Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-27
BASES IMPORTANT
FACTOR In POWER OF US.
Rear Admiral Gregory Explains Fnno'
tioning of Stations, Which Equip Fleets
to Be Formidable Battle Forces.


to and from ships run on tracks around
the copings Of the docks.
The construction Of a dry dock Is an
engineering undertaking of the first
magnitude, from the calculation OF
pressures to the fabrication of the huge
centrifugal pumps and the seating OF
the caisson. Smaller dry docks and
marine railways are available for the
docking of the smaller-sized vessels.
While these dry docks and marine
railways serve their primary function
of facilitating the repair and overhaul
Of vessels, there will also be found on
the water front huge shipbuilding or
launching ways. with massive overhead
cranes for the handling of materials en-
tering into the construction of ships.
Facilities Cover Wide Range
Industrial facilities needed for the
broad field of naval material require
innumerable specially designed build
ings and equipment. OF first impor-
lance there may be mentioned Struc-
tural shops. machine and electrical
shops, foundrieS, sheet metal, pipe and
plumbing shops, woodworking mills,
galvanizing plants, etc. The functions
of these facilities are apparent from
their designations.
Naval Shipbuilding and repair facili-
ties have been considerably enlarged
during recent years to meet the de-
mands imposed by modern ship con-
struction. Important progress has been
made in the design of building ways,
both in type and materials OF con-
struction, particularly in the use of
timber and reinforced concrete.
Massive steel framework must be
provided over building ways to carry
the large overhead cranes necessary to
lift the heavy loads. Building ways
are built on an inclined plane, so that
the ships upon completion may be
released to slip into the water under
natural forces.
A navy yard, while primarily an In
duStrial plant, manufactures wide
variety of naval materials. Among the
products are boats and aircraft and
their accessories, chains, clothing, cor
dage, sails, mattresses, life-preServerS,
gases, navigation instruments, etc. To
house these industries foundrieS and
shops covering a multitude Of special
designs are required.
A testing laboratory Is necessary for
Investigations and research on the
multitudinouS materials entering into
the construction Of the naval eStab-
lishment and the feet. Under such
materials of engineering may be mem
toned cement, stone, brick, tile, fer
rous and non-ferrouS metals, bitum1.
nous paints and oils, rubber, mechanical
and electrical Specialities, etc.
In the purchase Of large quantities
Of materials and supplies it is Of vital
importance from the StandpointS Of
service and economy to obtain the best
possible, and the Navy has been D
PRONUNCIATION of standard specifications
for such reolIirementS
Industry Copies Navy Standards
There exists hundreds of such speci-
ficationS covering multttudinous ar.
ticles. This Standardization has been
of inestimable value to private indus
tries as the Nays standard require
ments, which are known to be high,
are being used by many such enter
priSes.
The storage projects range from
multiple-story fireproof and fre-pro-
tected buildings for general supplies
served by elevators, tubes, chuteS, ETC.,
to special buildings and open storage
spaces for materials requiring unusual
handling facilities, such as lumber,
metals, steel plates, shapes and billets,
armor, ordnance, boats, machinery and
equipment, coal, oil, bulk materials,
etc.
Storage facilities are provided for in
dustrial, ship and general supplies,
provisions and clothing and irlstru-
ments. .Perishable provisions require
an individual self contained refrigerat-
ing and cold storage plant Coal and
oil handling and storage need specially
designed facilities.
Railroad Facilities Provided.
Certain railroad facilities and track
age are available for the yards needs.
Locomotives and cars serve the various
activities, requiring sidingS and switches,
turntables, transfer bridges and In some
cases more or less elaborate terminals.
The rolling stock Is housed in round
houses or locomotive sheds.
The yard is provided with Its own
municipal engineering services, such as
water supply, fire protection, sewerage
systems and disposal, streets, pavementS
and roads, telephone and telegraph Sys-
TENS, etc. An incinerating plant Is 10
Gated at the outskirts of the yard to
handle the disposal of the refuse and
garbage.
Each yard has its own radio commu-
nication system, the largest consisting
Of 600-foot steel towers, with the neces-
Sary power generating plant. The Navy
has been a pioneer in the field Of radio
tower construction, having been among
the first TO build structures to facilitate
the means of our most modern form OF
communication.
Buildings Required for Personnel
Barracks buildings house the enlisted
men assigned to the yard and those for
whom quarters are needed when ships
are undergoing repairs or major over
haul. In these barracks, or contiguous
thereto, are provided mess halls, can
teens and recreational facilities.
I'll H. veaV h
Gated within or close to the yards. Such
projects will include the general ward
buildings and those for the treatment
Of special diseases, doctors and nurses
quarters, administration building and
garage, and, In case where light and
power are not provided by any outside
activity. an individual plant Is con-
structed.
This complete sketch touches only on
pertain to the individual shore eEtSl1-
liShment, but 1t may help to point 6d@
to the reader the idea that a modern
navy is closely connected with life
ashore.
AS has been previously stated, the
Nays shore activities embrace, in adj
dition to the strictly industrial yards,
miscellaneous and other stations serv-
ing specialized functions; but all must
be considered together as an integral
part of the Navy and its shore activities.
This refers to such separate activities
rs air stations, submarine bases, ord
nance and ammunition depots, powder
mine depots, training stations,
radio and radio compass stations, fuel
stations. destroyer bases. supply depots,.
marine barracks, naval hospitals, etc.
Each of these stations Is self-con-
,ained and requires many specialized
formS of public works and utilities In
meet SPECIFIC needs. It can readily be
ieen that the work described herein is
SseStially that Of a service bureau.
The hlireAI'a nrincinal air,n ic "a -.