| Designed for firefighting and dewatering operations,
the P-250 Mod 1 pump was developed in 1985 to replace
the gasoline-driven P-250 and PE-250 pumps. It was a
250-gpm, portable, two-cycle, two-cylinder,
gasoline-driven pump, rated at 40 horsepower. Ignition
was by magneto built into the flywheel and controlled by
an electronic power pack. Lubricating oil, NMMA TCW-II,
was provided in a tank with a sight glass. A variable
ratio oiler (VRO) pump was installed to pump oil to and
lubricate the engine components. Engine cooling was
achieved by redirecting a small quantity of pump
discharge water. The fuel was 80- to 100-octane
gasoline. The six-gallon fuel tank provided one hour of
operation. The pump consisted of an engine, centrifugal
pump, primer pump, water outlet gate, pressure
regulator, self-winding pull starter, electronic power
pack, fuel tank, oil tank, VRO, motor controls and a
pressure regulator with gauge. Accessories provided with
the pump included a special tri-gate valve having two 1
½-inch and one 2 ½-inch male connections, a 3-inch by
10-foot hard rubber suction hose, a 2 ½-inch by 20-foot
exhaust hose and a foot valve strainer. The pump weighed
157 pounds without the fuel tank. The pump was
self-priming up to 16 feet; manual priming was required
for greater suction lifts. The 2 ½-inch discharge hose
could be connected to an eductor for lifts above 20
feet. A 3-inch male suction connection and the discharge
side had a 2 ½-inch male connection to attach a hose,
wye-gate or tri-gate for multiple hose runs in
firefighting. The pump could supply three 1 ½-inch fire
hoses or one 2 ½-inch hose for topside firefighting, or
it could provide the actuation water for an eductor in
below decks operations. The pump required two personnel
to transport it. Eleven personnel were required to set
up and rig it for operation. In ship wide or major
emergencies, any member of the ship’s company could
provide assistance in operating the pump; otherwise,
pump teams from repair party lockers rigged and operated
the pump. The repair lockers that had specific P-250 Mod
1 teams in Condition I were 1, 2, and sometimes 3 and 4,
depending on the ship’s class. Suitable means had to be
provided to carry the poisonous exhaust gases into the
clear, particularly when the pump was used below decks.
A 2-inch by 20-foot rubber exhaust hose was coupled to
the exhaust outlet to remove the gases through an
alternate overboard discharge connection when operating
on the DC deck. After being operated with sea water, the
pump had to be flushed with fresh water and drained
before being restored. The pumps were generally stowed
topside in water- and fume-proof sealed covers for
safety because of the gasoline tanks, as well as to
reduce salt water corrosion. The P-250 Mod 1 pump was
replaced by the P-250 Mod 2 pump in late 1989. |
