Columbia (CL 56) - Naval Cruise Book

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example of diving procedure with full suit, one visitor was heard to sum up the trip with the following intelligent comment: .............., tHe, as were all of us, was speechless.j Carefully brushing fresh salt on our blues, shining up our American Theater ribbons, and taking our gold braid out of the brine bucket, we started off to sample Connecticut hospitality, feminine variety, the occasion being the formal dance sponsored by the New London Elks, and decorated by the women from Conn. College. This proved to be a somewhat milder party for the fellows, as compared to what was done at and to the Newport OfHcer's Club. Characteristically, the Ensigns were divided into two groups, the haves and the have-nots, the former aglow with enthusiasm for New London, and the latter just aglow, but sure that icy North Atlantic water must How through the girls' veins. Needless to say, all enjoyed themselves, danc- ing, being cut in on, cutting in on Windy f the blonde with the very bare midriffj, being cut in on, dancing again, being cut in on, and finally ending up at the punch bowl, and sincerely appreciated the efforts of the Elks, although l E it is admitted that some of our COLUMBIA boys were more antlerish than Elks. But then, Elks are land animals, and our- home was the sea. So back to it! In our best seaman fashion we swung our- selves over the side and down the ladder into the waiting whaleboats, for transportation to either the SPIKEFISH or the GROUPER, which were waiting to receive their sightseers. Having been to the sub school, and seen how all the machinery could be crammed into only ten buildings, none with over an acre of floor space, we were now to observe how the same equipment could be put into a submarine only 300 feet long. Once inside, we were herded very systematic- ally from forward torpedo room to control room to engine room to after torpedo room, and saw in each place the amazing ingenuity of design which makes our submarines among the best in the world. But an even greater source of astonishment was the precision of the crews, the efficiency of command, and the speed of the mens' movements as they answered the sig- nal bells and lights, whether in the quiet con- thirty-three L J

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nmg tower and control room 01 the engme room operatmg somewhere over 100 db Pump 500 aft Control officer ln bedroom shppers and sweatel speaks qu1etly Pump 500 aft Aye aye s1r An enhsted man repeats the order and opens some valves 100 pumped s1r Very well 300 pumped s1r Very well 500 pumped s r Very well Secure pump Pump secured s1r And all th1s wh1le the all w1se Enslgns huddled m the background attemptmg t crouch out of the way and mrndentally hunt mg for then' eardrums wh1ch they were certam must have dropped somewhere around there when that dive was begun In splte of these mmor casualt1es however the submarme corps 1S happy to state that no NROTC s were left swlmmmg when the shlp submerged and only two V 12 s tr1ed to bo tops1de for a breath of fresh water before we had surfaced The tr1p was a deHn1te success Home to Newport Reve1lle was sounded as usual A httle later the spec1al sea deta1l was stat1oned as usual and finally quarters was called as usual We crowded up the ladders half awake and un concerned to quarters for muster and leavmg port The whole rout1ne was an old fam1l1ar tune For nearly three weeks past each week day mornmg had been the same thmg The anchor was welghed and we headed out of the harbor The customary remarks were passed back and forth concernmg the cupolas sug gestwe shape Out of Newport Harbor Wlth re treat from quarters and the speclal sea deta1l secured there were no 1nd1cat1ons of anythmg more than the da1ly cru1se we were accustomed to From outward appearances no one would have known the COLUMBIA was bound for Bermuda For the majortty of student officers 1t was to be the HI'St prolonged Journey on the open sea and many were soon to doubt the honor Evenrng came and clouds appeared the wmcl veloc1ty went up the swells p1led h1gher the thzrty 15 . Q , T. i , , . 1 A U Ci 55 ' p ' 1 . . l , . l CC ' 33 ' . , , . - 1 . cc Q - ss , . ii 37 ca - as , . LC 35 il ' 33 1 15 CC 75 EC ' S5 , . O J - 1 3 7 . , W 1 , . . - U 4 1 1 , . 7 ' I I , . I 1 1 - UZ