Bellatrix (AF 62) - Naval Cruise Book

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CIC An enemy can be fought only after he has been detected, and the ship ' s ability to detect the enemy depends on the skill of her Radarmen. For instance, we can detect by the way officers shuffle their feet at quarters whether or not it ' s a good time to put in a chit. A Radarman uses repeaters, acts as a plotter and status board keeper, serves as a radio phone operator navigator, and maintains various CIC logs. There are more important things, like making coffee, keeping food on hand, and telling lies to the bridge watch when they come in for a smoke. While manning equipment, we are re- quired to determine the range, bearing, composition and identification of contacts. But then there was the time in December when a carrier task-group closed to 5,000 yards before we saw it. There are constantly new improvements in communications, radar, and means of data exchange. All of these would be worth- less without skilled personnel to use them properly. This is why copies of Playboy, Billard and James Bond books can always be found for ready reference in obtaining answers to all major changes. On our roster of stars we have Greenwood RDSN; he has the biggest Im- agination in CIC. He imagines he dislikes the Navy. Then there is Coleman RD3 who has just won the most heated battle the Philippines has ever witnessed, and won. Of course he hasn ' t seen her mother yet. Next Fred Newton with his big love of fish. We sort of wonder about Fred and his fish. He never wears a life jacket to abandon ship drills. Then comes Chief Holdren a big man with the written word, a big help to all of us, due to his past experience. Then of course, there is our CIC Officer. Mr. Jackson who hails from Oklahoma. He ' s probably the only officer on the ship who wears spurs around his stateroom THE ET GANG On the 03 level of the Bellatrix a weird little world has evolved. This world, the world of electrons, is run by a fearless leader named Chief Raving Eagle alias Chief Headrick. His tribe is made up of the most dislocated atoms ever composed into matter. The most senior-junior in rank is Al Krawczak, who is in charge of jury-rigging. This is because he is jury-rigged himself. Next is Larry CPA Knight; his main malfunction is to k eep the radar, IFF, loran, and fathometer running. Next in line is Billy Halda, who, when he isn ' t on leave in the P.I., works on the cjrrpto and the communications gear. Last but not least is the janitor and assistant to Knight, Steve Marak (Pro- nounced Muh-rack), which by the way is where you can usually find him. All the ET ' s say Never fear when an ET is near . NAVIGATION DEPARTMENT Once again this cruise the Navigation Departmentdid an outstanding job. Numerous timely rendezvouses with other ships was our answer to those who constantly asked, Are We Lost Again? Highlights on the cruise occured when we arrived in Yokosuka after 16 days at sea, our first unrep with a DER, which ended up with a man overboard, (don ' t fear because he was retrieved), our first and last CVA unrep, and of course our arrival back home. Heading up the team is Lt. 15 Knot Jeffers, ably assisted by Shorty Longest, QMl. Rounding out the gang is Animal Beatty, Bad John Kelly , Forklift Forkner, and Savage Clarke. Prior to departing West Pac we welcomed the ad- dition of Ronnie Garrison, Gyro Harvey, and Married Man Moore. THE SIGNAL GANG The Signal Bridge is manned by four whose names and jobs you are about to see. First on the list is Donkey Donithorne also known as SOPA of the Signal Bridge. He keeps the area in top shape by super- vising his troops and ensuring that the 58 grass is kept green and well trimmed. He is ably assisted by Boston Blackie Black. Cummings SMSN, is in charge of all the fire extinguishers and the little red balls . Mathews SN, is in charge of the message boards and is striking for Cumming ' s spot. To sum it all up they work as a team so the OOD ' s don ' t scream.

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Hong Kong - The Pearl of the Orient! m Central district ol Hoim Koiiu as seen troni The Peak. Top plwtu: The Sea Palace. floating restaurant. Bottom photo: Refugees from Red China prefer to live as Squat- ters here rather than behind the Bamboo Curtain

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FRONT ROW SITTING - Donithorne, SM2, Halda, ET3, Coleman, RD3, Greenwood, SN, Knight, ET3, Beatty, SN, Forkner, SA, Marak, SN SECOND ROW STANDING - LT. JEFFERS, Navigator, ENS, GRANT, Division Officer, Harvey, RMC, Longest, QMl, Kelly, SN, Black, SM3, Powell, RM3, Nordstrom, RM2, Clarke, SN, Healy, SN, Pikey, RM3, Holdren, RDC, Headricks, ETC, ENS. JACKSON, CIC Officer OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT RADIO IN MEMORY Security Is taught throughout the week, Receiving 2000 messages a day, Transmitters humming, tunned to a peak, RF in the rigging in number four hatchway. Putting out a call to Guam, Pearl, or Phill, More Unrep requirements just received, Interference unbearable, feeling fit to kill. Requirements garbled, Captain ' s peeved. Watches port and starboard for the thirtieth day Traffic is heavy, our nerves on end. Seemingly everyone gets in our way. Chief Harvey finds more work. We never win. So, back to the States we ' re steaming, Fifteen knots is the best we can do, Nordstrom, Lunsford, and Crawford are dreaming. While to Pikey and Story we ' 11 soon bid adieu, Morgan and Healy are complaining, 4.0 inspections, we get not thanks. The remainder is classified so fill in the blanks