OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT |
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| It's obvious when the deck force is working because they are out in the open where everyone can see them, but with the men of Operations it's a different story. They do their work in less frequented spaces like radio central, CIC, the signal bridge, or in the Ship's Office, with the result that many of us never see them working and so conclude that they are just along for the ride. Actually, however, these men work just like everyone else, both in and out of port. Theirs is the vital job of receiving information from and sending messages to outside sources and then routing this information to the persons who need to know it. All external communications must go through these men. CW radio and teletype are taken care of by the radiomen and telemen; voice radio by radarmen in CIC; flag hoist, flashing light, and semaphore by quartermasters on the bridge; U. S. Mail and Guard Mail by the postal clerk and the Yeoman of the ship's office. In addition, the quartermasters navigate and steer the ship at Special Sea Detail. Yeomen and Personnelmen keep the ship's records, correspondence files, and each man's service record up to date. The radarmen, with their radar scopes, plotting boards, and publications keep track of the tactical situation and assist the OOD in the important job of ship control. Certainly not to be omitted are the electronics technicians. These "tube testers" have the responsibility of keeping the ship's radio and radar gear in operating condition. Without all these men working as a team, the ship would become an isolated unit, not knowing what was happening outside of our own ship. We wouldn't know where to go or what to do when we got there. | |
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