1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (6/11/2014 9:17:17 AM)
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24/3/45 Okano is on watch, aft engineroom . On the other side of the Baulkhead, Hirate steams 2a boiler. They are making for the berth at batavia, a berth, rumour says, "is difficult" Okano'ss hands rest easily on the astern throttle, beside him, the throttle watch keeper controls tthe ahead. between, just behind them, the third claw waits to answer the telegraphs, engine room register in his oil stained hand, pencil firmly between his teeth And as always, the charge watches all from behind. This charge is not like Zuiho's, not at all. Cold, stand offish...........rarely seen below on this ship, he leaves it very much to his PO's of the spaces A different style, but Susuzuki seems to run well enough.... There is another man down here, the deputy engineer................but like most deputy engineers Okano has ever known, pretty bloody useless to have down here if things ever go wrong. yet again he takes the guage board in a quick sweep vacuum, good, steam pressures, good, good, good...................50 psi could do with a twitch, its at 49.............fussy as always hey Okano? Perversly, despite all that lies ahead in the next few hours, these are hours he enjoys...........answering these bells, trying to be so precise. Its all so easy, if one treats it as a game............. The bells ring.........slow ahead..............revolutions 30 The tannoy garbles..............the charge answers, leans forward..............."approaching now" It will be interesting to see what skill this skipper has............ 'Slow astern" On with the astern throttle, timing as the ahead closes.............ah yes, there is the rudder indicatotr moving to hard to starboard..and here we go........ "half astern.revolutions 090!" he turns the throttle, turn, turn, turn, ............and stop. All about him, overhead, invisible death flows into the turbines, the ship begins to vibrate, fwd, the forced draft blower scream rises to its unholy shriek......... "Stop shft!' On with the ahead!, off with the astern...................and, and, off with the ahead, on with the astern, now we watch the mirror friends that reflects the actual shaft.,...........its stopped.....off the astern a bit, let the ships movement turn her a little under prop drag, we cannot let her rest, that will bow the shaft oh so quickly............ Susuzuki sways.............alongside then...............this skipper, apparently, CAN drive............ "Finish with main engines....4 hours notice for sea............2 A boiler to remain flashed............" The deputy rouses himself, waves nochantly, departs up the ladder..........the Charge leans in........"turning gear is a bitch on this barge.......for Gods sake do not let her turn an inch when engaging............ And then he goes......... The process begins He gives the orders, a set of instructions that will remain in all probability for life Start up the Motor driven condensate pump, secure the Turbo........... Start the Motor driven lube oil pump...............check the light green!....now secure the turbo Ok, now we swingg make up feed, vac drag and exhaust to the TG's Now for the hard labour...........shut the main steam guard valave, (and don't forget the bypass!), and we shut the condensate discharge valve, open the recirc wide Turning gear time.............but the third claw is an old hand, it slips into gear as easy as bat crap...........the shaft begins its long, long wind down, hours and hours of cooling ahead Okano moves to the air ejectors, closes a valve, opens it one turn, the main engine vacuum falls, and falls, and with a little adjustment, reaches 15 inches Finally, lets shut the main exhast to the ME............... 'How you doing Hirate?" "As always, waiing on you!" Oh, shut the hell up...............one engine, two engine, ready to cross connect! ""Very good!...........all spaces, opening main steam cross, opening aux steam cross, opening condensate cross, fwd boiler, confirm condensate isolated to your heater! The affirmative comes..............."confirm fwd boiler 1 blower, ready for shut down! "water test complete, boiler in limits!" "raise to plus nine water level, shut down...pull fires Ten long, sweaty, heavy minutes later, the fwd boiler is secured, Susuzuki, now steams on her aft unit, cooling her engines down. This will take a mere 9 hours today............... Okano takes the tea from his third claw, calls up hirate............"You been here in batavia before brother........?' Buggard if I can remember.............all these places begin to seem the same you know............. "But there is beer? "There better bloody be"
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