Damage Control

[ivorthediver]

No I'm not talking about keeping an eye on your drink .........but one of the things that we all know exists but that I know nothing about other than what is shown in WW2 films from Hollywood :eek:

Other than the bright Red box's on HMS Cavalier I have no idea where they were positioned what they had inside and who used them

The need is obvious................. but the application........ now there is an interesting subject I would like to know more about

Anyone out there who was part of this elite band of the Navy ....above or below the waves .......please

[jbryce1437]

Not sure of the exact contents of the lockers as I lost my manuals years ago. But I bet someone has a list of contents.
As well as the red lockers there were usually others, the electrical version was green and contained small quantities of fuses, tape, and other equipment for use in restoring lighting and power.
This link shows a photo of a locker with the doors open on HMS Cumberland and inside can be seen firefighting equipment, such as branches and nozzles.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/image_galleries/hms_cumberland_festival_sea_20060617_gallery.shtml ?19

Jim

[dayerb]

Interesting photographs, living conditions look luxurious compared to the
fifties? not sure I would want to swap my time though,

[jainso31]

Ivor does this link carry the answer to query

jainso31


http://www.godfreydykes.info/DAMAGE%20CONTROL%20FOR%20REAL!.htm

[ivorthediver]

Thanks Lads ,

that was very helpful and proved the point I was trying to make ..albeit in a clumsy way

but what I was asking is who took care of where , with what and how :confused:

Can anyone help me here please ?

[keblin]

Ivor,

There are a myriad of "Books of Reference" (BRs) provided by the Admiralty on the very issues that you wish to know, and in great detail.

You can buy these from HM Stationary office for a mere few pounds.
If out of print, you can buy these on the internet, at a reasonable price.

If you really want to know the definative answers to your questions, you should be consulting these works.
If you cannot afford the books, consult with your Library Sevices to have them aquired on your behalf, under normal library procedures.
Some of these BR's were originally 'Restricted'; but the type of question you are now asking are just basic simple questions, which no longer need to be restricted, and so would not pose a problem.

I wish you luck with your endeavours.

[ivorthediver]

Thanks keblin,
Ok let me come at this from a different way then

Did each compartment within the ship have a nominated Damage Control crew member
where these individuals trained on board or at a shore establishment then grafted onto a department
Where these individuals under any ones particular command other than the Captains or did they work in autonomy

Any help here would be gratefully received thank you

[Polycell]

Thanks keblin,
Ok let me come at this from a different way then

Did each compartment within the ship have a nominated Damage Control crew member
where these individuals trained on board or at a shore establishment then grafted onto a department
Where these individuals under any ones particular command other than the Captains or did they work in autonomy

Any help here would be gratefully received thank you
From what I can remember at actions stations the sailors hurried around throwing bullets, mortars or torpedoes about while the techy ratess and Supply and Secretarial branch went to their respect Damage Control position.
I remember on Intrepid I was in 1/1 Damage control party and our job within the 'party' was to keep the ship 'alive' by running the necessary cables to supply important areas of the ship.
These cables were specially made up cables coiled and stowed in positions around the ship. Each cable was marked and these cables were dedicated to a certain 'run' known to us Greenies as we had plans of each run and each cable within our area of our bit of the ship.
Inside the boxes were insulted spanners to tighten up the thru bulkhead connectors, tape, insulated sleeves, rubber gloves etc. All very 'Heath Robinson' but it seemed to work.
The Stokers did similar things with hoses etc to maintain necessary damaged pipe work like fire main pipe work and I believe their lockers carried branch pipes wheel spanners and the like.
All this was controlled by HQ1 manned by various ratings (usually the WE & ME office writers steward or cheffy boy plus other misc ratings) and senior techy people. HQ1 was usually situated down a deck or three midships somewhere ie in a relatively safe area HQ1 had a massive board layout of every compartment thruout the ship the relevant DC equipment in each area etc etc. HQ1 was in contact with all Damage Control party by sound powered phones. Thats were we in 1/1 DC party got all our orders from.
Hope that helps a bit.
I remember digging out my respirator from the loft which I think I shouldn't have kept ie I think I should have given it in when I left the Navy and in the side pocket I found all the cable runs for 1/1 DC party.

[ivorthediver]

From what I can remember at actions stations the sailors hurried around throwing bullets, mortars or torpedoes about while the techy ratess and Supply and Secretarial branch went to their respect Damage Control position.
I remember on Intrepid I was in 1/1 Damage control party and our job within the 'party' was to keep the ship 'alive' by running the necessary cables to supply important areas of the ship.
These cables were specially made up cables coiled and stowed in positions around the ship. Each cable was marked and these cables were dedicated to a certain 'run' known to us Greenies as we had plans of each run and each cable within our area of our bit of the ship.
Inside the boxes were insulted spanners to tighten up the thru bulkhead connectors, tape, insulated sleeves, rubber gloves etc. All very 'Heath Robinson' but it seemed to work.
The Stokers did similar things with hoses etc to maintain necessary damaged pipe work like fire main pipe work and I believe their lockers carried branch pipes wheel spanners and the like.
All this was controlled by HQ1 manned by various ratings (usually the WE & ME office writers steward or cheffy boy plus other misc ratings) and senior techy people. HQ1 was usually situated down a deck or three midships somewhere ie in a relatively safe area HQ1 had a massive board layout of every compartment thruout the ship the relevant DC equipment in each area etc etc. HQ1 was in contact with all Damage Control party by sound powered phones. Thats were we in 1/1 DC party got all our orders from.
Hope that helps a bit.
I remember digging out my respirator from the loft which I think I shouldn't have kept ie I think I should have given it in when I left the Navy and in the side pocket I found all the cable runs for 1/1 DC party.

Ahh........ now we are finding out that which I was trying to unearth ...thank you so much Polycell for your help here

You have answered some other questions .....to as I remember whilst looking around HMS Cavalier that there were coiled cables strapped up on the wall and thought at the time "wonder what there for " as they looked like some sort of patch lead or extension cables ;)

were these part of the damage control items you were referring to please :confused:

[Polycell]

Exactly Ivor and if you looked around the hatches/bulkhead doorss you would see brass threaded thru deckhead/bulkhead fittings with large butterfly nuts on them coloured the same colours as those of the cable ends you'd connect the cables to the studs and hope your mate the other side of the bulkhead connected his up correctly as the bulkhead door was shut down at Damage Control state one condition Zulu!!! The cables and the thru bulkhead studs would be similarly marked so there was no confusion-hopefully!!

[ivorthediver]

Thank you very much ....thats answered my next question perfectly

Did each special trade have its own trades on the damage Control in other trades ?

Suppose this makes good sense ....trouble is unless you take the trouble to ask others assume you know ....dangerous tactic Eh

Would any other trade like to open this topic up as Polycell has

Incidentally love the local breed of cows that originated in your area of France ....there are some local farms that breed these to export al over the world

Regards Ivor :)

[jbryce1437]

An interesting photo in your post #9 Ivor, especially if it was taken aboard Cavalier, which I assumed was powered by 220 volts, Direct Current.
Your photo shows emergency cables used for supplying 440/115 volts, Alternating Current, so I assume at least some of her equipment was later converted to Alternating Current.
I served in a Type 15 conversion, also 220v DC, and our cables were different to those in the photo. I also served in a Type 14, 440/115v, which had the same type of cables as in the photo.

I think the red cabinet in your photograph was the type that housed either a compressed air breathing apparatus set, or the type of breathing mask (I think known as an AP5665??) which was used in conjunction with a "Fearnought" Suit. This was a white suit of fire resistant material with a hood. The facemask was connected to several metres of asbestos covered hose, with a metal filter at the end. When the user (usually a Stoker) was wearing the suit to search smokelogged compartments or to fight fires, the operator had to find a smokefree place, with the filter held next to their ear, so that any communication from the wearer could be heard through the tube.

Jim

[ivorthediver]

An interesting photo in your post #9 Ivor, especially if it was taken aboard Cavalier, which I assumed was powered by 220 volts, Direct Current.
Your photo shows emergency cables used for supplying 440/115 volts, Alternating Current, so I assume at least some of her equipment was later converted to Alternating Current.
I served in a Type 15 conversion, also 220v DC, and our cables were different to those in the photo. I also served in a Type 14, 440/115v, which had the same type of cables as in the photo.

I think the red cabinet in your photograph was the type that housed either a compressed air breathing apparatus set, or the type of breathing mask (I think known as an AP5665??) which was used in conjunction with a "Fearnought" Suit. This was a white suit of fire resistant material with a hood. The facemask was connected to several metres of asbestos covered hose, with a metal filter at the end. When the user (usually a Stoker) was wearing the suit to search smokelogged compartments or to fight fires, the operator had to find a smokefree place, with the filter held next to their ear, so that any communication from the wearer could be heard through the tube.

Jim

Thank You Jim ......have to admit I did not know what I was taken a picture of ....so can take no credit for it other then curiosity as to why it hung there ....but thats the beauty of the Forum .....if you do not ...some one will

Regards Ivor

[Polycell]

Yes Cavalier like all the C class were DC ships (Well Chaplet was!!!!)
Two schools of thought here Jim, Cavalier is a musuem and to add some authenticity to the ships set up some one has found a set of damage control cables from some where not thinking that some one would notice its a DC ship and they were AC damage control cables.
OR
They were cables for a system that got its supply from a piece of3 phase conversion machinery.

[oldsalt]

Getting away from the electrical damage control, one of the instructions I remember was that wooden wedges with bevels were hard wood to be used in shoring not like soft wood wedges which were driven into splits to seal them. Amazing what useless information is stowed in the memory bank.

[Dave Hutson]

Hi Ivor, As a Communicator damage control was a complete mystery to me because our station was always the Department, that was, until I joined Hermes where every department [except of course, our passengers, the air wing] had to provide crews for Damage Control HQ deep in the vessel for a period of three months - I was a PO Tel at the time, thus became POOW. Now that was a crash crash induction into the workings of the Ship and I learnt more about ship layout, systems and disaster control than I ever knew before. One thing comes to mind, that during flying stations when a bird was launched the bird's weight in water had to be pumped from one side to the other - my lad's performing that task grew muscles on muscles.

Dave H

[ivorthediver]

Getting away from the electrical damage control, one of the instructions I remember was that wooden wedges with bevels were hard wood to be used in shoring not like soft wood wedges which were driven into splits to seal them. Amazing what useless information is stowed in the memory bank.

Thanks Keith ,
things like this get lost in the passage of time ......and if it was raised in a few years ....nobody would know what the hell you were on about :confused:

Any other memories please ?

Regards Ivor

[ivorthediver]

Hi Ivor, As a Communicator damage control was a complete mystery to me because our station was always the Department, that was, until I joined Hermes where every department [except of course, our passengers, the air wing] had to provide crews for Damage Control HQ deep in the vessel for a period of three months - I was a PO Tel at the time, thus became POOW. Now that was a crash crash induction into the workings of the Ship and I learnt more about ship layout, systems and disaster control than I ever knew before. One thing comes to mind, that during flying stations when a bird was launched the bird's weight in water had to be pumped from one side to the other - my lad's performing that task grew muscles on muscles.

Dave H

Hi Dave I must admit whilst I was reading your comments my mind was conjuring up pictures of these souls pumping and the more I thought about it the clearer the reasoning behind it became so many thanks :D

[johnny07]

Do they still use gunter battens, in fact can anyone remember what they are?.

[ivorthediver]

Hi Johnny07

Welcome to the Forum ....no I don't know but I am sure the lads will

[keblin]

Do they still use gunter battens, in fact can anyone remember what they are?.

Yep. Gunter battens are measuring gauges for determing the distance between two points, without reference to a measuring scale. This enables them to be used in dark and confined spaces easily and with some accuracy.
They are just two extendable pieces of hardwood, with the end tipped in brass, (just like extending ladder principle) linked together, and having locking nuts to keep them in position when the measurement has been made.
The batten is then placed on the shore timber to be cut, one end in line with the end of the timber, the other end of the batten then indictes the point to start sawing the timber to length. This method can be within 0.25 inches. The use of wedges then makes up the tightest of fits, when the shore is put in place.
I used them in training excersises on a couple of ships.

[Dave Hutson]

Do they still use gunter battens, in fact can anyone remember what they are?.

Back in the deep recesses of Damage Control - Canvas comes to mind and I can only think stretching over a hole. Am I on the wrong track ???

If yes [wrong track] then Batten - Wood - plugging or shoring ???


My first was way off course but second was close, thanks keblin.

[ivorthediver]

Yep. Gunter battens are measuring gauges for determing the distance between two points, without reference to a measuring scale. This enables them to be used in dark and confined spaces easily and with some accuracy.
They are just two extendable pieces of hardwood, with the end tipped in brass, (just like extending ladder principle) linked together, and having locking nuts to keep them in position when the measurement has been made.
The batten is then placed on the shore timber to be cut, one end in line with the end of the timber, the other end of the batten then indictes the point to start sawing the timber to length. This method can be within 0.25 inches. The use of wedges then makes up the tightest of fits, when the shore is put in place.
I used them in training excersises on a couple of ships.

Thank you Keblin,

Very interesting and I can picture what you are describing well enough

they may even be needed on HMS MANCHESTER's next episode on Monday
Regards Ivor

[johnny07]

Yep. Gunter battens are measuring gauges for determing the distance between two points, without reference to a measuring scale. This enables them to be used in dark and confined spaces easily and with some accuracy.
They are just two extendable pieces of hardwood, with the end tipped in brass, (just like extending ladder principle) linked together, and having locking nuts to keep them in position when the measurement has been made.
The batten is then placed on the shore timber to be cut, one end in line with the end of the timber, the other end of the batten then indictes the point to start sawing the timber to length. This method can be within 0.25 inches. The use of wedges then makes up the tightest of fits, when the shore is put in place.
I used them in training excersises on a couple of ships.

An excellent description. prehistoric but effective like all the best ideas. ;);)

[Macadian]

An excellent description. prehistoric but effective like all the best ideas. ;);)

Indeed. Made one up at home when I started finishing the basement. Invaluable bit of kit and at no cost too! No end to the applications I have employed it and have measured more timber with than you can shake a big stick at....:)

[oldsalt]

In our new home ., Remember the Patt 5665 breathing apparatus, a long armoured hose about 2" diam, covered in asbestos cloth, a face mask at one end & a coarse filter at the other. I can't remember the hose length but I would guess 30ft. The guy entering a smoke filled space wearing the face mask, the other end taking in fresh air. One of my favourite questions was "where would you put the open end (no smart answers please) 9 times out of 10 the answer given was, " outside the port hole". Of course the correct answer should be "near my face".
If you can breath alright so can the man in the mask.

[jmkinki]

Hi friends,

For my job I'm so interested in damage control systems, and I'm trying to find out the origin of these systems.

As far as I have read, the US Navy develope their own Damage control manuals, between world wars. It was so important, and it was checked in Coral Sea, and Midway battles. Due to damage control systems used in USS Lexington, it can return to base, although Imperial Japanese Navy, tought they have sunk 2 american carriers. Further to it, a bad design (less watertight compartments), and a fair damage control tactics, can avoid the sunk of 3 japanese carriers in Midway.

As fas as I can read, US Navy uses efective damage control tactics, but IJN that share some tactics with Royal Navy don't develope a good control damage systems and tactics.

Somebody can help me?? What's about damage control tactics, manuals and organization on board in other navys (Kriegsmarine, Reggia Marine, Royal Navy)??

Were these damage control manuals, the origin of modern damage control??

Can you recomend to me a book about this subject??

Thank you in advance for your help!!

Best regards,





Jose Manuel

[Dreadnought]

Hi Jose,

Have merged your damage control thread with this existing one, just to keep everything together and avoid duplication.

Don't forget that the Forum has a search facility which can be very useful for searching for existinmg threads about the topics you are interested in. We urge all members to use this before submitting new threads, in order to avoid duplication and ensure that all available information is kept together as far as possible.

Guidance and tips for using the search facility can be found here;
http://www.worldnavalships.com/forum...ead.php?t=7499

Cheers

[jmkinki]

I'm sorry Clive.

Thank you for move my post here.

[Dreadnought]

Absolutely no problem Jose, I hope this thread fulfills its potential ... it is a very interesting topic.

[jmkinki]

After check this post, I have found this interesting link in the first page:

http://www.godfreydykes.info/DAMAGE%20CONTROL%20FOR%20REAL!.htm

It looks like so interesting, specially scanned sheets about good actions (HMS Arethusa, HMS LIverpool...).

Please forgive me for my bad english, but I can't understand all article as well. At first it speaks about german WWI fleet sunk by their crew at Scapa Flow and royal navy works for refloat them. Does it mean that Royal Navy damage control manuals and works started there?? Or it means that Royal nave learn about WWI germans ships damage control.

After have a look to that link, I think that damage control manuals and operations are at the same level in Royal Navy than US Navy. However, IJN was a step below... but what's about Kriegsmarine and Regia Marina??

Are there any information about damage control in WWI ships?? or damage control manuals & doctrine started after that?

Thank you friends for your help!

[ivorthediver]

Hi Jose , welcome to this thread ....which is one of my favourites

I to find this a very interesting topic to explore and look forward to any response we get

Regards Ivor

[ivorthediver]

Hi friends,

For my job I'm so interested in damage control systems, and I'm trying to find out the origin of these systems.

As far as I have read, the US Navy develope their own Damage control manuals, between world wars. It was so important, and it was checked in Coral Sea, and Midway battles. Due to damage control systems used in USS Lexington, it can return to base, although Imperial Japanese Navy, tought they have sunk 2 american carriers. Further to it, a bad design (less watertight compartments), and a fair damage control tactics, can avoid the sunk of 3 japanese carriers in Midway.

As fas as I can read, US Navy uses efective damage control tactics, but IJN that share some tactics with Royal Navy don't develope a good control damage systems and tactics.

Somebody can help me?? What's about damage control tactics, manuals and organization on board in other navys (Kriegsmarine, Reggia Marine, Royal Navy)??

Were these damage control manuals, the origin of modern damage control??

Can you recomend to me a book about this subject??

Thank you in advance for your help!!

Best regards,





Jose Manuel

Hi Jose ,

Alas I am not aware of any personally ....being only an Honorary I am not privy to that information ...........:(

But as luck would have it I have recently obtained a CD which was produced by
Fastforward MusicLtd
1 Sorrel Horse Mews Ipswich Suffolk
Ip4 1LN
+44 [0] 1473 21055
sales@fastforwardmusic.co.uk

which Explains the need and systems of Damage Control on Royal Navy Ships ..with footage of damage sustained by USN Foresthall
which is compelling viewing

The Title is DAMAGE CONTROL ....The Modern Navy ....sub heading ...State of Alert
it also gives details of Royal Fleet Aux services at Sea and Mine Detection .................priced at £4.99 very good value I feel although
not as comprehensive as I would have liked ...a good introduction

Hope you find it useful Regards Ivor

[oldsalt]

I may have mentioned this before, there are available a series of DVDs showing Naval Instructional Films from the Imperial War Museum, they are titled The Royal Navy At War. One of the films is on Damage Control which I saw when I joined up, I expect it was seen by a multitude of recruits. I got my copies from Maritime Books in Liskeard, Cornwall. Web site www.navybooks.com

[ivorthediver]

I may have mentioned this before, there are available a series of DVDs showing Naval Instructional Films from the Imperial War Museum, they are titled The Royal Navy At War. One of the films is on Damage Control which I saw when I joined up, I expect it was seen by a multitude of recruits. I got my copies from Maritime Books in Liskeard, Cornwall. Web site www.navybooks.com (http://www.navybooks.com)

I have sent them an email Keith ,but I have yet to receive a reply....but hopefully they will be able to help me

Thank you Keith for reminding me though
Regards Ivor

[ivorthediver]

Out of interest was the training for Damage control done only at a shore station or was it done on board ...or both please

[John O'Callaghan]

HI Ivor! Damage control training was an ongoing activity in the RAN and I assume in most other navies.Most mateloes recieved initial training in their Recruit stage this would be in a Damage Control School ashore. Later at sea as part of a ships work up for operational readiness members of the crew would be required to undergo practice in their ship If a ship was deploying to a war or higher threat zone Damage Control training would be heightened. Sailors going for promotion would find a component of Damage Control problems as part of their promotion assessment. Damage Control involved everyone to a degree but some people were more directly involved owing to their branch responsibilities or to a change of roles. For example Cooks, Stewards and Supply rates often formed First Aid Parties to back up Medical staff. Electricians provided for the continuation of electrical supply and isolating electrical hazards. Stokers fought fires, pumped and flooded compartments and ensured ships stability and shored damaged bulkheads. All of this was in addition to carrying out the routine functions of their jobs. I had training in RAN DC schools and a couple of US Navy schools and although the equipment was different the basics remained the same. I have to admit the US schools had a lot better facilities than the RAN but I guess that was a matter scale.
Cheers John O'C.

[ivorthediver]

Do any of our crew remember HMS PHOENIX ?:confused:

[Dave Hutson]

Ivor, PHOENIX - Fire School Pompey.

Your other question - DC Training was given during Training and formed part of Promotion courses. On ship training was usually conducted during Action Stations,Defence Stations and FOST Shakedown. On larger ships which warranted a dedicated DC Centre [Carriers and Probably Fearless/Intrepid] ongoing training would be the norm for DCHQ Staff.

This was my experience in the 50/60/70's and I don't think it will have changed much.

I know that in the late 70's a very technical installation was introduced at HMS Raleigh which subjected the trainees, leadership, and promotion courses to a very rigorous programme involving all aspects of damage control. Wish I had been able to do it because it really brings home the consequences of fire and flood under action [but controlled] conditions.

Dave H

[ivorthediver]

Ivor, PHOENIX - Fire School Pompey.

Your other question - DC Training was given during Training and formed part of Promotion courses. On ship training was usually conducted during Action Stations,Defence Stations and FOST Shakedown. On larger ships which warranted a dedicated DC Centre [Carriers and Probably Fearless/Intrepid] ongoing training would be the norm for DCHQ Staff.

This was my experience in the 50/60/70's and I don't think it will have changed much.

I know that in the late 70's a very technical installation was introduced at HMS Raleigh which subjected the trainees, leadership, and promotion courses to a very rigorous programme involving all aspects of damage control. Wish I had been able to do it because it really brings home the consequences of fire and flood under action [but controlled] conditions.

Dave H

Thanks Dave ...as always there with the answers
did you go in HMS HAZARD :eek: or use E.L.S.A. equipment :confused:

[E.R.Tiffy]

Thanks keblin,
Ok let me come at this from a different way then

Did each compartment within the ship have a nominated Damage Control crew member
where these individuals trained on board or at a shore establishment then grafted onto a department
Where these individuals under any ones particular command other than the Captains or did they work in autonomy

Any help here would be gratefully received thank you

Hello Ivor, When serving in Ramillies we junior E.R.A.s did a one day course at Exellent Whale Island. It was a ships below decks compartment in which fires were started that we had to crawl through and put out. On D.day when bombarding we spent the whole of the first day sitting outside a compartment full of various lengths of pit-prop wood ,saws and 14lb hammers.We were fortunate that two torpedoes from an E.boat missed [one sank the nearby N.S.Svenner] That was my damage control experience.

[ivorthediver]

Hello Ivor, When serving in Ramillies we junior E.R.A.s did a one day course at Exellent Whale Island. It was a ships below decks compartment in which fires were started that we had to crawl through and put out. On D.day when bombarding we spent the whole of the first day sitting outside a compartment full of various lengths of pit-prop wood ,saws and 14lb hammers.We were fortunate that two torpedoes from an E.boat missed [one sank the nearby N.S.Svenner] That was my damage control experience.


Thanks for that Tiffy , sounds hair raising to put it mildly .....:(

[qprdave]

Actually, Ivor, it is a bit of fun. I did my course at HMS Phoenix which is part of the Gunnery School at Whale Island, as Tiffy mentioned above.

The course only lasted 2 days. Mainly how to put out different types of fires i.e. Solids, Electrical, liquid. As a seaman little time was spent on shoring and other damage control activities. This was the task of the Stokers Dept. It ended with time in the compartments. As I said it was good fun.

I suppose, when you are 20 things like this are fun.

Dave

[ivorthediver]

I suppose once you were taught the necessary skills and safety procedures it would feel like second nature after some practical exercises and experience :eek:

[qprdave]

Not sure if it has been mentioned before. Fred mentioned above State 1 Condition Z

No-one seems to have asked about it. Perhaps everyone knows. But here goes

The "State" refers to the crew. The Condition refers to the Damage Control condition of the ship.

State 1 Condition Zulu refers to Action Stations for the crew and the ship is closed down completely.

Condition Yankee is normally used when the ship might come into danger. Entering/Leaving Harbour, Replenishment at sea. In wartime it would be used where there is no imminent danger of attack.

Condition Xray would be when there is no danger. Normal steaming, in harbour etc

State 2 - 4 are levels that the ships company would be working under. State 4, the lowest, would normally be in harbour and the majority of the crew would be day working.

There are also two conditions covering N.B.C.D. (Nuclear, Biological & Chemical Defence.). Older members might remember it as A.B.C.D. (Atomic rather than Nuclear), Alpha & Bravo This is now a bit hazy in my memory as I never had any personal experience about closing down to this condition. So perhaps someone else can expand on it.

[RichyB]

As far as my ageing grey matter recalls, as previously mentioned, State refers to the State of Manpower, State 1, full action stations, State 2, Defence Watches (a relaxation from action stations permitting some of the crew to get some sleep, but with sufficient men available to manage a surprise attack) State 3, normal peacetime cruising, with normal watchkeepers closed up. State 4 alongside in Harbour, or at anchor.
Condition X,Y & Z refers to the watertight integrity of the ship, all doors and hatches are marked with either an X,Y, or Z and they are also colour coded, If in condition Zulu, then all Z hatches and doors should remain closed, X and Y doors and hatches may remain open. In Condition X-Ray, all X, Y and Z doors and Hatches should be closed at all times, except for access. Conditions A and B refer to Gastight Integrety and refers to Ventilation Flaps, I cant remember the exact sequence, but I think B flaps would be closed down first, when steaming towards a Nuclear, Biolagical or Chemical threat, and these flaps would supply direct ventilation to the ship, A flaps would supply ventilation through air filtration units, and would be closed only when a threat of outside contamination became imminent. Therefore State 1, Zulu Alpha would be the highest state of readiness for a ship.
Regards
RichyB