Firedrake (AE 14) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 17 text:

Far up on the FIREDRAKE ' s peak whirl the latticed steel antennae, rhese eyes and cars remain ever vigilant ; scanning the sky and the wide expanse ol sea fur miles — ever searching, ever sweeping — fragile frames iliat never seem to slow or slacken in their unceasing search. In the Combal Information Center, men must interpret each signal as it returns, or the machines have no function. Over the staring screen, men study intent l the radar returns, each sweep presenting a new picture. A delay in identification could gain an enemy valuable lime and distance toward his target. Eventually, the radar pips become the looming customer carrier or her bobbing escort destro i and the rendezvous draws near. I he customers ' positions become the most vital information tin ' radar screen volunteers. The nerve-center of the FIREDRAKE ticks and chatters and (. ' licks. In Radio Central tapping tele type machines spew messages on uncoiling yellow paper. Operators monitor tapes while Radiomen, ears pressed flat with headphones, render Morse Code into letters. Damp lingers rhythmically play on typewriter keyboards changing sounds into words and meanings. m k ; ■ ( )n the signal bridge are the Signalmen with their flag bags and blinker lights. Flag hoists are made — slashes of color as flags and pennants rise to the yardarms — tactical orders flash across the water via blinker lights. For close-range work, the Signalmen stand high above the churning stas. brave the wind and weather, arms waving as signals go by sema- phore. The synchronized hands of time turn round. 1 he Navigator responds to the directions of the task group commander in the carrier with a plotted course and finds the rendezvous area.

Page 16 text:

In the Deck Office, the Gunnery Officer calls his leaders together to discuss the upcoming rendezvous and announces the requirements requested by radio message from the customer. Those present are hriefed on details of the am- munition required and mental notes are made. A few feet away, out on the main weather deck, huge hatch covers yawn open and roll hack. .Sunlight pierces the stacked ammunition storage holds, and the cold, steel goods of war are exposed. The winchman maneuvers his controls, and the probing claw of the cargo hook dips swiftly to the waiting load 30 feet below. Stubby fork-lifts scamper to and fro in the limited spaces of the ammo hold, their prongs straining under the weight of bombs. The cargo crew secures the load and aborted shouts echo through the hollow space ; the winchman applies pressure on the throttles and the greased cables tug at their burdened hooks, extracting the load. Sweaty, sun-reddened arms await the arrival of the bombs up on the main deck. The swinging, hovering ton of ammunition is guided safely and rested on the deck. The cargo hook dips down again into the hold, repeat- ing the process until the required amount of each type of weapon is secured and in its place. Within 36 hours, every bomb will be dropped by carrier air groups on vital Viet Cong strong- holds, the thirsty carrier will return, and the breakout process will be repeated. r

Page 18 text:

The Officer of the Deck gives the order for the ship to turn and proceed at a certain speed. The helmsman carries out the OOD ' s order and the ship comes about on a new course. Far below, in the ship ' s heart, the engine room watch answers the bell rung up on the engine order telegraph and passes the word ALL AHEAD FLANK! The Machinist ' s Mates and the Boiler- men, working together with a single mission to accomplish, do it — and in quick tempo. Simultaneou- sly, the MM ' s open throttle valves to admit more steam to the 6,000 horsepower turbine. jm mi The BT ' s answer the call for more steam by cut- ting in larger fuel burners. The increased speed of the turbine is transmitted through two sets of re- duction gears, shafts and to the screw. The ship ' s speed increases and she ploughs through the seas to make the rendezvous. The grey object behind on the horizon quickly closes the distance as she skims over the choppy seas on the UNREP course, and begins her approach . . . U On FIREDRAKE ' s main deck, burly Bosn ' s Mates rouse the catnapping cargo crew — who take advantage of every opportunity to rest their aching backs after the previous night ' s breakouts — and shrill whistles signal the UNREP ' s beginning.