404 



Popular Science Monthly 



Major Evans — They have heavy lino- 

 leum coverings. When we go below 

 you'll notice two curious things: rough 

 paint on the bulkheads and magazines and 

 gaily striped bands on piping wherever 

 we go. 



Landlubber — What's the reason? 



Major Evans — The rough paint is 

 broken cork mixed in a sticky paint. 

 The cork prevents the steel from "sweat- 

 ing" and helps keep 



the magazines and 

 ammunition pas- 

 sages at a more nor- 

 mal temperature. 

 The piping has the 

 colored bands so 

 that the leads of the 

 piping can be fol- 

 lowed to expedite 

 repairs. Steam has 

 a black and white 

 band, salt-water 

 green and black; 

 fresh water is lead 

 and black; and ven- 

 tilation piping has 

 yellow and black. 



Landlubber— 

 What are those 

 plugs in the ends of 

 the guns with the 

 five-pointed stars in 

 the center? 



Major Evans — 

 Tompions. They 

 keep spray from 

 dashing into the muzzles and rusting the 

 bores. 



Landlubber — What other guns does 

 she carry? 



Major Evans — Twenty five-inch guns 

 on the broadsides for defense against tor- 

 pedo attacks at night; four semi-automatic 

 three-inch anti-aircraft or "sky" guns 

 mounted on special platforms; four six- 

 pounder saluting guns amidships and three- 

 inch field pieces for landing purposes. 



There are only three kinds of guns in 

 the Navy: the turret guns running from 

 eight to fourteen inches; the intermediates 

 running from four to seven inches; and the 

 smaller or secondary guns running from 

 three inches down to automatics that fire 

 rifle ammunition. 



Landlubber — How many officers and 

 men would be on board in a battle? 



Major Evans — In round numbers, one 

 thousand, of whom about forty would be 



officers. A flagship would have ten or 

 twelve more officers. Each ship has its 

 captain, executive, gunnery, navigating, 

 engineer, first lieutenant, medical, pay and 

 marine officers. Most of these have one 

 or more assistants. The size of the crew is 

 based on the number needed to fight, navi- 

 gate, keep the ship at full speed through a 

 protracted battle, feed the crew, attend 

 the wounded, fight fires, make repairs and 

 keep the fire control 



The sailor's private wardrobe is a canvas bag 

 which is cleaned and inspected every few days 



and communications 

 going. 



Landlubber — 

 When a ship goes 

 into battle does she 

 carry her boats to 

 take off the crew in 

 case she is sunk? 



Major Evans — 

 When a ship leaves 

 port for impending 

 battle she is stripped 

 of most of her boats. 

 The ones left on 

 board are stowed on 

 deck and lashed with 

 canvas to keep down 

 splinters. All 

 wooden gear except 

 the mess tables and 

 benches are re- 

 moved, and they go 

 overboard before the 

 fighting begins. All 

 inflammable or 

 splinter- producing 

 equipment is either stored ashore or throwr 

 overboard except the mattresses of the sick 

 bay. Stanchions and davits are stowed, 

 and the life lines on deck are removed. Ir 

 battle practice all these articles are eithei 

 marked "store" or "overboard." 



Landlubber — But what becomes of the 

 crew with so few boats available ? 



Major Evans — If the ship sinks they 

 trust to life preservers, wreckage and rescue 

 by other ships. Otherwise it's Davy Jones' 

 locker. 



Landlubber — Where does the crew live? 

 Major Evans — On the two decks below. 

 The compartment in which a man slings his 

 hammock is his home. Here he keeps his 

 sea bag, ditty-box, and rifle. He eats there 

 and is stationed at the compartment's gun. 

 When not at mess the tables and benches 

 are slung up above. The Government sup- 

 plies an excellent ration, and the officers 

 pay for all their food and other supplies. 



