Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-05-06
FIGHTING AN IRONCLAD.

FIGHTING AN IRONCLAD.
Now that a naval war is inminent,
the nature of the discipline on board an
ironclad in action will be of interest to
the general reader. The distribution
of the crew for action is based on the
principle of dividing the armament
! into Quarters and to number or name
the guns so as to give them an individ-
uality without reference 10 their size.
When action is imminent everyone on
BOARD repairs to his allotted station,
below, on deck or sloft. The gunner
obtains the keys of the magazines,
gives them to the men in charge, sees
that the lights are lit and everything is
in working order. As soon as the guns
are cleared away and loaded report to
that effect is made to the captain.
When this has been done the gun
crews are provided with small arms,
upon which they close up round their
guns and await further orders. A sup
pv of light, quick firing machine gun,
rlfie and pistol ammunition is then
passed up, ready for distribution on
deck, and proportion of it is sent
aloft. This ammunition is served out
first to the small arm party and to
boarders, and to the remainder of the
crew as soon as their guns are cleared
away and arms provided. In each tube
Il torpedo is placed ready for discharge.
Helmsmen are provided ready to take
charge OF the hend-steeriug apparatus
IN the event of the steam steering gear
being carried away. Orderlies, buglers
and men stationed at voice tubes are
ordered to repair to their stations, but
the use of the bugle in action is re-
stricted as far as possible, as long and
complicated calls are liable to be mis-
| understood.
The dress for men in action is as un-
inhammable as possible, the blue work
ing rig being considered the BEST
There is no reason why action dress
should not in future be saturated with
the non-infammable material similar
to that now employed in all American
ships of war.
1t is curious point that in action
boots and shoes are ordered to be worn
by all men on deck and in the tops.
That portion of the crew engaged in
the magazines are provided with list
slippers. There was q great tendency
in Nelson's time for the men to strip
during action. This practice is now
discouraged. Waist belts and pouches
are worn, and men who have pistols are
| obliged to wear them.
a fire brigade, consisting of carpen-
ters and stokers, screw or hose and
rig all hand pumps ready for fire. A
man is stationed at each water-tight
door, which is kept open, ready to close
it when the order is given. AS the
spread of fire may at any time menace
the safety of the magazine, the key of
the valve admitting water to the mag
azine level is either kept in the person
al charge of the captain or at his dis
cretion by the officer in charge of the
| gun-deck.
A supply OF oatmeal and water for
drinking is arranged ali over the
ship, especially in the vicinity OF maga-
zines, machinery compartments, stoke
holes and shellrooms. No Intoxicating
liuuor is served on the day of action on
board any well. regulated ironclad. This
is u great departure from the practice OF
double rations of grog that were in
vogue 100 years ago.
Each division of boarders ready to
leap onto the enemy's ship and take 1t
by assault when its armament has been
silenced has special place of its own
on the upper deck, whittier the men
repair when called. Each officer on
board has special station, where he is
to be found unless specially employed
elsewhere.
The danger of fire during action
since the battle of the Yalu has occu-
pied the close attention of the admiral
lies of all countries. All fires breaking
| out below the gun deck are in charge
of the fire brigade, thus leaving the
gun crews free for their important du-
ties. When, however, the fire is likely
to make headway Notwithstanding the
efforts of the fire brigade, one or more
gun crews are called of as necessity
| may arise for the purpose of attending
the hose. AS fire may occur In the
| eiehborhood of magazine or she'll
room, and the supply of ammunition to
the guns on deck during action be ln-
terrupted from this cause, special
drill for obviatipg this difficulty is ar
ranged, so as to prevent the slackenirg
of firing, by the provision of shell and
other ammunition from other mags-
zines. If the fire is on the gun deck
the gun crews are not told off to deal
with it except in emergency, as the
maintenance of rapid and steady fire
in action is the paramount object OF
every commander. In case the ire be-
comes so serious as to make it neces-
sary to go to general fire stations, the
guns are fired or their ammunition Is
thrown overheard. The small ammu'
nition on deckis either thrown over
board or placed in convenient POSI-
ton for that purpose.
Other details of action drill INCLUDE
I the resistance to torpedo-boat attack,
which the Americans are now hard at
work practising in their various squad
rons. If an attack be expected by
night in dry weather the decks, gun
carriages, etc. are whitewashed-s