Wilhouite (DER 397) - Naval Cruise Book

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2ND DIVISION The men of 2nd division are the weapons personnel of the WILHOITE. Their job is the up- keep and operation of the ship's ordnance equipment. The ratings which make up 2nd division are Fire Controlmen, Gunners Mates, Torpedomen, and Sonarmen. The Gunners Mates and Fire Controlmen work as a team, maintaining weapons systems used against all surface, air, and land targets. The Gunners Mates maintain and act as gun captains on the ship's guns. The Fire Controlmen's job is the operation and upkeep of the Fire Control radar and associated equipment used to acquire, track, and destroy designated targets The Torpedomen and Sonarmen, likewise, work as a team. Their job is the detection and destruction of enemy underwater contacts. The Sonarmen's job is the operation and mainte- nance of the equipment used to detect, track, classify, and direct attacks on enemy submarine contacts. The Torpedomen maintain and operate the torpedoes and depth charges used in de- stroying enemy sub-surface contacts. These are the men of 2nd division .... The striking force of the WILHOITE. if 2.1522 Si it 1

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0C DIVISION A ship at sea without communications is a ship in a sea of its own. Avoiding this, in es- sence, is the purpose of OC division .... Communications, comprised of Radiomen, Signal- men, Quartermasters, Personnelmen, Yoemen, and a Postal Clerk. OC provides the various means of communications needed on the WILHOITE. Twenty four hours a day, underway or inport, OC division carries on communications to and from the WILHOITE. Many types of communiques are involved, and WILHOITE has many ways of communication. Radiomen handle messages ranging from last weeks football scores to highly secret coded messages. The Quartermasters both originate and evaluate communications concerning ship's position, weather, sea state, etc. Signalmen handle the flashing light and the flag hoists which are used primarily for tactical messages between ships involved in an opera- tion. In addition, the flashing light is constantly utilized for informal messages between ships in port. Finally, the Personnelmen, Yoemen and Postal Clerk collaborate to employ the U.S. Mail for delivery of a variety of official notices, and, of course, letters to and from home. OC division also handles two other very important jobs not directly involved with commu- nications. The Quartermasters work with the navigator. They keep track of the ship's position at all times, and plot the tracks used by the officer of the deck. Also in the division is the Med- ical Department, comprised of one Hospital Corpsman who gives us emergency medical aid, treats our colds, and gives us our benefits ..... shots. L 1 xxx I x Y X 'H ,g X A I iotrt i . I 4' , .1 1 D A X f E F14 A . it . 4 gif Q as I 6 Q 3 1 .' 'bf 1.