Manatee (AO 58) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 59 text:

Glasses and plates are washed and sterilized in readiness for the next meal by SA HUERTA. As mess call is sounded, the crew lines up in anticipation. The crew at noon meal. After hours at work, the meals pro- vided by the ships mess cooks are a wel- come break. The ship has three daily meals and midnight rations for the watch slanders. The mess decks serve as a recreation and education area between meals. BM3 MITCHL ' K. ' X. S.A. ROMERO. SN JAIMEZ. and YN:J frONZALES left to right

Page 58 text:

m ■ • m . v) it 1 1 •y On Lookout Watch. SN BENTSON scans the horizon for approaching ships. SN HUNGERFORD waits for inform- ation from engineering. A team of bridge watchstanders as.sists the Captain in operating the ship. The bridge phone talkers linked to the Combat Information Center, and the Engineering plant provide instant communications ; and helmsman and lookouts keep the ship on a clear steady course. In Main Control, the heart of the En- gineering plant, a close watch is maintained on steam temperature and pressure, and operation of the ships twin turbine engines. EM3 MCBRIDE makes adjustments to the manatee ' s main switchboard. RDSN JOHNSON (left) and SN WIEDRICH l:)reak out supplies to be used in preparing the crews meal. SN WILLI.AMS

Page 60 text:

DRILLS As the MANATEE lies hove to dead in the water, the whaleboat speeds to recover the lost man. Within minutes after the man overbuard alarm is sounded, the motor whaleboat is manned and ready for lowering. With OSCAR the MANA TKK ' s man overboard dummy safely aboard, the crew readies for hoist- ing and securing. Each quater, the ship conducts a series of exercises to keep the ship ready for any emergency. These include man overboard, gunnery and engineering exercises simulating breakdowns. Although precautions are care- fully enforced, there is always the possibility that a man could fall over- board. The possibility of drowning requires swift recovery. In the ex- ercises, the men accomplish the re- covery in less than 14 minutes. The regular exercises insure that if a man should fall overboard, the ship and the men will be prepared.