Lexington (CV 16) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 125 text:

turbo-generators, evaporators, fire, fuel and bilge pumps: water and ventilation heaters, and mis- cellaneous other pieces of auxiliary equipment such as Lexis two sonorous whistles and her screaming siren. Rating high priority for steam, of course, are the carrieras twin catapults, each powerful enough to blast an automobile 6,000 feet straight up into the air. A separate uevaporator gangw is responsible for making the great quantities of fresh water re- quired daily, this is necessary not only to feed the boilers, but also for the laundry, galley, and crew 7s personal uses. 5E-ss::::, :auf At left, one of the shzlbiv boifers is lit- ojw by a man in B Division. The steam hom B Divz'sion's boilers turn M Division 'S turbines. 123

Page 124 text:

Engineering Department Lexington is largest but least visible department is Engineering-providing the carrierls greatest asset, mobility. An important additional advan- tage, of course, is endurance, to which Engineer- ing contributes by furnishing self-sufficiency in electrical power, internal communications, steam, water and other necessary services. Mobility is provided by four steam turbine engines, each developing 37,500 shaft horse- power, which drive a quartet of 15-ton propellors to provide the ship's 31-plus knot speed capa- bility. , Eight massive boilers fa pair in each of four fireroomsj form the nucleus of the vessel's pro- pulsion and services plant. The 'csnipes, as Navy engineers are called, must maintain their equipment at peak readiness constantly to ensure maximum efficiency. This requires skillful op- eration of the plant, as Well as adherence to regular schedules of cleaning, testing, lubricating, and performing routine preventatives main- tenance. The superheated -steam produced in the fire- rooms flows throughthe arterial systems of steam lines throughout the ship. In addition to the main turbine engines, steam gives 'clife to

Page 126 text:

There is a machinery repair shop aboard, where engineering personnel skilled in the use of their machine tools are able to fabricate parts for equipment belonging to all Lex Departments. A separate Repair Division contains damage con- trolmen and shipfitters fmetalsmiths and pipefit- tersj who are capable of construction as well as repair of the hull and its fixtures. This group also makes up the nucleus of the carrier's Repair Parties and Emergency ,Bill Teams, and the men involved possess a profound knowledge of fire, damage and flood control, as well as ABC War- fare procedures. H The electricians in- Engineering are responsible for the power distribution from the main genera- tors, as well as the battery shop, the vast amount of electrical circuits and fixtures aboard, electric motors and machinery utilized by all Divisions, electric fans and other appliances, etc. The inter- communications electricians QIC-menj maintain the public address system, all telephones includ- ing sound-powered ones, motion picture equip- ment, mirror landing system, gyro compasses, pit log and assorted other navigational equip- ment on the bridge, the mast and in the IC Room. Specialists in this Department are responsible for the vessel's refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, steam heat generation and storage of nitrogen and liquid oxygen, and the repair and maintenance of hydraulic systems, diesel engines and a vast array of other auxiliary machinery. Included are boat engines, pumps, emergency diesel generators, aircraft elevators, anchor wind- lasses and Winches. The special schooling re- quired of these men in their specialties is under- standable, for the variety of gear with which they mu st be familiar is indeed impressive. Left, the generator and a'z'strz'l2utton of the slzzpis electrical power z's controlled by E .Division Right page, the shzpk Damage Control personnel ana' slzzpflt- ters have complete shzp facilities at their disposal.