Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick DeBay
Recent numbers would be nice, but WWII would be good also. Also if the engineering watch was port/starboard, or red/white/blue.
The book by Stilwell mentions a deployment (Lebanon?) where the crew was reduced from the WW2 numbers, and therefore couldn't steam at full speed for long periods if required. I'm guessing the increased heat reduced watch times in the boiler rooms, requiring more crew.
So numbers for WW2 (full effectiveness) and recent (reduced capabilities) would give a good range. Thanks for the effort.
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Rick: I really don't feel up to getting into a detailed debate on this. Been up and down out of bed too many times taking care of my wife after her operation.
But the reason the crew numbers were knocked down was we didn't have need of that many gunner's mates after taking off the 20mm and 40mm mounts. Main machinery space crews remained the same.
As for steaming all out for extended periods,
New Jersey went from Charleston to Beirut at no less than 25 knots at any one time. She was able to do this because she left her regular escorts behind and didn't have to slow down to refuel them or take on fuel herself. In 68' she had the USS
England as escort (for anti-aircraft protection) and had to refuel her. We had not switched to Navy Distillate yet.
Yawn! I need another cup of coffee.