Razorback (SS 394) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE GANG S ALL HERE WI NE-WOMEN-SQNG

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COMMISSIONING PARTY The Officers and Crew of the U. S. S. RAZORBACK Request the Company of at their Commissioning Party V Saturday, April I, 1944 at Casino Del Jamon, Hams. Lafayette Road Buffet Turkey Dinner at 7 Dancing 8:30 to 1:30 Guest of -

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ROUTINE Here are a few words about the routine on board andhalso an explanation of some of the expressions one is'Ilikely to encounter while talking to a Razorback saior. First let us get underway. An order from the bridge to take in the brow and all lines is quickly carried out by the deck apes. Suddenly there is a roar and the 'black gang is lighting off two main engines to put onto the line. Maneuvering, all back lf3 -we are underway. We are still backing down and now an order from the bridge, all ahead standard steer course 0965 The helmsman repeats the order to make sure he has it correct, then rings up standard speed. The powerhouse answers on the annunciators and on the screws which make a great whirlpool at the fantail. Now we are going ahead and standing out to sea. We are to be out for three days and tomorrow will come many practice maneuvers and drills, So now let's take a walk through the boat and talk with some of the men on watch. Up in the forward torpedo-room we are likely to find a half dozen fellows busy rigging the room for dive. Charlie Darnell says he'll give us some dope but first he must blow Sanny. He means that No. l sanitary tank must be blown to sea as part of the rig for dive. After this he informs us that a movie will be shown in this compartment later this afternoon. Goodo. We leave Charlie just as a loud speaker blares Secure the maneuvering watch and station the regular sea detail-2nd Section has the watch. Now in the forward battery we find the offi- cers in the wardroom engaged in censoring outgoing mail. They have lots to do so we won't bother them but pass on to the yeo's shack. This is the ship's office and yeo Aucoin can be found filling out, filing in, .or just staring at his many letters and forms. On into the control room just in time to hear Mark, zip- nine-six. Fluffy Gordon, chief of the watch explains that he is taking a mark on the master gyro-compass which is that big Gizwankie under the chart desk, and that zip means zero. He then tells the messenger that he'd better start waking the third section for noon chow and to bring back a cup of regulation, Will we have some? No thanks, not knowing that regu- lation is short for coffee with cream and sugar. As we look around we hear a noise like the starting of en- gines which come from the pump-room. The auxiliary- man is starting the windjammers or air compressors as they are sometimes called, to put in an air charge. As we take leave of the control-room with it's many valves and gauges etc., we pass the radio shack. This little two by four room is chuck full of twidgets who are arguing the merits of something in unrecognizable language, freely sprinkled with letters and numbers. Well perhaps they know what they're talking about. Twidget, by the by, is an all Navy term for radio- man. Now in the crew's mess we linger at the galley while Lil Georgie Dement recites his noon-day menu. lt sounds swell, George, and we'll be around after, the ongoing watch has eaten. The bean lOfll4eYS 0' mess cooks are setting up for Chow down .and we will be in the way if we stay here, SO l9TS Q0 'WTO the sleeping quarters. Here we find the mlessenger still trying to drag, to quote, This bunch ofnbell -raopers, out of their 'racks', 'sacks' or 'bunks, which ever name you care to use regarding a bid. They are grumbling almost inaudibly about this earlY awakfnmg and Who the Hell's idea was this anvWBY, Wl -als lfif chow? Where's my shoes? HolY CNS ills only ll IBO' One fellow,l probably Phagans, says, Put the car in the garage and rolls over dead to the world. But they will all be up and wide awake on watch by ll-45. We are now close to a great deal of noise. Passing fl'ji0UQh the crew's washroom we enter the forward junk-shop, This is the forward engine-room. lt's engines are running. No sense to try talking to Big George, for we can't hear very well and anyway he and Gallagher seem to be crazy twirling their hands around and shaking their heads. Whewl let's get out of here. But once in the after engine room, which is quiet as it is riding the vents, learn that the boys up forward are not crazy, but merely making use of a complex sign language employed by submarine engineers everywhere, Riding the vents, is a term applied to anyone who is not running his gear, As we are about to leave we hear a bell and learn that the little ox is to be started on a battery charge. Rock Prescott complains that the auxiliary engine is always running for some reason or other and that he never gets to ride. The dinkey is started and it makes a lot of racket, so we'll pass on to the power- house. This is the maneuvering room where the elec- trician's mates stand their watches, More noticeable back here is the rocking and rolling of the ship, as she meets the swells. Long, lean Ruffin makes his famous remark, 'Well, if we had to watch that many gauges and meters for long, in this kind of weather, we would feel a bit squeamish until we got used to it. The watch has been relieved now and WilIy Wilson has just gone forward after proclaiming that he guessed he'd get started on his l6 for today. A great sleeper, that fel'ow, but as we enter the after torpedo room we see that most all of the off-coming watch is already racked up. Mail-sack Haegan tells us that this is because of the many battle stations coming up tomorrow-all hands will need some shut-eye. Startled by the bark of a small dog we learn that it was merely the telephone and that Lil' George has saved us some chow, So we say so long! and go up to the crew's mess to partake of some of the famed Submarine chow, as prepared by the worild's greatest baritone, Lil' George himself. Steak, mashed potatoes, green peas, carrot salad, ice cream and regulation mud. This is more or less routine chow and there is lots of it as submariners are fabulous eaters. After chow we will visit the bridge, perhaps. Permission to come on the bridge, sir? Granted, and we climb up and find the 0.0.D.'s and the look- outs do not even notice us. They are busy with their binoculars. The 0.0.D. tells us that the ship is to dive soon so we go below. Clear the Bridge you look- outs and Dive, dive. Down we go and as the planes- men ease the boat to the designated depth the silence in the control room is broken only by orders from the diving officer. Blow negative, pump from forward trim to sea, Secure pumping. Ease your angle. This is a trim dive and soon a good trim is achieved so man the phones, it's Surface, Surface, Surface. Blow all main ballast and up we go. Once on the surface again the lookouts are called up and engines are started and surface cruising is again in order. Well we'd better hit the sack ourselves for tomorrow will be a busy day for everyone. So off to bed till at least it's time for some more of that good submarine chow. We leave a call for l93O in the C.O.C. call book and rack. Don't forget to call us.