overloaded and jammed unless proper control is
MESSENGER
maintained. A priority system for different types of
The messenger's responsibility is to relay orders
messages should be established. All repair party
and information. These messages will normally be
personnel should understand the priority of messages.
relayed between the scene, the repair locker, and, if in
Messages containing vital information and messages
port, the quarterdeck. Written messages are always
that require immediate action by some other damage
more reliable than oral messages. However, the
control unit should be sent first. Then other important
messenger should be trained to relay oral messages
messages or reports should be sent. Routine or
without errors.
relatively unimportant messages should not be
transmitted until the lines are free.
MAINTAINING COMMUNICATIONS
TRANSMITTING INFORMATION
If you are a member of a repair party, you should
Repair party personnel at the scene of the damage
understand and be able to use all of the available
are obviously in the best position to provide accurate
methods of communication. This includes the ability
information on the casualty. However, the entire
to switch from normal to alternative methods when
damage control organization can break down if repair
necessary. Damage control communication drills
p a r t y p e r s o n n e l d o n o t k n ow h ow t o t r a n s m i t
should be held frequently; some circuits should
information correctly.
actually be shorted without warning to test your ability
The initial report from a repair party should
situation.
contain the location and the nature of the damage.
Subsequent reports should contain information of the
The succession of command for repair stations must
extent of the damage, the measures being taken to
be well established if you are to maintain
correct the damage, and assistance required (if any).
These general guidelines for transmitting information
be put into effect immediately if DCC is destroyed or
from repair parties to DCC apply to both oral reports
otherwise put out of commission. The sequence of
and written messages.
command for each ship is given in the ship's Repair
Party Manual, and posted in each repair locker.
As an example, consider the following series of
reports. These reports concern an exercise for a fire in a
Drills are useful in establishing the chain of
living compartment resulting from a bomb or shell hit.
succession. DCC may pretend to be out of commission
The ship is at GQ. These reports are set up as message
by not answering up. This will provide a test of the
blank reports. However, the same information would
organization and the procedures of the repair party
be required if you were making oral reports over a
station designated to assume command. The repair
damage control communication circuit.
party taking control should notify all other repair
parties, the commanding officer, and main engine
The first message blank (fig. 2-6) is from Repair 3 to
control that it has control. This procedure should be
DCC. The message is written WTD 2-130-2 H/J. This
followed until all repair parties have succeeded to
means that watertight door 2-130-2 is hot and jammed.
control and have exercised their control properly. DCC
The second report from Repair 3 to DCC is IN
can always regain control by saying "Damage control
PROGRESS, as shown in figure 2-7. This means that
central taking control," and receiving the proper
corrective action is being taken to cool and unjam the
acknowledgments.
watertight door so it can be opened.
This drill should emphasize the necessity for all
The third report from Repair 3 to DCC is WTD
repair parties to maintain a record of all information
2-130-2 C/U (cooled and unjammed), as shown in
and orders issued by DCC. When a repair party
figure 2-8.
succeeds to DCC, it must know what casualties the
other stations are handling.
The fourth report from Repair 3 to DCC is CLASS
ALFA FIRE, COMPARTMENT 2-130-2-L, as shown
Communication difficulties become apparent
in figure 2-9.
when there are numerous hits or other casualties
throughout the ship. Under these conditions, all repair
The fifth report from Repair 3 to DCC is CLASS
parties usually try to send information to DCC at the
A L FA F I R E C O N TA I N E D , C O M PA RT M E N T
2-130-2-L, as shown in figure 2-10.
2-16