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

Page 35 text:

'W 1'-6 '71 V -'arettlpotnt we 1- the most Mruage control tt li 9 Navy ., more emphasis Q tiegw mas VEQCCLI in -51 t'-s iamage control wtf., ,Q the Admiral 3 '- , Vggrhirlwiiillri. ,-,,,if- Mm,-tsl gear and ,Ht 'H-Q,-tft-mars for the the large and small R DIVISION The carpenter sh op .QMHI portable fire pumps, rescue breathing apparatus, asbestos suits, submersible pumps, and much other equipment designed for the control of damage. Certain skills also had to be mastered, such as, the proper Way to Hght the three different types of fires, that are found aboard ship, how to shore up weakened bulkheads, and how to apply emergency patches to a broken pipeline or to a hole in the ship's hull. Although not strictly classed as damage control, but closely related to it, is the routine job of sounding all tanks, voids, and coflerdams daily to determine the amount of water in each. If the amount of water in a given void exceeds the safe limit for that space, the engineroom is notified and the space is pumped out. Allied to this task of taking routine soundings is the maintenance of the proper list, trim, and stability of the ship. Here the First Lieutenant, who is in charge of R Division, must cooperate with the Engineering Ofhcer to obtain the desired results. R Division Was, perhaps, one of the least appreciated and un- derestimated divisions aboard. These men deserve credit for a disagreeable job performed in a pleasant and efficient manner. The carpenter? males handle the anchor wz'ndla5.f

Page 34 text:

R DIVISION The most unglamorous job of all fell to R Division. Theirs was the never ending and thankless task of keeping the hull and its Httings in top shape at all times. Something was always breaking or otherwise causing trouble, and it was found necessary to keep men continually patrolling the ship looking for clogged drain lines, broken water lines, leaky valves, damaged bunks, and the countless other troubles that occur aboard a large ship. Seldom an hour went by that the call for C and R Patrol did not come over the P. A. system. Most of us became accustomed to this call and took it for granted, not realizing that each such call meant another disagreeable task to be performed by this busy division. h In addition to the repair work accomplished by R Division all construction or alterations, not sufficiently large to require the attention of a Navy Yard, were undertaken by this division. This includes the building of storerooms for the use of various other divisions, and lockers and racks of all descriptions. Most of this Operating the Handy Billy fre pump Burning of at zomm. gun mount Work was time consuming although, perhaps, from the standpoint of the carpenter's mates attached to the division, it was the most enjoyable. At the beginning of the war the subject of damage control was little known or practiced. After a number of U. S. Navy vessels had been lost that could have been saved, more emphasis was placed on this function, and when the Capps was placed in commission, provisions were made for an adequate damage control organization. R Division was the the backbone of the Admiral Capps, three repair parties located fore, aft, and amidships. These parties were equipped with the latest of damage control gear and were proficient in the use of that gear. It was necessary for the men in this division to master the use of the large and small portable fire pumps submersible pumps. the control of darna such as, the proper I that are found aboar and how to appif: e a hole in the ship Although not 5 related to it. is th cofferdams daily the amount of irate that space. the

Page 36 text:

DIVISION The Supply Department performed Hve major functions which contributed to the efficient operation of the ship and the welfare of the crew, i.e. supply, pay, commissary, clothing, and ship's store. Each of the above functions was independent of one another, but all were under the direction of the Supply Officer. The function of supply was to see that the vessel had a stock of general supplies and that each piece of equipment on the ship had necessary parts for repairs. In addition to the primary duty of general supplies and parts for each piece of equipment on the ship they arranged for transportation of personnel, eligible de- pendents, freight, household effects, military impedimenta, etc. The official work connected with these duties was performed by a staff of storekeepers. The function of pay was to maintain a pay card for each Ea-4'-L--5 v-Q saa, Lff The .vlzz'p's laundry Steam lqettles in the troopif galley man, and disburse the amount due the men on regular pay days. Other duties falling under the function of pay include dissemi- nation of information on overnment insurance war bonds fam- g 7 7 ily allowances, and allotments of pay and the preparation of vari- ous forms and reports pertaining to those matters. The commissary department was responsible for the pro- curement, preparation and serving of the 3I40,000.00 worth of food consumed by crew and passengers on the Admiral Capps since commissioning. Two War born innovations in the de- partment were dehydrated foods and the mass production of ice cream, the former, unpopular but a necessity, and the latter, ex- tremely popular and just as necessary. Long periods at sea, or away from a supply depot, placed a premium on stowage space, and dehydrated foods were the answer. Ice cream was the answer 7 , Ng I Ei my PM -, , 4 Q, , iffy ', ,-ef' V - I aff' to the dessert problem Pacific, both afloat and daily to men in a limit no lowering of Navi: style. A full stock of req to be the neatest Navy locker. Clothing was ting the middleman 5 pocket. ln addition if buttons, sewing kits. is were available,