Oklahoma City (CLG 5) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 148 text:

LT B. HUMPHREY LTJG W.E. ARMBRUSTER LTJG R.W. CLARK LTJG V. LEE s 5.5 5.55 5,5 5,8 ENS J.R. HEADRICK DSC V. SYROVATKA SMC J. HESS RMC D.J. HEXT

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LCDR A. MATisoo NAVIGATION The mission of the Navigation Department is to provide for the safe and effective navigation of the ship. The tasks of the Naviga- tion Department include the con- tinual and accurate plotting of the ship's course and position, recommending courses to steer, and the procurement and main- tenance of navigational charts, publications and equipment. Navigation undenfvay main- tains a plot watch--keeping close tabs on the Oklahoma City's position, course and speed --and keeps a chronological re- cord of events occurring during each watch. ln port the Navigation Depart- ment is responsible for all honors and ceremonies from the quarter- deck. 143

Page 149 text:

L---f ' sl 'P ' 3' fr-- l.l Iii COMMUNICATIONS The Communications Department comprises CR lradiol and CS lsignallingl Divisions. CR Division, consisting of Flag allowance and ship's company radiomen, communications yeomen and data sys- tems technicians, provides Commander SEVENTH Fleet with a vital communications link to any geographical location in the world. More importantly, these men and the complex array of equipment they operate are the Voice of Command. With its operational center in Main Communica- tions, CR Division, supervised by a Communica- tions Watch Officer and Chief of the Watch, processes a steady flow of messages between the fleet commander and his subordinate units. Data systems technicans maintain a sophisticated com- puterized Message Processing and Distribution System lMPDSl-a big help in handling the large volume of message traffic. Radiomen and com- munications yeomen operate voice and teletype circuits, operate transmitters and monitor circuit control systems. Older forms of naval signalling are handled by the men of CS Division. Working high above the other working spaces of Oklahoma City, the signalmen specialize in a form of nautical com- munications as old as the Navy itself: close-in visual signalling-secure, rapid, effective. Equally adept at sending and receiving messages and recognizing signals by flashing light, semaphor and flaghoist, the signalmen are also familiar with passing honors to other ships and boats and the proper display of ensigns and personal flags during salutes and personal and national honors. ln addition, and of equal importance, are the lookout capabilities of Oklahoma City signalmen. Using high-powered telescopes and binoculars, the signal gang is able to look, recognize and make positive identification of any ship or aircraft within visual range. Objects in the water, such as buoys and lifecraft, and low flying aircraft just above the water are often beyond electronic detection capa- bility, so the eyes of Oklahoma City signalmen prove invaluable. 145