The
time spent at the site is the most critical. At least one lookout should
be on guard constantly. If one man must do the burial by himself, he
should pause frequently to look and listen. The burial party should use
flashlight or lanterns as little as possible, and should take special
care to mask the glare. Planning should include emergency actions in
case the burial party is interrupt ed. The party should be so thoroughly
briefed that it will respond instantly to any sign of danger. Planner
should also consider the various escape routes and whether the party
will attempt to retain the package or conceal it along the escape route
.
Steps in Digging and Refilling
Although procedures will vary slightly
with the design of the cache, persons involved in caching operations
must never overlook certain basic steps. The whole procedure is designed
to restore the site to normal as far as possible.
Site Sterilization
When the hole is refilled, make a special
effort to ensure that the site is left sterile-restored to normal in
every way, with no clues left to indicate burial or the burial party's
visit to the vicinity. Since sterilization is most important for the
security of the operation, the schedule should allow ample time to
complete these final steps in an unhurried, thorough manner.
Dispose of any excess soil far enough
away from the site to avoid attracting attention to the site. Flushing
the excess soil into a stream is the ideal solution. Check all tools and
equipment against a checklist to ensure that nothing is left behind.
This should include all personnel items that may drop from pockets. To
keep this risk to a minimum, members of the burial party should carry
nothing on their persons except the essentials for doing the job and
covering their actions.
Make a final inspection of the site for
any traces of the burial. Because this step is more difficult on a dark
night, use of a carefully prepared checklist is essential. With a night
burial, returning to the site in the daytime to inspect it for telltale
evidence may be advisable, if this can be done safely.
SUBMERSION
Emplacing a submerged cache always
involves two basic steps: weighting the container to keep it from
floating to the surface and mooring it keep it in place.
Container Weighting and Mooring
Ordinarily, container weights rest on the
bottom of the lake or river and function as anchors, and the mooring
connect the anchors to the container. The moorings must also serve a
second function, that is to provide a handle for pulling the cache to
the surface when it is recovered. If the moorings are not accessible for
recovery, another line must extend from the cache to a fixed, accessible
object in the water or on shore. There are four types of moorings.
(1) Spider Web Mooring. The container is attached to several mooring cables that radiate to anchors placed around it to form a web. The container must be buoyant so that it lifts the cables for enough off the bottom to be readily secured by grappling. The site must be located exactly at the time of emplacement by visual sightings to fixed landmarks in the water, or along the shore, using several FRP's to establish a point where two
sighted lines intersect. For recovery, the site is located by taking sightings on the reference points, when a mooring cable is engaged by dragging the bottom of diving. This method of mooring is most difficult for recovery. It can be used only where the bottom is smooth and firm enough for dragging, or where the water is not too deep, cold, or murky for diving.
(2) Line-to-Shore Mooring. A line in run from the weighted container to an immovable object along the shore. The section of the line that extends from the shore to the shore must be buried in the ground or otherwise well concealed.
(3) Buoy Mooring. A line is run from the weighted container to a buoy or other fixed, floating marker, and fastened well below the waterline. This method is secure only as long as the buoy is left in place. Buoys are generally inspected and repainted every six months or so. The inspection schedule should be determined before a buoy is used.
(4) Structural Mooring. A line for retrieving the weighted container is run to a bridge pier or other solid structure in the water. This line must be fastened well below the low-water mark.
Essential Data for Submersion
Whatever method of mooring is used,
planners must carefully consider certain data before designing a
submerged cache. The cache very likely will be lost if any of the
following critical factors are overlooked:
Buoyancy.
Many containers are buoyant even when
filled, so the container must be weighted sufficiently to submerge it
and keep it in place. If the contents do not provide enough weight,
emplacers must make up the balance by attaching a weight to the
container. The approximate weight needed to attain zero buoyancy is
shown in Appendix. This figure applies to several sizes of stainless
steel containers.
The weighting required for any container
can be calculated theoretically if the displacement of the container and
the gross weight of the container plus its contents are known. This
calculation may be useful for designing an anchor, but is should no t be
relied upon for actual emplacement. To avoid hurried improvisation
during emplacement, emplacers should always test the buoyancy in advance
by actually submerging the weighted container. This test determines only
that a submerged cache will no t float to the surface.
Additional weighting may be required to
keep it from drifting along the bottom. As a general rule, the
additional weight should be a least one-tenth of the gross weight
required to make the container sink; more weight is advisable if strong
currents are present.
Submersion depth.
Planners must first determine the depth
which the container is to be submerged to calculate the water pressure
that the container must withstand. The greater the depth, the greater
the danger that the container will be crushed by water pressure. For
instance, the standard stainless steel burial container will buckle at a
depth of approximately 4.3 meters. The difficulty of waterproofing also
increases with depth. Thus, the container should not be submerged any
deeper than necessary to avoid detection. As a general rule, 2.2 meters
is the maximum advisable depth for caching. If seasonal or tidal
variations in the water level require deeper submersion, the container
should be tested by actual submersion to the maximum depth it must
withstand.
Depth of the Water.
Emplacers must measure accurately the
depth of the water where at the point where the cache is to be placed.
The will be the submersion depth if the cache is designed so that the
container rests on the bottom of the lake or rive r. The container may
be suspended some distance above the bottom, but the depth of the water
must be known to determine the length of moorings connecting the
containers to the anchors.
High-and-Low-Water Marks.
Any tidal or seasonal changes in the
depth of the water should be estimated as accurately as possible.
Emplacers must consider the low-water mark to ensure that low water will
not leave cache exposed. The high-water point also should be considered
to ensure that the increased depth will crush the container or prevent
recovery.
Type of Bottom.
Emplacers should probe as thoroughly as
possible the bed of the lake or river in the vicinity of the cache. If
the bottom is soft and silty, the cache may sink into the muck, become
covered with sediment, or drift out of place. If the bottom is rocky or
covered with debris, the mooring may become snagged. Any of these
conditions may make recovery very difficult.
Water Motion.
Emplacers should consider tides,
currents, and waves because any water motion will put additional strain
on the moorings of the cache. Moorings must be strong enough to
withstand the greatest possible strain. If the water motion tends to
rock the cache, emplacers must take special care to prevent the moorings
from rubbing and fraying.
Clearness of the Water.
When deciding how deep to submerge the
cache, emplacers must first determine how far the cache can be seen
through the water. If the water is clear, the cache may need to be
camouflaged by painting the container to match the bottom. (Always paint
shiny metallic fixtures a dull color.) Very murk water makes recovery by
divers more difficult.
Water Temperature.
Planners must consider seasonal changes
in the temperature of the water. Recovery may be impossible in the
winter if the water freezes. The dates when the lake or river usually
freezes and thaws should be determined as accurately as possible.
Salt Water.
Since seawater is much more corrosive
than fresh water, tidal estuaries and lagoons should not be used for
caching. The only exception is the maritime re-supply operation, where
equipment may be submerged temporarily along the seacoast until it can
be recovered by a shore party.
CONCEALMENT
There are many different ways to conceal
a cache in natural or ready-made hiding places. For instance, if a
caching party were hiding weapons and ammunition in a cave, relying
entirely on natural concealment, the emplacement operation would be
reduced to simply locating the site. No tools would be needed except
paper, pencil and a flashlight. On the other hand, if the party were
sealing a packet of jewels in a brick wall, a skilled mason would be
needed, his kit of tools, and a supply of mortar expertly mixed to match
the original brick wall.
When planning for concealment, planners
must know the local residents and their customs. During the actual
emplacement, the caching party must ensure the operation is not
observed. The final sterilization of the site is especially important,
since a concealment site is usually open to frequent observation.
CACHING COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT
As a general rule, all equipment for a
particular purpose (demolitions, survival) should be included in one
container. Some equipment, however, is so sensitive from a security
standpoint that it should be packed in several containers and cached in
different locations to minimize the danger of discovery by the enemy.
This is particularly true of communications equipment, since under some
circumstances anyone who acquires a whole RT set with a signal plan and
cryptographic material would be able to play the set back. An especially
dangerous type of penetration would result. In the face of this danger,
the signal plan and the cryptographic material must never be placed in
the same container. Ideally a communications kit should be distributed
among three containers and cached in different locations. If three
containers are used , the distribution may be as follows:
Container #1: The RT set, including the crystals.
Container #2: The signal plan and operational supplies for the RT operator, such as currency, barter and small arms.
Container #3: The cryptographic material.
When several containers are used for one
set of equipment, they must be placed far enough apart so that if one is
discovered, the others will not be detected in the immediate vicinity.
On the other hand, they should be located close enough together so that
they can be recovered conveniently in one operation. The distance
between containers will depend on the particular situation, but
ordinarily they should be at least 10 meters apart. One final reference
point ordinarily is used for a multiple cache. The caching party should
be careful to avoid placing multiple caches in a repeated pattern.
Discovery of one multiple cache would give the opposition a guide for
probing others placed in a similar pattern.
CACHING MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
A feasibility study must be performed to
determine the need for the caching of medical supplies. The purpose of
caches is to store excess medical supplies, to maintain mobility, and
deny access to the enemy. Also caching large stockpiles of medical
supplies allows prepositioning vital supplies in anticipation of future
planned operations.
THE CACHE REPORT
The final step, which is vital in every
emplacement operation, is the preparation of a cache report. This report
records the essential data for recovery. The cache report must provide
all of the information that someone unfamiliar with the locality needs
to find his way to the site, recover the cache, and return safely. The
report format follows.
THE TWELVE-POINT CACHE REPORT
1. Type of Cache
2. Method of Caching
3. Contents
4. Description of Containers
5. General Area
6. Immediate Area
7. Cache Location
8. Emplacement Details
9. Operational Data and Remarks
10. Dates of Emplacement and Duration of the Cache
11. Sketches and Diagrams
12. Radio Message for Recovery
Content
The most important parts of the cache
report must include instructions for finding and recovering the cache.
it should also include any other information that will ease planning the
recover operation. Since the details will depend upon the situation and
the particular needs of each organization, the exact format of the
report cannot be prescribed. The Twelve-Point cache Report is intended
merely to point out the minimum essential data. Whatever format is used,
the importance of attention to detail cannot be overemphasized. A
careless error or omission in the cache report may prevent recovery of
the cache when it is needed.
Procedure
The observer should collect as much data
as possible during the personal reconnaissance to assist in selecting a
site and planning emplacement and recovery operations. Drafting the
cache report before emplacement is also advisable. Following these
procedures will reveal the omissions. Then the missing data can be
obtained at the site. If this procedure is followed, the preparation of
the final cache report will be reduced to an after-action check. This
check ensures that the cache actually was placed precisely where planned
and that all other descriptive details are accurate. Although this ideal
may seldom be realized, two procedures always should be followed:
*The caching party should complete the final cache report as soon as possible after emplacement, as details are fresh in mind.
*Someone who has not visited the site should check the instructions by using them to lead the party to the site. When so such person is available, someone should visit the site shortly after emplacement, provided he can do so securely. If the cache has been embraced at night, a visit to the site in daylight may also provide an opportunity to check on the sterilization of the site.
APPENDIX
Weights Needed to Submerge Containers
|
Container Dimensions (inches) |
Empty Container Weight (pounds) |
Approx. weight
that must be added to empty container weight to attain zero
buoyancy (pounds) |
|
7x9x8 1/2 |
5 |
15 |
|
7x9x16 1/2 |
8 |
31 |
|
7x9x40 |
16 |
77 |
|
7x9x45 |
17 1/2 |
88 |
|
7x9750 |
19 |
97 |
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