USS HARPERS FERRY LSD-49 (CV) SHIP’S LOADING CHARACTERISTICS PAMPHLET

METRIC SYSTEM

1. The Secretary of the Navy has issued policies and procedures for the use of the metric system
within the Department of the Navy. In a step toward full implementation, metrics are being introduced
into the Ship's Loading Characteristics Pamphlet (SLCP). The first phase will consist of placing metric
equivalents next to or below (as space permits) the present (inch - foot) system figures. These
equivalents will be placed only on cargo/vehicle/well deck stowage area diagrams and flight/hanger
deck diagrams. Introduction of metric figures into area/volume/weight situations (both on diagrams
and within charts) will be undertaken at a later date.

2. In the Metric System there is only one series of units for length (distance), area (surface), volume
(capacity), and weight (mass):

                    LENGTH

                    AREA


                    VOLUME
 = METERS

= SQUARE METERS


= CUBIC METERS

In liquid measure, the basic unit
is a Liter.

1 Cubic Meter = 1000 Liters


          RELATIVE COMPARISON
          METER

          1 SQ METER

          1 CU METER

          1 GRAM

          1 KILOGRAM

          1 METRIC TON

          1 LITER
 =          39.4 INCHES

=          1 SQUARE, 39.4 INCHES IN LENGTH ON EACH SIDE

=          1 CUBE, 1 SQUARE METER ON EACH SIDE

=          1 THOUSANDTH OF A KILOGRAM

=          APPROXIMATELY 2.2 POUNDS

=          APPROXIMATELY 2,200 POUNDS

=          1.06 QUARTS
3. The following symbols are used in the Metric System:

         Meter:
         Metric Ton:
         Gram:
         Centimeter:
         Kilogram:
         Cubic Meter:
         Liter:
         Square Meter:
 m
t
g
cm
kg
m3
L (only capital letter)
m2
 


4. The following rules apply when displaying numbers in the Metric System: 
     a. No commas are used (used as a decimal in some countries); 
         17,678 becomes 17 678 
 
     b. Numbers are shown in groupings of three when five or more are reflected (four numbers 
will be displayed without a space): 
 
         1,365,810 becomes 1 365 810 
 
             7,680 becomes 7 680 

           125.342 becomes 125.342 (no change) 
 
               .75 becomes 0.75 

                               when the quantity being shown is less 
                               than one, a zero must be displayed to the 
                               left of the decimal point. 
 
c. When numbers appear in column form, they will always be displayed in groups of three or less: 
 
              .68  becomes 0.68 
 
           8,762           8 672 
     + 19,869       + 19 869 
 
5. Conversions
If You
Have

Inches

Feet

Feet

Pounds

Short Ton
(2000 lbs)

Gallons

Cubic Feet

Square Feet
 If You
Find

Centimeters

Centimeters

Meters

Kilograms

Metric Ton
(2200 lbs)

Liters

Cubic Meters

Square Meters
 If You
Multiply By

2.54

30.

.3

0.45

0.907


3.8 5

0.028

0.0929


6"x2.54 = 15.24 cm

5'x30 = 150 cm

5'x.3 = 1.5 m

10lbsx0.45 = 4.5 kg




5 gal x 3.8 = 19 L

15 cuft x 0.028 = .42 m3

15 sqft x 0.0929 = 1.3935 m2

If You
Have

Centimeters

Meters

Kilograms

Metric Ton

Liters

Cubic Meters

Square Meter
 If You
Find

Inches

Feet

Pounds

Short Ton

Gallons

Cubic Feet

Square Feet
 If You
Multiply By

0.4

3.3

2.2

1.1

.26

35.3

10.8


35 cm x 0.4 = 14"

12 m x 3.3 = 39.6'

8 kg x 2.2 = 17.6 lbs

15 t x 1.1 = 16.5 S/T

25 L x .26 = 6.5 gal

12 m3 x 35.3 = 423.6 cuft

12 m2 x 10.8 = 129.6 sqft