Gearing (DD 710) - Naval Cruise Book

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GUNNERY DEPARTMENT The mission of the Gunnery Department has not basically changed since man first put to sea floating on a log. The department is responsible for maintaining the ship ' s hull, decks, and topside equipment and machinery; and for the operation and maintenance of the ship ' s weapons systems. By far the most important equipment in the department ' s inventory is its men. The Boatswain ' s mates and seamen who main- tain the ship ' s deck gear, the gunner ' s mates who operate and maintain the ship ' s main and secondary batteries, the Sonarmen and Fire Control technicians who solve the fire control problems and operate the computers which directs the weapons, the torpedomen who maintain our AS ' weapons . . . these men are the heart of the department. The Gunnery Officer heads the Department and is responsible to the Commanding Of- ficer for all weapons, ordnance equipment, deck equipment, ammunition, and far the inspection, operation, and utilization of this equipment. His battle station is the flying bridge, where he is in overall control of the weapons and directs their use timely and effectively. The Gunnery Officer has three assistants; the ASW Officer, the First Lieutenant, and the Cx Division officer and Main Battery As- sistant. The ASW officer, heading the F Division, is responsible for the ASW wea- pons and fire control systems as well as the surface fire control systems. He conducts Anti-Submarine attacks from his battle sta- tion in the Sonar Control Room. The First Lieutenant is in charge of all deck seamanship equipment, the ship ' s boat, ground tackle, and is responsible to the Gun- neiy Officer for the proper maintenance of this equipment and the exterior of the ship. He heads the D Division, which is com- posed of Boatswain Mates and seamen. The G Division Officer and main battery assistant is responsible to the Gunnery Of- ficer for the maintenance and operation of the ship ' s 5-inch battery and 40-mm anti- aircraft mounts. He is in charge and re- sponsible for the proper stowage and main- tenance of the ship ' s ammunition allowance. His Division is made up of Gunner ' s mates and seamen. As you can see, the field which the Gunnery Department encompasses is large and de- versified. Nearly everything that can be seen from the exterior of the ship is under the cognizance of this Department. The men in t his department are responsible for main- taining the appearance of the ship and the smartness of seamanship evolutions. They have a high tradition to uphold in GEAR- ING.

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GUNNERY OFFICER LTJG Albert L. Henry USNA 56 College Park, Ga. ASW OFFICER DIVISION OFFICER FIRST LIEUTENANT v ' S % ■ ' . LTJG Victor I. Fredda USNA 58 Matawan, New Jersey ENS John August Georg Maryland 57 Accident, Maryland ENS Ronald William Render USNA 59 Columbia, South Carolina Carl Leslie Pool, BMC Town Creek, Alabama George M. O ' Neil, FTC Salisbury, North Carolina William R. Nevling, GMC Coal Port, Penna.