After the locking cable is disconnected, the jaws can be opened. The band is installed on the missile and the locking cable is secured again. The dorsal fins of the missile fit within the areas designated as fin slots or fin cutouts.

The VLS canister band Mk 91 Mod 1 (see fig. 2-43) is normally kept onboard destroyer tenders (AD), submarine tenders (AS), and VLS canister supply binge. It is used to steady the canister during strikedown when strikedown is done with the AD/AS or supply barge shipboard crane.

Figure 2-43.-Mk 79 Mod 1 missile handling band and Mk 91 Mod 1 VLS canister handling band.

Handling bands have several purposes. They are necessary for all Standard missile handling operations. The bands support and secure these rounds in their shipping containers, their transfer dollies, and their VLS canisters.

MISSILE TRANSFER DOLLY.- The Mk 6 missile transfer dolly is used to transport rounds between supplying and receiving activities. You will also hear them called "grasshoppers." Figure 2-44 shows the Mk 6 Mods 2 and 4 dolly in greater detail.

The Mk 6 Mods 2 and 4 dollies are used with Standard and Harpoon missiles. These rounds are secured to and suspended from the inner framework of the dolly by their handling bands.

Figure 2-44.-Mk 6 Mods 2 & 4 missile transfer dolly.

The Mk 6 dolly incorporates a length of guide rail and an adapter assembly. The guide rail, secured to the inner framework of the dolly, is identical to any Standard GMLS guide rail. A center track or slot accepts a Mk 13 strikedown chain. Forward and aft shoe tracks guide and support the missile by its upper launching shoes. Two openings are cut into the guide rail tracks. These openings permit the missile's shoes to be engaged to or disengaged from the guide rail of the dolly.

The adapter assembly is mounted to the forward end of the framework of the dolly, In its raised position (fig. 2-44), the adapter can connect to the rear of a guide arm. When the dolly is not in use, the braces of the adapter (arms) can be unpinned. The assembly is then folded to the rear and locked down. With the adapter folded, empty transfer dollies can be stacked on one another. Sometimes the adapter is referred to as a "gooseneck."

The framework consists of welded tubular hardened alloy steel. Four shock-mounted wheel assemblies have manually operated caster locks. The wheels are unlocked whenever the doll y is to be moved from one area to another. Unlocked, the wheels can turn 360 in either direction (similar to the front wheels on a supermarket shopping cart). That eases dolly movement around corners and in tight, limited deck-space areas. The wheels are locked when the dolly is aligned to a guide armor is over a strikedown hatch.

The wheels can be locked only when they are at 0 or 180. The dolly can still be rolled, but only in a straight line (forward or backward).

The dolly has a hydraulically actuated disc-brake system. The brakes are controlled by a manually operated deadman-type brake handle. The handle must be pumped a few times (which builds up hydraulic pressure) to release the brakes. If you are the brakeman on a dolly, please be careful. Releasing the brake handle automatically sets the brakes and Mk 6 dollies will "stop on a dime"! his action not only "surprises" your shipmates, but jars/jolts the missile quite a bit. Release the handle slowly to stop slowly.

A four-legged sling provides a means to hoist the dolly by crane. The sling also actuates the hinged side-mounted bumper guards that protect the center of the missile. Nose guards and a rear bumper provide additional protection. Clear plastic guards keep an unused sling from hitting the missile.

Two forklift guide frames, or channels, are installed on the dolly. Wheel pockets on the top framework permit empty dollies to be stacked in stowage. Loaded dollies must not be stacked. Also, never leave a missile in a dolly any longer than necessary. One other word of warning-watch your toes! Transfer dollies are heavy, cumbersome vehicles. If one runs over your foot, you WILL understand the true meaning of pain.