Santa Fe (CL 60) - Naval Cruise Book

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THEIR TASK IS TO GET THE SHIP THERE AND BRING HER BACK AGAIN EAT, the smell of oil, and the hum of machinery are the lot of the Engineers, who make up approxi- mately one-hfth of the ship's complement. It is not an easy job being part of this department, for there are many times when the individual must make decisions and act on his own responsibility. Hard work, sweat, heat, and cramped quarters are ever prevalent, but the men carry on, remembering that their Work is so vital that if it were interrupted the functions of the entire ship would suffer or would stop completely. The Engineering Department consists of four divisions -Auxiliary, Boiler, Electrical, and Main Engine-each dependent in some manner on the other. The Auxiliary On 17 ffanuary 1945, in flze South China Sea, the SANTA FE marked the K--ve , X t , ., . . . 7 t Lzeulemmt Commander Ralph H Packer USN Erzgzneerzn O fy' llze SANTA FE kept lzer operatzng durzng the war yeirxlfwr A earner of the log room where the En gzneerx holdforlh and keep the yea men busy on reports logs and mzzelzznery izzstarv l l l l 140

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1 . V . - D n Nm 91+ 'v N ,- X . Xi ' --xg. ' Tis -4 .mf ,. NM . y-. .I PM I W 75231 .i'4 X -5 fl? -N -'he fflilil .UM '- L f7, and iid the ' -'-P1-me s-'- Q: ff... s -,A ' 1 fi 'V 1 A , 1 x, 14, ' L K fifmi. fch are .Xhag imcal ., sid MH If may 'f RNC I K . s g N45 vii? Jh 4eM. , In operations during periods of radio silence, the Communiealion The Signal Bridge is lhe visual communications fenler, where flag hoisl Deparlmen! oflen relies on a man with semaphore flags. and flashing light messages are sent and received. The Communications Offers are trained to handle words, safeguard the Navy's seerels, and deliver information reliably and quiekb. 'Wf fn ,ew 7,4 ,gf , I I , A I, , ,, f-wp-we , I ' , f , , 139 if iw-H .mm-.-' -a2:nns4..,s.. 1 -e - .-..- N- .fe -.-e- A --

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Division men work in the machine shop far into the night to make and repair parts for the equipment of every division. The Hreroom personnel, of-ten laboring where temperatures reach HO or 150 degrees, produce steam for the rapacious main engines. Carefully regulating these turbines, the hi Division always speedily delivers the turns called for by the bridge. The E Division provides light and the necessary repairs for the electrical instru- ments of the engineering spaces. lyorking together, the men of these divisions have kept shipshape the gear required for a first class, hrst line Fighting ship. The Engineers, situation during action was a tough one. Stationed below decks with tightly dogged hatches block- ing every exit, maintaining contact with the outside world only by public announcing system and battle ofrzzsmn of Jlezzming 200,000 nziles .rinre r0mmz'.v51'oning'-26 months earlier. phones, they heard the war rather than saw it. They missed the color and thrills of action. They could hear the guns firing and only guess as to whether the target was far or near. In this respect, the six or five inch Wasn't so badg but When the 40's and finally the 20's took up the cry, the Worrying really began-the heat became more stifling and the spaces' more crowded. Hearing That 'fish' is coming right for us,,' and then no more but the yammer- ing ofthe guns added to the gray hairs ofthe men remain- ing steadfastly by their posts down in utorpedojunctionf' They were all proud to be engineers, though, and while they did not always like their job, they labored at it unsparingly. Like all Americans, with their loyalty, courage, and love of country and family, they could not and would not have done otherwise. Anrwerlng bells, :hacking the lurns, and watching the gaages keeps 61 tlirotfleman busy at tlzr conlrol board Q' earl: engine. f fi boiler reqizfrer zz lol of nwzring at the .rkillsd handrof llze waterlenders I0 keep it aperrzling forrfctly at all Innate. 141 ZOLZQ ff