Lake Champlain (CV 39) - Naval Cruise Book

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ANTI-AIRCRAFT DEFENSE DRILL

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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

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DOCKING THE GREAT LAKE ' When the Great Lake was commissioned, the responsibility for her care and maintenance became the Hull Department's job. It has been busy since commissioning meeting that responsibility. It has met its work requests, has been ready to repair damage and has insured ships services with effectivenessand speed .. A l When the ship was ordered to the cclVIagic Carpet duty .to return Servicemen from overseas, the Hull Department put its brains and brawn to a tough assignment and ccdid itself up proud . Turning a carrier into a troop transport is no piker's job. The in- stallation of berthing, messing and recreational facilities to accommodate live thousand G.I.s in addition to a largeshipis company was a headache. But the Hull Department set to Work without depleting sick-bay of its aspirin. It saw the ship through four uMagic Carpetie' runs and would like to go on record as having gotten a kick out of everyone. We are now taking the hurdles of inactivation pretty much in our stride. The uChamp becomes the responsibility of the Sixteenth Fleet. We regret saying goodbye to her, for she has been good duty while she has been ours. Candlt Hull