Columbus (CA 74) - Naval Cruise Book

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■ST - - -; l f ' f ' ,f D i ' - ' -ar W v - l:t ' if ;l l!4 ii.Mt.i-M aker Division can indeed be proud of the Captain ' s statement that whenever he rang up a bell, there was always steam available to make the desired speed. Whether with one boiler on the auxiliary line for in-port steaming, or, with two boilers for normal steaming, or even with three and four boilers for air operations and full power runs, B division ' s boiler tenders and firemen have been Johnnie on-the-spot with enough steam to keep the screws turning during the 1952-53 Mediterranean cruise. Boiler tending underway is just one phase of Baker Division work. Her able corps of Machinist Mates led by Chief Oueliette, have kept the turbo-generators rolling and the fire pumps in top working condition. The Oil Gang has successfully transferred and received oil in excess of thirty times and received water when necessary, all under the capable leadership of Chief Pappy Reed, the division LPO and one of the few remaining 30 year men in service. He ' s still going strong. Much of the cruise, especially during Mainbrace and Longstep , was hard work for the men of the firerooms; four on and four off was not unusual with three and four boilers on the line; and of course there was the never ending task of cleaning fire and water sides in order to maintain the ultimate in engineering economy, and a separate washing of coal-black dungarees by the laundry. Add to this the at-sea fueling at any time of day or night, usually during meal hours, the constant necessity of boiler and pump maintenance, and one has a fairly composite picture of B division work. There have been few growls though, because these men love their work as they love life and they have had the added compensation of a job well-done, a good cruise with the best of ports and the knowledge that soon they ' d be steaming up President Roads, home to their families and loved ones. The largest of engineering divisions, the boiler division has as its division officers, LTJG J. P. Waters, ENS W. M. Riegel and Chief Machinist L. K. Mumford, boiler maintenance officer. The fire rooms are ably managed by Chiefs Clifton, Dauphineas, Moon, Staewen and Townsend, assisted by Boiler Tenders 1st Class Ely, Giles, Smith and Weger. And of course, there ' s always Bill dinger ' s mustache. ' Nuf said?