Gearing (DD 710) - Naval Cruise Book

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( Michael G. Shoemake, SMFN Cod ' s Ripley, Tenn. Camelo Ayala Hoops New York ' ■ Bif. William L. Anderson, EMFN Charles E. Haddock, EMFN Andy Chuck Jamestown, New York Phoenix, Arizona Leo M. Lemoine, FN Desie Springfield, Mass. Robert W. Stocker, ICSA Bob East Grand Forks, Minn. I i Sam J. Colafi ' anceseo, DC2 Sal Birmingham, Ala. I Hi«-

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OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT The Operations Department of the ship serves as a nerve center for the direction of the ship ' s activities. Utilizing information which is obtained through various com- munications media, it is the responsibiUty of the Operations Officer, supported by de- partment personnel, to recommend action to be taken by the ship to fulfill its missions. Once the ship has reported for any particular job, a different phase of the departmental duties takes precedence. This is the job of assisting the Commanding Officer and the Officer of the Deck by supplying recom- mendation from the Combat Information Center. Combat, as CIC is usually called, is well equipped with the tools to carry out their job. Radar, Electronic Countermeasure equipment, and various electronic systems to aid in identifying an enemy are becoming in- creasingly important in the concept of mod- em warfare. Highly trained personnel are required to operate and maintain these complex elec- tronic aids. The radarmen and electronic technicians that operate and maintain this equipment are constantly endeavoring to im- prove the efficiency of this highly special- ized team of men and equipment. Numberwise, the department is the smallest on the ship, but the size of the job they must accomplish is far from trivial. Air Defence, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Gun Fire Support for invasion forces, radar navigation — all these are within the daily capabalities of the department. Even while these more special- ized functions are being carried out routine information such as the locations of mer- chant shipping and courses and speeds to carry out formation maneuvers is simultane- ously being computed and revised to keep the bridge informed of the entire situation. The men in the Operations Department are continuously on the alert, gathering pieces of seemingly insignificant information that, when evaluated, will give the ship the neces- sary forewarning to defeat any enemy, from wheresoever he mav come.