In the Beginning: 15 Boats

In the Beginning: 15 Boats. . , (panel 1) , Ships carry boats to transport people and supplies, for rescue and for abandoning ship. Before the war, the Battleship had 15 boats., 5 Motor Launces , three 50-foot (155-190 people) and two 40-foot (27-37 people)\ , Motor launches were large, open, sturdy power boats used for heavy duty work such as carrying stores and liberty parties. Most launches were fitted for placing a light gun in the bow., 4 Motor Boats , three 40-fort and one 35-foot , Motor boats were fitted with metal canopies and used as officer boats and for dispatch service. The 35-foot boat was the captain's "gig." One of the 40-foot boats served as a visiting admiral's "barge" and was for his use only. Motor boats were not equipped to mount guns. , , 2 Sailing Whaleboats , two 30-foot (30-40 people) , The whaleboats were outfitted with 12 double banked oars for rowing. Whaleboats were designed especially for sailing and had a ketch rig and centerboard. Among other things, they were used as lifeboats., 2 Motor Whaleboats , two 26-foot (18-24 people) , Motor whaleboats were small, double-ended, diesel-powered boats, convenient for a variety of light duties. They could be hooded and serve as officers' boats if no other canopied boats were available., 2 Punts , two 14-foot , Punts were square-ended, flat-bottomed row boats used when painting and cleaning the hull., Strip Ship , War Readiness Reduces Number of Boats to Two , To prepare for war, the Navy issued "strip ship" orders throughout the fleet. North Carolina orders arrived on February 4, 1942. Ships rid themselves of tons of items that burned easily, added unnecessary weight or were not needed for defense. The boats were a major concern. They were heavy, wood, and occupied space needed for more important equipment, such as additional antiaircraft guns., Large ships were typically left with two 26-foot motor whaleboats. One served primarily as the captain's gig. It was distinguished by having a canopy over the stern., After the war North Carolina added two 40-foot whaleboats and one 24-foot motor launch. The smaller boat served as the airplane rescue boat., (captions) , Captain Badger leaving command in a sailing whaleboat, June 1942 , A 40-foot motor boat took the men to and from shore leave , (panel 2) , Personnel , Trained personnel manned the boats, usually three people: the coxswain, the engineer, and the bow man. All were qualified swimmers., Coxswain: He was in charge of the boat. He drove the boat and gave orders to the crew and passengers. He made certain the boat was in good condition, fueled, and ready to go with all necessary equipment. He knew the course so he navigated the boat to the various stops. He calculated the weight of passengers and/or cargo in order to keep within the boat's weight limits., Engineer: He was a motor machinist's mate. The coxswain gave him orders by ringing a bell. One bell meant Ahead. Two bells signaled Stop. Three bells signaled Back. Four bells meant Full Speed. The engineer ensured that the engine, related equipment, and bilges (inside bottom of boat) were in excellent condition, clean, and safe., Bowman: The bow man helped with ship handling, especially the various lines and the boat hook. The boat hook was a wooden pole with a hook on the end used to temporarily secure the boat to the landing spot for loading, unloading, and mooring., Boat Maintenance , Care for the two boats was assigned to 5th and 6th divisions of the Gunnery Department. (They manned the starboard and port side 5-inch gun mounts respectively.) They were responsible for keeping the outside of the ship looking smart and in good order. They completed a detailed weekly inspection report for each boat. The boats were stored on the starboard side boat deck. The A Division machinist's mates were responsible for the boat engines., Crew Memories , "If you were assigned to one boat, that was your particular job and you kept it cleaned, painted, and ready to go. The engineer made sure [the boat] had fuel at all times., During the day we get to check compass courses for night running. I like that job. It's pretty interesting work. After a while or when the moon shines you don't need any compass because you can see, and after a while you get used to passing different ships and markings. It's good to remember them because in passing them you can figure out just where your ship sits." , Paul Wieser Boatswain’s Mate 1/C, "The first couple of weeks in Portland, Maine, in March 1942, our liberty boats were without canopies. The run from the ship to Portland was 45 minutes. With open boats in March in Portland, you nearly froze to death!" , Harold A. Smith Fire Controlman 1/C, (captions) , Auxiliaries (A) Division, starboard watch, 1944 , Boat Engine Repair Shop, 01 level, view to port, August 1941