6 • April 25 , 2021 • Morrison County Record • www . mcrecord . com • The Ripley Reporter
Fixing the Winter !
Sgt . Andrew Wensmann Community Relations Specialist
Feb . 12 , 2021 ( CAMP RIPLEY , Minn .)— Those individuals of the cold winter climate of the North Country know that winter months come with their own set of complex problems . Amongst these problems lie those frustrations that plague all forms of machines and equipment . The cold and ice cause numerous issues and put strain on the things we rely on the most to move the Armed Forces forward , machines and the human body .
To decrease the impact of the cold-hearted nature of the northern climate there are number of recommendations and tasks that can and are completed . The first step in ensuring winter safety and operability is planning and ensuring supplies and gear are available . In addition , time is crucial .
“ Understand that every task takes longer to accomplish during winter months ,” said CW3 Samuel Sherwood , Automotive Supervisor for CMA-S . Time is essential for many reasons in
Monday-Saturday 10:00 a . m . - 11:00 p . m . Sunday 11:00 a . m . - 11:00 p . m . the winter . We need to limit our time in extremely cold weather and increase the amount of time we need to travel . Vehicle and equipment may also need time to warm up or increased time to be lubricated or tuned . If equipment and gear aren ’ t given the proper attention and time to adjust to the cold they will begin to fail and break down rapidly .
Some of the largest issues with equipment in the cold are not adjusting fluids and not monitoring and protecting electrical equipment .
“ Batteries have degraded performance in cold weather , especially after extended periods of time without the vehicle being used . Once batteries ’ capacity is reduced , they are unable to provide enough power to start vehicles ,” said Sherwood .
Furthermore , fluids may be temperature sensitive . Certain types of fuels and lubricants should be switched out or avoided during colder months . Things like weapons lubricant or diesel fuel can begin to gel or stick in the cold . This reduces the operability of equipment . To avoid this , it is always important to read
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Maintenance in the winter adds an extra step to ensuring vehicles and equipment are ready for supporting state and federal missions . ( Minnesota National Guard Photo by Sgt . Andrew Wensmann )
and understand Technical manuals for each piece of equipment .
“ Every equipment Technical Manual ( TM ) includes a Lubrication Order ( LO ) that specifies the temperature ranges and type of lubricant to use . This is true for most weapons systems as well ,” said Sherwood .
Finally , it is always important for soldiers and airmen to listen and take guidance from our leaders . Here is a quick safety recommendation from CW3 Sherwood : “ Understand the additional requirements for successfully operating in cold weather , and plan accordingly . Incorporate all winter operations risks and mitigations in the deliberate risk management process .
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