10-Man Arctic Tent
OPERATOR’S & MAINTENANCE MANUAL
This manual contains privileged and confidential information. Any copying, disclosure, dissemination, or distribution of this manual or its contents is strictly forbidden without the written consent from DHS SYSTEMS, LLC. Additional copies of the manual are available from DHS SYSTEMS, LLC.
ISO 9001: 2000 Registered
Quality Management System
33 Kings Highway, Orangeburg, NY 10962 Phone: 845-359-6066
Original Issue Date: 17 February 2006
Web:
Revision History
This document contains information proprietary to DHS Systems LLC and is intended solely for use by its customers. No portion of this document may be reproduced for release to a third party without written consent of DHS Systems LLC.
Copyright © 2006, DHS SYSTEMS LLC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 GENERAL ............................................................................................................................ 1-1
1.1 SCOPE...........................................................................................................................1-1
1.2 DESCRIPTION of the 10-Man Arctic Tent......................................................................1-1
2 OPERATION PROCEDURES .............................................................................................. 2-1
2.1 PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS ...................................................................................2-1
2.1.1 SITE LOCATION.....................................................................................................2-1
2.1.2 ERECTING the TENT .............................................................................................2-1
2.1.3 Installing the Floor ...................................................................................................2-3
2.2 STRIKING the TENT ......................................................................................................2-4
2.2.1 STRIKING PROCEDURES .....................................................................................2-4
2.3 FOLDING the TENT .......................................................................................................2-5
2.3.1 FOLDING PROCEDURES ......................................................................................2-5
2.4 OPERATIONS under UNUSUAL CONDITIONS ............................................................2-6
2.4.1 USING THE TENT IN COLD CLIMATES ................................................................2-6
3 MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS ....................................................................................... 3-1
3.1 PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE OF TENT .....................................................................3-1
3.1.1 GENERAL ...............................................................................................................3-1
3.1.2 USAGE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER ............................................................3-1
3.1.3 PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE...............................................................................3-1
3.1.4 PROTECTION of TENT AGAINST DAMAGE .........................................................3-1
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10-Man Arctic Tent
1 GENERAL
1.1 Scope
This manual is for use in erecting, striking, and maintaining the 10-Man Arctic Tent.
1.2 Decsription of the 10-Man Arctic Tent
The 10-Man Arctic Tent is a six-sided pyramidal tent supported by a telescopic center pole. The main purpose of this tent is to provide shelter for 10-men with equipment under arctic conditions.
Material: made with specially coated polyester fabrics named XYTEX
®
. All fabrics are fire retardant, mildew resistant, and water repellent. They have abrasion resistance and are UV resistant. The exterior fabric includes blackout in the visual and near infrared spectrum. The liner is made from 5.2 ounces of permeable cotton sheeting which helps to insulate the tent and is fire resistant.
Floor: The floor is made from a heavy duty polyester material to provide a barrier against insects and vermin, abrasion and ground moisture.
Ventilation: The 10-Man Arctic Tent has two doors on opposite sides and four built-in ventilators on opposite sides and near the peak of the tent. The door flaps may be closed either by zippers or loops over clips. The doors are operated from both inside and outside. The ventilators have inside ducts and hoods are of the fixed type, each hood being constructed with a stiffener in the hem to keep it extended out from the ventilator opening. The inside ducts on the ventilators may be closed by tie cords. Refer to Figure 1-1.
Heating: The 10-Man Arctic Tent is heated by an M-1950 Yukon stove (not included with tent) which either burns solid fuel or liquid fuel. A stovepipe opening is built-in on one side of the tent near the eave and has a silicone rubber molded ring. When the stove is not in use, the stovepipe opening is protected by a material flap. Refer to
Figure 1-1.
Cover: The cover is used for when the tent and liner are in storage or when being transported. Included inside the cover, there is a pocket for the 28 each, nine inch aluminum stakes and the telescopic center pole collapsed to its shortest length. Refer to Figure 1-1.
Snow Cloth: There are snow cloths (flaps) sewn to the bottom of each side of the 10-Man Arctic Tent. When the tent is erected, the snow cloth’s (flaps) are flat on the ground outside of the tent. Snow is placed on top of the snow cloths for insulation purposes. Refer to Figure 1-1.
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1 Stovepipe opening
2 Telescopic tentpole
3 Ventilator
4 Tent line, eave
5 Tent stake
6 Tent line, corner
7 Tent line, corner eave
8 F ootstop
9 Velcro
10 Clips
11 Z ipper
12 Tie tape
Figure 1-1. 10-Man Arctic Tent Features
13 Tent line, door eave
14 Snow cloth
15 Tent slip
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The ground should be level as possible, free from rocks, tree roots, or anything else that protrudes from the ground. Consider the site location to be far enough from lakes and streams and high enough for good drainage.
Drainage could be improved by digging a trench around the perimeter of the tent and digging an outlet to divert the water. In extreme winter conditions, the use of steel tent stakes is required rather than the normal 9 inch aluminum tent stakes. If the aluminum tent stakes are used in these conditions, they will only result in bending and breaking.
NOTE
The 10-Man Arctic Tent can be erected by six men in approximately 27 minutes.
1. Remove straps that secure the cover around the tent. Remove tent, 28 tent stakes, and telescopic pole from the cover.
2. Spread the tent out on the ground in a cleared area as shown in Figure 2-1.
R EAR
D OOR
INSIDE D-R ING
AN D S NAP
S LIDE
FASTENERS
FOOTSTOP
OUTSIDE D-RING
AN D S NAP
FR ON T
DOOR
C ORNER PIN
Figure 2-1 - Spread Tent Out on Ground
3. If a liner is being used, spread the liner out first and then place the tent on top of the liner. Be sure that the liner is secured to the tent at all suspension points especially around the stovepipe openings.
4. Open both zippers on the front and rear doors. Secure the D-rings to the snaps inside and outside of the front and rear doors.
5. Drive six corner and four door tent stakes and attach the footstops to each stake. Be careful not to tear the snow flap around the base of the tent while driving the stakes through the footstops.
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6. Using six tent stakes drive each stake approximately seven feet out away from the tent corners; loosely attach corner eave lines to each of the stakes. Stakes on the opposite side of the tent should be in a straight line of one and another.
7. Open the door; slide the telescopic pole under the top of the tent as shown in Figure 2-2. Insert the spindle end of the pole through the supporting ring at the peak (center) of the tent.
CORNER EAVE
LINE
SLIP
CORNE R
EAVE-LINE
PIN
OPEN
DOOR
TENT
POLE
CORNER EAVE
LINE
Figure 2-2 Insert Telescopic Pole
NOTE continued
When erecting the tent with a liner, regulate the space between the tent and liner by the means of adjusting the straps at the peak (center) of the tent.
8. With one person inside the tent, raise the tent by pushing up on the telescopic pole at the peak (center) of the tent and place the butt end of the pole in the center of tent. This person will continue to hold the pole in place until eave lines are tightened.
9. Close the inside and outside snaps and D-rings on the doors and close the zippers.
10. Tighten corner eave lines.
11. Stake the door eave lines out far enough to hold the doors vertical.
12. Stake out and attach four intermediate lines and corner lines.
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13. Adjust and tighten all guy lines.
14. The tent should be erect and secure as shown in Figure 2-3.
VELCRO
SLIP
10-Man Arctic Tent
ADJUSTAND
TIGHTEN ALL
LINES
CORNER EAVE-
LINEPIN
18"
INTERMEDIATE
EAVE-LINE
PIN
DOOR EAVE
LINE
CORNER
LINE
INTERMEDIATE
EAVE LINE
CORNER
LINE PIN
DOOR EAVE
LINE PIN
CORNEREAVE
LINE
Figure 2-3 Tent Erect and Secure
2.1.3 Installing the Floor
1. Layout the floor inside the shelter.
2. Secure the Velcro strips attached to the floor to the Velcro strips attached to the interior wall.
3. Using two personnel, start on the same side of the shelter at one door, align tabs on door, and work in the opposite direction as shown in Figure 2-4.
Figure 2-4 Install the Tent Floor
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2.2 STRIKING the TENT
1. Remove all equipment and accessories from inside the tent. Brush off all excessive frost from the interior of the tent or (if used) the liner. Remove all snow and ice accumulation from outside of the tent.
NOTE
When removing tent stakes from the frozen (snow) ground, chip the ice/snow from around the stake; never hit the stake side to side with a hammer which will result in damaging of the tent stakes.
CAUTION
Be caution not to tear the snow cloth flap that is attached to the base of the walls of the tent when removing the footstops and tent stakes from the ground.
2. Remove door eave lines from tent stakes.
3. Loosen and remove all footstops from tent stakes; remove tent stakes from ground.
4. Loosen all other lines; lift and remove the center telescopic pole from the tent.
5. Collapse the telescopic pole to the smallest length and put aside for later folding of tent.
6. Remove all remaining stakes.
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2.3 FOLDING the TENT
Before and during folding of the tent, brush off all snow and ice accumulation. If the tent must be folded when wet or frosted, unfold the tent at the first opportunity; separate the liner from the tent and dry components with warm dry air circulating on both sides of the material.
1. Holding the tent off the ground, shake off all snow and ice accumulation.
2. Spread tent out on the ground.
3. Close both door zippers, and locate the stovepipe opening.
4. Grasp the corner eave line (to the right of the stovepipe opening) and pull out corner of panel.
5. Coil the intermediate eave line and place neatly on the extended panel.
Figure 2-5 Folding the Tent
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6. Grasp the eave line (to the left of the stovepipe opening) and pull second panel to the right making an accordion fold.
7. Fold all remaining panels in the same fashion, ending up with six folds total. As each fold is completed, coil both the intermediate and door eave lines neatly between folds.
8. Coil all remaining guide lines neatly and place on top of folded panels.
9. Grasp the peak (center) of the tent and fold approximately four feet towards the bottom of the tent.
10. Fold the snow cloth flaps up over the side walls of the tent.
11. Fold the tent in half again and then fold length-wise.
12. The tent may be rolled or folded to the smallest possible size.
13. Place the folded tent on the cover.
14. Place the telescopic pole and tent stakes in the pocket of the cover.
15. Strap cover tightly around the tent. Ensure that no portion of the tent is exposed.
2.4 OPERATIONS under UNUSUAL CONDITIONS
2.4.1 USING THE TENT IN COLD CLIMATES
Before selecting a campsite on snow covered ground, prod the surface with an ice axe or ski pole to see whether snow conceals any crevices. It may be impossible to find an area without crevices, but it is possible to avoid accidents by knowing where they are. When an adequate site on the snow has been located, pack snow hard by stomping on it with skis or snowshoes.
Pitch the tent so that the entrance is not directly down wind. If the tent is pitched on snow with the entrance down wind, the entrance may become blocked with snow. If the site is not temporary, dig the tent into the snow. This will provide better protection from the wind. It may be necessary to build a snow-wall on the windward side of the tent to help protect it from the wind.
High winds, common in cold weather regions, require that tents be anchored securely. Tent stakes may not provide sufficient anchorage. Arctic tents have snow cloths sewed along the bottom edge of the wall; snow cloths should be flat against the snow outside the tent. Place snow, snow or ice blocks, stones, logs or other heavy items on the snow cloth flaps to assist in anchoring the tent.
Do not attempt to drive tent stakes into hard frozen ground if the force required is excessive. Instead, chop small holes into the ground, insert tent stakes into the ground, and fill holes with slush or water. In a short time the stakes will be firmly anchored. When removing the stakes from the frozen ground, always chop them out; never hammer from side to side.
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3.1 PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE OF TENT
3.1.1 GENERAL
Preventive maintenance checks are the minimum inspections which are performed daily to ensure that defects are found and corrected before they result in serious damage to or failure of equipment. If the tent is in use and damages are noted, repair all damages immediately; use the repair kit that came with the tent.
Do not step on the door flaps when entering and exiting the tent which could result in tearing of the door and or zipper seams. If the door zipper is hard to operate, move the front footstops stakes approximately three inches closer. Always keep the door zippers in a clean condition and well lubricated. If the zipper becomes difficult to move, apply a stick form lubricate to the metal slides of the zipper.
The following are preventive maintenance checks that should be observed.
3.1.2 USAGE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER
To prevent damage to the tent due to heavy snow or freezing rain, the roof must be checked periodically for ice build-up and snow accumulation. This can be accomplished by shaking the tent from the inside or by brushing off the exterior with a tree branch. During high wind conditions, ensure all guy lines are secure and tight. Dry tents and liners thoroughly before packing for a prolonged period of time; hang them in inside a warehouse or a larger tent.
3.1.3 PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE
Most tents are fire resistant. This does not mean that they will not burn; they usually do not burst into flames, but will smolder and char. When using a stove in a tent, every precaution must be taken to avoid fires. In snow use, ensure there is solid support underneath the stove and pipe (i.e. branches, boards, ration boxes or any other solid items). Ensure the stovepipe is securely tied down using guy lines on the draft diverters. Don’t let the stovepipe openings flaps touch the stovepipe. Spark arresters or draft diverters and shields placed around stovepipe openings must be installed. Don’t use excessive amounts gasoline when starting a fire in the stove. Be careful when relighting a gasoline fed stove. Let the stove cool first and then relight. All personnel should be well trained in building and maintaining stove fires, as well as being familiar with all fire safety regulations.
The greatest amount of damage is caused by carelessness, such as forgetting to loosen the lines when it starts to rain, not bothering to use spark arresters or draft diverters, adjusting lines carelessly or dragging the tent over rough ground. Erect, strike, and fold tent in manner described in this manual. Observe when erecting and striking the tent, making sure the material does not tear on protruding stakes, over-hanging branches or other objects. Never drag the tent along the ground. Inspect at frequent intervals for any evidence of mildew, small rips and holes, splitting of seams, grommets which have become loose, lines that are beginning to rot, or anything else which does not appear to be in normal condition.
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