Baltimore (CA 68) - Naval Cruise Book

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ai Captain Fink ' Xh., Captain C. E. Olsen

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THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT The Engineering Department, consisting of eight officers and 201 enlisted men, is divided into four divisions, A , B , E , and These divisions are charged with the running and up- keep of the main engines, boilers, auxiliary machinery, distri- bution of fuel and furnishing the ship with lights, electric power and fresh water. A Division, the auxiliary gang, is comprised mainly of those machinists who understand machine shop work, the run- ning of lathes, milling machines, shapers, etc., and the upkeep of the small boat engines, steering machinery, diesel engines for auxiliary light and power, crane and elevator machinery, air conditioning and ice machine units. B Division, the division formerly known as The Black Gang in the old coal burning days, are the men who fire the huge oil burning superheated boilers and maintain and operate the various fireroom auxiliaries, such -asgfeed pumps, forced- draft blowers, fuel-oil heaters, and see that steam pressure is constant at all times. A modern Navy fireman is a far cry from the old days when all a man needed to be a fireman was A strong back and a weak mind. M Division is composed of the men who operate and keep our main turbine driven engines in operating condition. These engines are capable of developing 30,000 shaft horse- power per unit and force the ship through the water at a speed exceeding 32 knots. Machinists mates repair and maintain the various pumps and the condensers which turn the steam, used to drive the turbines, back into water so that it may be used again, for water is a precious item aboard a man-of-war. The evaporating plant, which distills fresh potable water from sea water, foruse in the- boilers and for the use of personnel on board for drinking, laundry, showers and cooking purposes, is also operated by the M Division. Last but not least the E Division ist made of electricians who maintain and operate the four main turbo-generators which furnish us with electrical power, which would be adequate to meet the needs of a city of 10,000 population. But this is a small part of their work, for there is an automatic dial telephone ex- change, search-lights powerful enough to illuminate an object , 0 I many miles away, hundreds of electrical motors for driving pumps, vent fans and all types of power machinery to provide fire power for our guns. Although most people, unfamiliar with the Navy, picture the engineers as men who work in hot, dirty spaces and clad in oily dungarees, this is certainly not the case. Engine rooms and firerooms in this modern Navy are as clean as any particular housewife's kitchen and are far better ventilated. Although the men do stand their watches and perform their duties in dun- garees they are clean and neat as pins and when ready for liberty, leave or inspection, are generally the outstanding men in appearance. Most of the men in the Engineering Department are picked men with former experience in their trade in civilian life or who before reporting aboard ship, have completed a course in in- struction in one of the various trade schools maintained and operated by the Navy to train new men. Advancement is usually rapid and no better place could be found to learn a trade and work with the most modern equipment in the world than in the Engineering Department. - THE NAVIGATION DEPARTMENT The Navigation Department is a small outfit consisting of two officers and 30 men. Of course, its main function is to nav- igate the ship safely on all its voyage. Its other functions are: Supervision of education on board ship, care of the ship's li- brary, public relations, upkeep of charts, and supervision of the watch on deck. In order to accomplish the above functions the department is made up of quartermasters, aerographers, pho- tographers, yeomen and seamen. The department is responsible for the upkeep of the Pilot House, from where the ship is conned , the navigation bridge, the chart house Cwhere the navigator lays out his track and figures out his positionb, the aerology laboratory, the photog- raphy laboratory, and the steering gear compartment. Because the department was fortunate enough to obtain excellent reserve enlisted men of good character and education, C9070 of its men are reserveD, it operates smoothly and efficiently.