Toledo (CA 133) - Naval Cruise Book

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TJG H V SPARKMAN ENS D A CHENEY Since mention is sure to be made of the busiest, largest, fastest thinking, most contented divisions aboard, FOURTH DIVISION is satisfied to be referred to as the proudest division on the TOLEDO. Reason for its nob-hill title: it claims to be the roughest and toughest division and on top of that, it is a fact that it has the largest chief boatswain's mate aboard ship, serving as its division chief. At the first trill of the boatswain's pipe in the early morn, men of the FOURTH commence their topside cleaning duties. They are backed by the inevitable presence of the gentle boats , always leading his proud division forward, prodded by an occasional word of encouragement. Main assignments for this portside division consist of the upkeep and cleanliness of main and lower deck spaces, manning the port side five-inch mounts of the secondary battery, and handling the gangway and small boats. Space-wise, they have more superstructure to work than any other division. Who's at the wheel when the ship is steaming into port or ploughing through the briny deep 'P None other than FOURTH's proud helmsmen. Let Oscar fall over the side! Number two motor whaleboat is manned and launched by the FOURTH for the rescue. Know-how of gunnery and seamanship are blended into the talents of the FOURTH. A visit to the FOURTH's living compartment will turn up a host of other skills. In the division's leisure time, musicians, singers, artists and even a disc iockey show are on tap each evening.

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1 43791 3 Take Hfty-three blueiackets composed of gunner's mates, boatswain's mates and strikers, mix together and what comes out: not just any division but the FIFTH DIVISION. ' A half-hundred men pride themselves in maintaining a top-notch starboard life boat which is always ready for one of the most important roles aboard ship. The division's high state of readiness is easily revealed when swiftly lowering the life-saver. This, plus smart handling when water-borne, keeps FIFTH at the top of the list in seamanship. A facility for perfect timing keeps these starboard sailors on their toes in the vital functions of fuel transfer at sea. When either receiving fuel from alongside a tanker or transferring vital diesel oil to a waiting destroyer, the FIFTH sets a precedent for fast efficient work. Daily tasks include the steady upkeep of the forward starboard superstructure, the mainmast, the after-stack and assigned main deck areas. These jobs, coupled with keeping the starboard accommodation ladder in readiness for small boat traffic in port, sound like a full time iob-but that is not all. Ounner's mates shoulder the responsibility of cleaning, manning and firing the starboard five-inch batteries. The fact that these mounts are always ready for the task assigned is something the FIFTH DIVISION will no longer try to describe- see for yourself. LTJG J. W. MORSE ENS E. L. HILLER I ENS D. M. NOYES ENS W. J. GURNEY