Admiral W L Capps (AP 121) - Naval Cruise Book

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5-B DIVISION Deep down in the machinery spaces the firemen and water- tenders of 5-B Division stood watch on the four, 600 p. s. i., 8400 boilers. Two watches were stood, one in each machinery space. The watches in each Hreroom consisted of either two or three firemen and a watertender in charge. Theirs was the job of sup- plying steam at the proper pressure and temperature in accord- ance with the varying demands of the turbines, heating systems, and miscellaneous auxiliary equipment. Under steady steam- ing conditions the Hreroom watch maintained constant vigilance over the various gages, indicating the supply of fuel oil, air, and water, and the temperature of this supply. The watertenders work was greatly reduced by the installa- tion of the Hagan Combustion Control board which automati- cally regulated the amount of fuel oil, air and water going into I Changing burner: in thc fire room Oil King fueling ship the boilers. However, due to the extremely high temperatures and pressures employed in boilers and the rapid fluctuation of steam demands, mechanical control could not be entirely re- lied upon and, the watertender on watch had to keep constantly alert to avoid damage to the equipment or injury to the fire- room personnel. The monotony of a fireroorn watch under steady steaming conditions is broken by the changing of burners, shifting of fuel oil strainers, injection of soot reducing chemicals, the addition of boiler water compound, and the blowing of tubes. When the ship is maneuvering, the normal routine of watchful waiting becomes one of quick thinking, tenseness, and rapid action. Burner, 2.2 the Qhgj. to pro 'fzfif of Tffiiffli ffjfsilr time wg: is af 1.. 0 .. SOG? EL the eiii ., f. 1-. r af i E f.,-. ,-,-4 :.,, C,.i L T Ts. T., :SS 1 7 . ', ,c vg-1'---Lv. LAL., fl' .I ,am -A - 4 . . SCCCK fx if as, the Para ADINTYRAL Q aboard a ra war '-fl-'Ii to be lfffffjf, A

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I 'kiilf F901 .wire In 053115, 'Im we DICK! f gn-rfamrs SDJ 1-New ' me -i H -A DIVISION ,yr Q' The boat engine gets a cheek over spite of frequent overhauling, the washers, extractors, tumblers, pressers and mangles often required special repairs and replace- ments. If your laundry was a day late in returning, don't com- plain -if it hadn't been for a couple of machinist's mates work- ing overtime on a tumbler or a presser, you might not have it back yet. One of 'the most important units maintained by 5-A was the steering engine. Oil was forced by hydraulic pumps into the rams at even greater pressure than that of the steam used to drive the main turbines. During maneuvering conditions both pumps operated continuously, in case one fails, the load is auto- matically shifted to the other. Normal operation at sea required only one unit. The complete ventilation system fexcept for motors and their controlling devices which 5-E Division handledj was another job for 5-A Division. This entailed a great amount of cleaning. The blowers and suction and discharge screens became filled with dust and Waste rapidly. The heaters also required constant maintenance and repair due to steam leaks, frozen traps and regulating valves which had become deranged. When the enormous number of mechanical devices outside the enginerooms proper are considered, not to mention the great variety of those devices, it is a tribute to the industry and efficiency of 5-A Division that this machinery was made inconspicuous by its continued smooth functioning. ffm Checking the ice machines

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nperatures mation of ntircly rf- Cfllilmly 0 the fiff' 7333, ,Maw I H.. ,awbm Hvuiil ,aan -B DIVISIDN Burners must be cut in and out and the fuel oil pressure varied .ts the ship changes her speed. The air supply must be adjusted to provide for proper combustion in the furnace, and the supply of water must he regulated to keep the Water in the boilers at a constant level, Since boilers cannot be secured for any length of time while underway, the majority of repair work must be done in port. Valves and piping must be repaired, gages calibrated, soot and scale accumulations removed, etc. In addition to this, the ship must be fueled for the next trip - a tricky operation if it is to be done at top speed and without allowing the oil to over- flow or the ship to take on a list. ln addition to the above, further credit reflects on the men of SMB Division when it is realized that their Work was done in the withering heat of the fireroom where temperatures were seldom less than IOOO F. and reached I2OO F. in hot climates, such as. the Panama Canal Zone. The firemen and watertenders of the ADMIRAL CAPPS, who, with little or no sea experience, stepped aboard a strange ship and operated the boilers throughout the vsar without a single major fireroom casualty, have good reason to be proud of a difficult job well done Check man adjustzn g fcedwatcr supply