Bataan (CVL 29) - Naval Cruise Book

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l6 Feb. '45- C 6' R, long held in restraint while the topside damage accumulated, takes over to ready us for sea. C 56' R-Construction and Repair--has two eyes and many hands. One eye is always on the present, making the many repairs and altera- tions necessary to keep the ship operating eth- ciently, while the other looks ahead. contem- plating every possible damage that might be inflicted to the ship. When the Word came through that we were going to have yard availability at Pearl. the lst Lieutenant requested all heads of de- partments to submit job orders. At the Yard the work went fast, repairs were made to the flight deck, damaged guns were replaced or repaired, flrebricks renewed, a new coat of paint applied to the ship, and all sundry alterations were completed. lts job of readying us for sea had started many weeks earlier. however. Wlaile tlae BATAAN was grooming flyers for the arduous task ahead. C 8 R was husy tr.ain- ing its personnel in the application of damage control factors. a training which later paid off in dividends. Damage Control. in its laroad meaning. is the employment of necessary action to preserve watertight integrity. stability and maneuverability: to control list and trim: to effect rapid repairs to material: to provide ade- quate protection from fire and chemical agents and to facilitate care of wounded personnel. Much of the work ts preparatory in nature and it is done before damage is receixed Ot prime tmportanee in bringing a fighting slaip to a latgh material condition of readiness ts the proper training and indoctrination of all our Repair Parties ran battle problem drills and the men became accustomed to- General uar ters General uarters All Hands man your battle stations They ran out hose fought fires shored bulkheads and laatehes hooked up casualty power systems pumped out flooded compartments donned and used Res cue Breathing Apparatus became proncient Page Sixty two with portable cutting and welding equipment and prepared themselves for the jobs they might be confronted with in the event of damage to the ship. U Tlae clearing house or central point where all damage data is collected is located on the first platform. below the Water line, in an air con- ditioned compartment known as Central Sta- tion. Here is located the central fire alarm switch- board. the forward gyro-compass, inclinometers, fresh and salt water pressure gauges, forward magazine flooding controls, cross connecting sound-powered phone switchboard, internal draft indicator. communication center, for all danaage repair parties. and all the prints, dia- grams and technical drawings necessary for in- stantaneous use slaould the occasion arise. ln addition to the primary function of dam- age control such calls as stand by to go along- side tanker to fuel ship Gr Station all line handling and anclaor windlass details found R Division personnel at laand running lines to tankers and destroyers. or preparing to drop anchor or moor to a dock. All ships have a housekeeper to insure that a high state of clean- liness is maintained. to burn trash, to grind and dispose of garbage. to make sure that all safety precautions are being enforced. All these intricate Jobs repairing the ripped flight deck making cabinets and frames repairing furniture maintaining tlae fire main insuring that all fresh vt ater lines are intact painting the ships sides making repairs to the hull and a hundred and one others fall to the lot of the lst Lieutenant and his shipfitters carpenters metalsmtths plumbers painters and boatswatn mates C U R s Job in battle is maintaining the maxi mum oflensise power of the ship The BATAAN vt ell knevt C 8 R would have us ready for sea and battle during the long months to come Its byline is You may sink the ship but well sate the fire main' H 1. -1 gl L I L . . 1 - . , u Y T -7 A . l l k 1 5 .C A ' a Ts. 4 1 personnel. During our training runs off Pearl. . . , i nl L hx A X 1 l 4 , , x a x s v ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' . . Q . - C 1 . I.. X ,Y .V . , 1 ' x u - 3 V 7 1 y K S 3 -a . a 1 v ' x -. 1 x - , ' ' H ' ' C u n Y e i 4 . 3 i l ' I gn

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CHRISTMAS SERVICES Midnight Mass was celebrated by 5 Chaplain L. J. McHugh on the Hangaffu Deck as the second Christmas of the Bataan was observed in Pearl. The Ship's Choir sang the Mass. fx AY! Page Sixty one . ,g. if A51 ' S I i f N Q

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