Oklahoma City (CLG 5) - Naval Cruise Book

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r , l B 3 f' - ,rf .V -' 'iv- l ' i i it r 3 V i 2 2 5 i l l ,ll sl' 3 L2 jf ill it 1 'r FE.: JJ. in - f lp is , at 'E , i rr. .J -, , : g l A r 'il r, 1 4. .- .- 2 li ,. . , '15 r T l 5 l .K I: f- lg' i I 4 , i 1 l :- l l i 1 AA jr ln olden days the men of the engineers were called the black gang because they worked deep in the bowels of the ship supplying coal to the boiler furnaces. Today, the men of B division might still bg . . , . . h considered the black gang, since they still work down in the ship s hole in the grimy atmosp ere of the fuel Oil, heat, and moisture. Even though the conception of propulsion has changed from paddlewheels to f the modern black gang still remains to operate the ship's boilers to provide the power necessary to move the ship, and today, the power to run the ships service turbogeneratorg propellers, the basic task o and auxiliary equipment. On the Oklahoma City, B division comprises 56 men under the direction of CHMACH W2 R. A. MORRIS and leading CPO l. B. JONES. This black gang operates, maintains, and repairs the ship's four boilers and their fireroom auxiliaries, with the division's primary wor and the oil-water laboratory. Each fireroom is equippe , and fuel oil service pumps while the oil-water laboratory is the setting for the coordination of the testing and distribution of the ship's potable Cdrinkingb water, feed Cboilerj water a k centers being the forward and aft fireroomg d with 2 boilers main feed pumps, draft blowers nd fuel oil. Often underestimated, B division performs a difficult and uncomfortable job in a proficient and profes- sional manner that demands at the least a grudging respect for the black gang. dl lliEl?00lfl r 3 . , 1 i ' ' 4 ' . F 5 LYNN 1 ' M 4 ' ! K . li . ' i 'l ' as - . if . -, - , ,sf . N, . v K. x if ly. ' - . ' f

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Front row L to R: D. Whiting MM3, I. Ignacio MM1, G. Walker FN, L. Champman FN, 1. Federici MM3, T. Faulkner MM3, l. Wrtigh MM3, G. Bauer MM3g Back row L to R: 1. Cehoda FA, C. Stevens FN, H. Dunkel MM2, W. Stratton MM2, K. Hermann FN Any ship requires a high degree of reliability from it's main propulsion plant. However, in a wartime situation, this reliability must become imperative so, for the main engines division of the Oklahoma City reliability has become its byword. ln coordination with A , B and E divisions, M division is responsible for propulsion of the ship and for the provision of electrical power and compressed air throughout the ship. Although these services are few in number, their vitalness is obvious. In a combat zone, the ability to answer all bells' is mandatory. lt is the responsibility of the approximately 50 men of M division to meet this demand. Specifically it is the task of these hardworking individuals to repair, maintain, and operate without fail the ship's four 25,000 horsepower engines, four 750 KW ship's service turbo-generators and four air compressors as Well as a substantial amount of ancillary equipment required to serve these major components of shipboard propulsion. Since the Oklahoma City's deployment to WestPac, it is encouraging to note that the reliability of the ship's main propulsion plant has increased significantly. This achievement has occurred only as a result of the efforts of all the personnel in the division, who, by working together constantly have become a smooth functioning unit.