Admiral W L Capps (AP 121) - Naval Cruise Book

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1st and 2nd DIVISIONS I A M- me ' ' I , f -p an .Y t . gf fpefkkmafg , ,NN b- A ,ccamczfz stands the hclmsman watch painted with an anticorrosive paint, and then painted with a color to conform to the surrounding areas. Cleaning too is necessary to a well run ship. Although dirt itself produces little material damage, the damage to the crew,s morale due to a dirty ship produces a far greater effect. Another job falling to the lot of the deck force was the load- ing and storing of supplies. Almost from the very minute they came aboard, the seamen turned tow loading commissary stores, general stores, mail, and military cargo. This is a tiresome job ending only when a ship is decommissioned. In addition to the work about ship, the members of the deck force were required to stand watches as lookouts, messengers, helmsmen, and gun crews. Each of the above was just as im- portant and vital to the ship as the day workn. Most important of all were the general quarters stations occupied by the deck force. It is they who manned most of the guns. The seamen loaded the guns while the coxswainas and boatswainls mates took their places as pointers, trainers and gun captains. It is evident that the seaman is the most versatile of all rates. This versatility required of the deck force did not lead to mediocre performance as might be expected. Whether Fighting off the enemy, mooring the ship or washing down the topsides, the deck force of the Admiral Capps always did the best possible job. 2 Scraping the deck before painting

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1st and 2nd DIVISION The ISt and 2nd Divisions, known as the deck force, were composed of the seamen, coxswains, and boatswain's mates. Gone are the days of sail when a seaman spent his entire time with his eyes on the sail and a line in his hand. Nevertheless, the need for good seamanship is just as acute today as it was 100 years ago. There are anchors to be handled, cargo booms to be rigged and manned, the boat boom to be swung out, the accommodation ladder to be lowered, boats to be hoisted, mooring lines to be tended and a host of other details that the layman is prone to forget. All of these require a thorough knowledge of seaman- ship in order that the various lines may be handled smartly and with a minimum of verbal commands. Occasionally such jobs must be done as fueling at sea or towing another ship. When performing tasks of this nature, the 11 The forctop lookout fi. 1 . ly SY' Q, Washing down the deck unexpected is almost certain to occur and it is then that a thorough knowledge of marlinespike seamanship is needed. Men's lives are frequently at stake during such maneuvers. Events call for rapid intelligent action leaving no room for the lackadaisical sailor who believes that marlinespike seamanship is a thing of the past. On the other hand, in contrast to these action filled moments, are days and weeks of nothing but painting, scraping, soogying, cleaning details, and miscellaneous unpleasant jobs too numerous to mention. All of this is necessary to a well maintained ship. Corrosion, the sailors greatest enemy, must be held to a minimum. To do this every rust spot on the ship must be scraped or chipped, Q.. painted with an aim to conform to to a well run ship. damage, the damag produces a far ,C Another' ECL ing and storing gf came aboard. T? 6 Q general stores. fr ending only are In addififi-5 force were or helmsmen. .L

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,. 3rd DIVISION Although the Capps was not designed to be an attack ship, she carried sufficient ordnance to repulse enemy attacks by aircraft, submarine, or surface vessel. The main battery consisted of four 5 ,f38 caliber dual purpose guns, two guns being located atop the forward deck house and two aft- one on the fantail and one on the after deck house. Magazines for the main battery were located deep in the hull of the ship and almost directly beneath the guns they served. Ammunition necessary to feed these rapid Hre guns was hoisted from the magazines by electrically driven cage hoists. The fire control of the main battery was accomplished with the aid of three MK SI directors, two forward and one aft. The secondary battery consisted of four 1.1 f75 caliber quad- ruple mount heavy machine gunsr These guns were electric-hy- I i E Chief Connell at work in the armory ll! The after battery at 5 y 38 draulic driven and were controlled by individual MK SI gun directors. Two of the guns were located on the signal bridge and two on the boat deck aft. In addition sixteen 20 mm. light machine guns were located about the boat deck and superstructure decks. Gun watches of one sort or another were always stood on the Admiral Capps from commissioning to V-I day, the type of watch depending upon the proximity of enemy craft. Regular battle cruising conditions called for Watches to be stood on one 5 gun, one 1.1,!75 caliber gun, and Hve 20 mm. guns. VVhen the ship steamed through combat areas, a fire control watch was added consisting of one officer for the main battery, one chief petty Cliff? ti mate who ret Okinawa. all g Prose: T12 ., ,. respons1oiiiif.- of a twentf: conditions af task assigiitf the 1 VVCIS lslfliiwr to the cfgrifi The tire