Robert H McCard (DD 822) - Naval Cruise Book

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The E Gang with Pastva as The Man an eye on all electrical motors lighting and interior communications also it s men from the E Gang who run the nightly movie The R Gang, working under Piggott is the Ship litters and Damage Controlmcn who do everything from spot welding to boat repairing One of the biggest jobs for Pigott known lo cally as The Pride of Quincy Mass -is re- patrmg various pieces of gear after a tender has fixed them. One of the features of the Engineering De- partment is its training program. During a man s fireman stage of training he is rotated to each of the spaces for an indoctrination period so that he may learn a little about each job before he is allowed to strike for a specific rating. The reason behind this is that before switches are thrown valves are operated, or pipe connec- tions broken a man must have a complete knowledge of the effects of his actions. A mis- take on his part can very easily injure personnel or destroy valuable equipment and effect the ship's maneuverability. Among their distinctions the Engineers are proud of having two of the ship's remaining Plank Owners in their number. Lonnie XV. Phillips, BTI and John E. Ylfagner, MMI hrst came aboard as fireman apprentices when the McCard was commissioned in 1946. When underway with two boilers on the line the Engineering Department stands one watch in three. It's hard, hot work with very few people topside knowing much about what's going on in the Spaces below. But whether you call them Snipes, the Black Gang, or Bilge Rats you can't help but admire the AFX GO rtb . .A-Eff' Snipe if After Engine Room spirit and the work of the Engineers of the 1-A McCard. 3 Q I Q , N 'T 4 f' A , .,... ' - I i '!'h if H ':f 1 if SrE ErE:5:3:i:E11111 rlfirfifiifffiilffilffii if f : '2 LL, -I Looking for the lost load!

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EN G NE IN B 'l1 it Dbl' t ,, ! f , .pgs-.-.mug Fireroom Personnel Engineroom Personnel The Engineering Department of the Robert H. McCard is headed by Lt. Andrew H. Muzio and with its 93 men and three officers makes up the largest department on the ship. The primary mission of the Engineers is, of course, to run the main engines, without which the ship would be nothing but a drifting hull. Every snipe from the Chief Engineer down to the greenest fire- man is always aware of the necessity to stand by to answer all bells and be prepared to supply power for anything from Ahead Flank to Crash Back. The secondary job of the Engineering Department is to provide service to all other departments -to supply the electricity, water, heat, and repair services which are so essential to the ship's operation. In order best to carry out these missions the 1 Engineers are sub-divided into the E and R Divisions. The E Division under Mr. Crosson and Chief Moritz is responsible for propelling P the ship and is split into the B Gang with which Mills and Hicks make sure that steam is always available for spinning the turbines, running the generators and evaporators, and providing heat. The M Gang stands its watches in the Engine Rooms where Chief Moritz and Wagner supervise the running of the main engines. The R Division under Mr. Smyth and Chief Colbert is also sectioned oil into gangs . The A Gang handles all the auxiliary motors auch as scullery and laundry machinery, the whale boat engine, diesel generators and machine C Rc R and A Gam:

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ATI NS The Operations Department headed by Lt. XYilliain Hess, can truthfully be called the nerve center of the McCard. The Operators main job is underway watch standing during which they are essential to the tactical operation of the ship. IVhen things happen fast the men of the Operations Department must be highly trained, alert, and cool under pressure-and they are responsible for the use and care of more than a million dollars worth of highly complicated electronic equipment. On our Med cruise the Combat Informa- tion Center was probably the busiest space on the ship. Besides the CIC IfVatch Officer, the XVatch Supervisor, and the radarmen and yeo- men there was a Staff WVatch Officer who had to be assisted by the McCard's CIC personnel. All hands in CIC had to be alert to listen for messages on Eve voice radio circuits as well as supplying tactical and radar information to the OOD. DuIl'y, Gower, and Peters did a hne job in breaking in all the new strikers and very shortly each watch section was a team which could handle even the most complicated situa- tion in a topnotch manner. N, : O Division g mcfwaf 5 'i 'l- if-W 1 AW F 'ffl f figs, , i K 1 ' 2 Q An ideal Radarman 99 Course. Speed,