Wasp (CV 18) - Naval Cruise Book

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mr II - ruaanriva .Hull De a1'wl?,,99c0aEi,l. TOOID. country. when these spaces over-flowed it T5-1183-ly became necessary to quarter officers in the CFO spaces which are far removed from the officer's country. y ofrvfv T - , . Q2:s1.1,.5...BER,: 1U,INCj - Spaces designed for crew's berthing also proved inadequate for the final war time c mplement required. Additional bunks and locker spaces had to be installed wherever possible which resulted in congestion and over-crowding. No spaces were provided for the stowage of division laundry bags in which could be stowed the dirty clothes of the enlisted men. The laundry facilities only provided for one weeks service and it was necessary to stew laundry bags in passageways where they were untidy and in cases proved to be a real hazard to the fight- ing efficiency of the ship. Crew's spaces were also Q poorly ventilated for service in the tropics.' This will be covered under subject of ventilation. VENTILLTION - The exigencies of the recent war necessitated this vessel operating in tropical climates t ' erating under maximum water- and also necessita ea op tight integrity. This prevented any natural circulation of air between compartments and from exposed spaces.

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PnRT II - JnRRnTlVE HULL DEPARTMENT First Lieutenant: Commander A. B. Cook, USNR Fa C ' 6 . Pi' ' ' I 10m H Operational standpoint in time of war C O QC' fu ' 1 . the V1 Cla., Carrier has proved to be an outstanding ship. The fact that it has operated for long periods of blmC lH the tropics without having to return to base ' 1 for Supplies, etc., substantiates this assumption. The fact that this type of vessel has sustained major' damage and continued to operate or at least survive is the proof of its worthiness to be included in a Fleet whose primary purpose is to battle in the defense of the country. There are certain features of the ship ihich .f.f should be improved or redesigned in the inter ests of battle efficiency or health and comfort of the crew. Some of these are enumerated below. OFFlCEQf3pBE3THlNQ - Space and design for officers berthing has proven entirely inadequate. A total berthing capacity of two hundred thirty-four c23uJ was originally provided. Due to increased complement or for other reasons the officer complement including those attached to the ship and those attached to the Air Group has been increased to three hundred forty 13401, which was the complement actually Osrrisd in the ship at the end of the wer. In order to take care cers it was necessary of the increased capsCitY Of Offi l ailable spaces in the ward- to build CPO hunks in al ovc

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-' NflRR-'.TIVE gHll.lEEEITmpntpjC9nt:J As e result the mechanical was the only System gf heat or ventilation control. Consequently, beth thc below dock living Spaces and below deck work spaces were very hot and uncomfortable. At times they nlmost reached the limits of human endurance, ACtuU11Y when Gt general quarters end in condition zebra it was impossible te reduce ventilation in accordance with standard damage control practices i.e., close down ell ventilation except for e period of l0 minutes out of every hour. Upon joining the I Fleet after the shekedown cruise we attempted to operate thusly with the result that men would pass out from heot or lack of ventilation on the third deck. lt then became necessary to keep cer- tain ventilation on et ell times except when the .t which time the ship was actually under attack o ventilation load would be dumped GU EDO V?PiOUS electrical distribution centers. DRLIFAGE - The drainage system on the flight dock proved to be totally inadequate for the DGGVY Squslls cnl waters. This end rein storms experienced in tropi perticulnrly applied to the OpOHiH8S Ground the - . ' - 1 A A r, . '1M. ' ell- bnrriers, arresting ge-r und other equipment inst cd . ' 6 ft no fo Q 1 A 'LJ ln the flight deck. In some G SCS thu Ollsln 1 fcslin . .. ,-.4-1 ,LH ' F' 1 H cnlled for es msny no 3 2 l1nOS -nd 5 3f4 1