Evening star., 1951-01-28
Navy Trains on Strip of Sea- Going Real Estate
Crew Members Are
Put Through Poces
On 'Ship-Ashore'
By w. R Bryon

DAM NECk, Va.-When the
Navy Department asked Congress
for slightly over $18.5 million to
rebuild and expand the Fleet Air
Defense Training Center at Dam
Neck, the proposed program was
outlined as "a completely new
concept of training activity"
In the new ship ashore" in
stallations of the training center
feet personnel will receive in
struction and experience with
equipment which is the duplicate
Of that installed aboard their
ship.
To put this new system OF train
ing into operation requires the
station to duplicate anything
which a ship could do in respect
to air defense. This could in
clude locating enemy aircraft
recognizing and identifying them
tracking the planes and comput-
ing their speed. course and alti-
tude or other factors relative to
firing at that target. and the con-
troll of the guns which do the
actual firing.
All this. and more, will be pos
sible through the use of the new
equipment and installations plan
ned for Dam Neck. The final re-
suit will be trained, efficient all
defense teams for the ships of the
fleet.
Under the new plan, the Gen.
tralized activity will be located
in an area Immediately available
to the firing line and it's allied
workshops. Most of the equip
ment now located on the sta
ton will be utilized in the new
program but will be installed ir
buildings designed for that pur-
pose.
The new station not only will.
give a greater final result in train
ing. but will also be more econom-
ical to operate and maintain.
The addition of a combat in
formation center building vii,
further the training program OF
the air defense training activities
The CIC, which will correspond
to CIC installations aboard the
various types of ships, may truly
be called the nerve center of 8
ship. Here, information from al
sources is combined and CO.
ordinated for the directing ot
action by the ship.
Same as Ship Training
The inclusion of this equipment
in the air defense training pro-
gram will give the training at Dam
Neck all factors possible aboard
ship for air defense. When ex-
pansion is complete, the station
will be in the same status as a ship
which has search radar to locate
aircraft; complete control of the
directors and guns to fire on the
target, and system Of training
which produces operational teams
versed in the uses of their equip
ment.
Although the ultimate training
program cannot be put into opera
ton until the new buildings ano
installations are available for use
the present gunnery training is
being altered to fit this program
as part of the new schedule when
eequipment and installations are
ready.
At present, when a ships gun
or director crew reports to Dam
Neck for training, the routine fol
the training period is dictated by
the type of equipment installed ir
the parent ship. Instructors are
assigned to work with the crew
until its training is completed.
In some cases the size of a mar
will determine his position in &
gun crew. A loader has to be g
big husky fellow who can toss
around SO or go pound shells ano
be tall enough to eliminate high
lifting in loading the gun. Other
members Of the crew such a.
pointers. trainers, fuzesetters
sightsetters and ammunition han
dlers must be physically proper.
toned to handle their assigned
positions with greatest efficiency.
After the duties of each man in
a crew are fully explained, the
loading crew is given loading drill
to familiarize it with the opera
ton OF loading its gun. All errors
are corrected as they appear.
The crew then goes to its mount
and learns safety precautions per-
tanning to the gun and the han
ding OF ammunition. The gun
crew learns all gun operating in
structions and standard guns COM
mandS. Simulated air attacks are
given to familiarize the crew with
the routine of operation and COM
mands which are used on that gun
After these elementary func.
tions have become familiar. the
instructor teaches the gun crew