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

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5-E DIVISICN Operating, maintaining, and repairing electrical equipment, from truck lights to shaft revolution counters in the bilges, was the task of 5-E Division and its electrician's mates. The ship's main propulsion equipment was largely electri- cal, and in addition, there were four auxiliary generators to supply power for auxiliary machinery and lighting. Members of this division learned to operate and stand watch on two, 30 ft. switch- boards. The operation of the generators and switchboards was largely automatic due to voltage regulators on the switchboard and hydraulic governors on the generators. The maintenance work included routine upkeep of two of the largest marine motors in existence--the 9,000 h. p. main propulsion motors. This division was subdivided into three sections-lighting, power and interior communications. The lighting section had, among other duties, the job of keeping over 3,500 lights burning and the maintenance of adequate ventilation throughout the ship. This section also maintained and repaired all deck machinery since 'Q ff S ynelzronizin g generators on the electrical control panel 6,592 l Y Testing equipment in the light shop all cargo Winches and the anchor windlass were electrically driven. Other equipment handled from the light shop included carbon arc searchlights, running lights, signal lights, anchor lights, and storage batteries. The power shop section was responsible for the maintenance of all the various electrical machinery and apparatus in the two 2 f I ba y 4 f Fseff engine rooms of room auxiliaries many electrizaf riffs be kept operatisg fri

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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

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5-E DIV 'FHWA .f,?.,-1: .st f gs Th Th yt kg gf! :ere ckxitrwtall? dd'm' hits, md as ru :bf ' gqgntuhkw' The Interior Communications Room engine rooms and motor rooms. Practically all of the engine room auxiliaries were electrically driven, not to mention the many electrical alarms and control devices, all of which had to be kept operating continually. ISION The interior communications section had charge of a group of equipment including such things as engine order telegraphs, automatic whistle operation, general announcing systems, rudder angle indicators, and both automatic dial and sound powered telephone circuits. Such communications as the above become rather extensive on a ship the size of the ADMIRAL CAPPS and maintenance is consequently a difficult job. However, com- munications, which is the heart and soul of a large modern Naval vessel, must be kept in top-notch condition at all times. One of the most important duties of 5-E Division, and one which does not fall under either of the three above mentioned sections, has been the maintenance of the master gyro compass, gyro repeaters, gyro pilot or Iron Miken, and the automatic course recorder. Although this division was necessarily decentralized, some of its members working from the power shop, others from the light shop, and still others from the I.C. room or telephone central, its members demonstrated their espirit de corpsii last Christmas time. When Christmas decorations could not be bought, the division volunteered to make them. Strings of Xmas tree lights, a Haming red cross, ten feet high, for the main mast, and a white star of Bethlehem for the foremast were ingeniously constructed from spare parts and salvage. Their work brought a sincere well done from the Captain, who remarked that it made the CAPPS the shining light of a well decorated Navy Yard.