Suggestions for sentinel success

PS: The Preventive Maintenance Monthly, Dec, 2004 by James Lightner

Dear Editor,

During our months fighting in Iraq we learned a couple of impotant lessons for our Sentinels that will help other radar crews.

Seal out sand.

The doors that cover the compartments on the Sentinel do not always do a good job of sealing out sand. The sand causes abrasions and other problems on the Sentinel's electronic component's, especially if you are dealing with the fine sand of Southwest Asia. The Sentinel compartment doors have an electromagnetic interference (EMI) seal/tape installed around each door. You cannot add weather stripping to the Sentinel compartment doors without affecting the EMI shield, which protects the crew and system from RF energy. What you can do is try to keep the access doors closed as much as possible, wipe the compartments clean dally, and daily check and clean if necessary all the air filters.

Keep an eye on the trailer's brake fluid and wheel hub grease.

We found the heat and rough terrain of the desert were tough on the trailer. We lost one trailer axle because of no grease and discovered that the trailer needed much more brake fluid out there. You may need to check the brake fluid weekly in the desert instead of monthly like the PMCS in TM 9-2330-392-14&P says.

Carefully follow the lube instructions in Appendix G of the TM, particularly the ones about the wheel hubs. The hubs may need lubing monthly instead of semiannually in the desert.

(Editor's note: Thanks for sharing your Sentinel tips. Sentinel crews should keep them on their radar screens.

SGT James Lightner

PFC Scott Mitchell

HHB, 1/3 ADA

Ft Stewart, GA