Lake Champlain (CV 39) - Naval Cruise Book

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HE'S OUT TO SEE THEY H DON'T BLOW UP THE SHIP WATCH OUR SMOKE SCREEN

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HE'S OUT TO BUST THOSE DIALS The Great Lake's career has been a short one. However brief, there is no doubt that its career has been an important one, so far as naval ships go, so far as the U. S. Navy goes. The men of the 'Great Lake have a lot to be proud of. And its line record is largely due to the efiiciency and spirit of its 66Black Gang . A The Engineering Department began its life With a green crew, but its pride Wassuch as to compel it to iron out its rough spots and even- tually to become the c Blue Ribbonn team that exists today. We are proud of the Great Lake just as We are proud of the fact that our lads Mpoured the soup on down here in the engine room to conquer for her the title-Wllhe Fastest Ship To Cross The Atlantic Ocean . This is a ship's record-this is a HBlack Gangl, record. Editors, Notex , o The exact figures on Lake Champlain's speed record were as -follows: A DISTANCE OF 3360.3 NAUTICAL MILES AT AN AVERAGE SPEED OF 32.048 KNOTS.

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SURE AIM I The Gunnery Department consists of three batteries, 5038, LLOMM, and ZOMM. The five inch, our largest, 40lVllVI and the QOMM, the smallest, sometimes called the uPop Gunn. We have five inch, iquads 4OlVlM and twin mounts of 20lVIlVI, all manned in their time by an efficient and like- able bunch of sailors. ' While on shakedown, there were a large number of sleeves and drones shot down. The sleeves towed by aircraft at various ranges first caught the volleys of our five inchers. The LLOMM and the ZOMM came last. Most of the sleeves were shot down by five inch and QLOMM batteries. However, the drones, or the cflunior Birdmenn :as they are sometimes called, were shot down by our 20MlVI. Everyone had their eyes fixed on one large drone. It made its Mdying swan dive and everyone thought it was destined for the drink, but it hit the cockpit of a plane on the flight deck. T 4 ' We had expert fire control-men setting our directors, checking to see si hts were in to condition, often settin five inch shells for direct h g P g its. c The department was well trained for its duties aboard ship at Newport, R. I. Some of our men were green and some were Mold of the game . But after we left Newport, they matched the skill and efficiency the other departments aboard were crowing about. They also set out to love MThe Champ with the same fervor. As for leaving the Great Lake, the gunnery lads want two punches on their tickets for every one the usky pilot gives to the rest of Ship's company. So long, MChamp - We'll miss you. . P Gnnr