Chapter XXIV
Type Battle Bill, Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet

Index

Section 1. General Instructions
Section 2. Circumstances for Assuming Conditions of Readiness
Section 3. Priority of Manning Batteries
Section 4. Battle Stations
Section 5. Troop Battery and Gun Crews
Section 6. Type Division and Battle Station Assignment Sheets

Section 1. General Instructions

  1. Chapter 36, U.S. Navy Regulations, 1920, places the responsibility for the preparation of a ship's "BATTLE BILL" on the Ship's Executive Officer under the general direction of the Captain of the ship.

  2. This same Chapter of the Navy Regulations state that the ship's officers will be assigned to battle stations in accordance with their individual qualifications and further that the crew of a ship will be organized and assigned to BATTLE STATIONS by means of the BATTLE BILL.

  3. The Commander in Chief, United States Fleet in his "Current Tactical Orders and Doctrine, U.S. Fleet, (USF-10A)", which was effective 10 April 1944, has defined the conditions of readiness for action which are to be assumed and the circumstances for assuming them. All officers of this force will familiarize themselves with these conditions and their ship's Battle Bill and Watch Quarter and Station Bills will be prepared accordingly.

  4. The Type Battle Bill is promulgated to insure that there is a reasonable degree of uniformity in the preparation of Battle Bills by the vessels of this Force. It is a guide to be followed, although certain ships will not have all these stations and will adjust their bills accordingly. Vessels of similar nature such as LSTs, LCIs, and LCTs should have exactly the same type of Battle Bills. See Type Organization, Regulations and Standard Operating Procedure.

Section 2. Circumstances for Assuming Conditions of Readiness

  1. The following Conditions of Readiness as set forth in USF-10A shall be maintained by ships of this force as conditions warrant.

    1. Conditional. General Quarters
      Action imminent; all battle stations fully manned and alert; ammunition ready for instant loading; guns, except those requiring time-fuze settings may be loaded on order of Commanding

»XXIV-1«

      Officer will in advance of "commence firing". Material Condition Able (Maximum watertight integrity).

    1. Condition 1 Able (Debarkation).
      Covering the period just prior to arriving in and while operating in the Transport Area. Officers and crew on a watch and watch basis. Man maximum number of guns, and maintain maximum watertight integrity, consistent with unloading of troops and equipment. Hatch parties should be assigned to locations near their general quarters stations.

    2. Condition 1 Easy.
      Action probable, but exact information of the enemy lacking and surprise contact possible. General Quarters, all hands at battle stations, with key stations alert; other personnel at ease or sleeping on station, rotating the personnel. Commissary details excused periodically to prepare and issue food to crews at battle stations. Material Condition Able modified to provide for ventilation, access to food, sanitation facilities and other necessary activities. All open fittings shall be tended.

    3. Condition 2.
      Cruising at night or day of low visibility. Surface or submarine action possible, air attack improbable. Section Watches with one-quarter to one-third (depending on arrangement of batteries and personnel available) of main, secondary, and heavy AA batteries manned. Fire control, combat information center and communications sufficiently manned for immediate use. Ammunition at guns manned ready for instant loading. Material Condition Baker.

    4. Condition 3.
      Normal cruising during day or night high visibility. Surprise air or submarine attack possible, surprise surface attack improbable. One-half to two-thirds of the AA battery manned on priority basis shown in paragraph 2406. Crew on watch in three or watch in four basis (as available personnel permits). Ammunition at guns manned ready for instant loading. Fire control, combat information center and communications manned sufficiently for immediate use. Material Condition Baker.

Section 3. Priority of Manning batteries

  1. CONDITION.

      1 1-A 1-E 2 3
    Man first All guns All 40mm or 1.1 All guns All 40mm or 1.1 All 40mm or 1.1
    Man second   All 20mm   1/2 20mm 1/2 20mm
    Man third   1/2 3"/50   1/2 3"/50 1/2 3"/50
    Man fourth   1/2 3"/50   1/2 20mm 1/2 3"/50

    Note:--For ships with one 5"/51 or 4"/50, man it after all other batteries are fully manned.
    For ships with one or two 5"/38, man it (them) as above for 3"/50 in the third line.

»XXIV-2«

Section 4. Battle Stations

  1. The following is a list of battle stations and the conditions of readiness for action in which they should be manned. This is considered the minimum number of stations which should be manned under the various conditions of readiness for action but is not to be construed as limiting the Commanding Officer to manning any and all stations if he considers it advisable.

      MANNED IN CONDITION
    STATION 1 1-A 1-E 2 3
    1. Primary Ship Control x x x x x
    2. Secondary Ship Control x x x - -
    3. Submarine Lookouts x - x - -
    4. Aircraft Lookouts x x x - x
    5. Primary Signal Station x x x x x
    6. Secondary Signal Station x - x - -
    7. Primary Communication Office, Coding Room, etc. x x x x x
    8. Combat Information Center x x x x x
    9. After Steering Station x x x x x
    10. Primary Fire Control Station x x x x x
    11. 3"/50 guns -- Forward x - x 1/2 1/2
    12. Forward Ammunition Party x - x - -
    13. 3"/50 guns -- Aft x - x 1/2 1/2
    14. After Ammunition Party x - x - -
    15. 40mm or 1.1" guns and ammunition -- Forward x x x x x
    16. 40mm guns and Ammunition Aft x x x x x
    17. After 5" gun (single Purpose) x - x - -
    18. After 5" gun (dual Purpose) x - x - -
    19. Two 5" guns (dual Purpose) x - x 1/2 1/2
    20. 20mm guns* x - x 1/2 1/2
    21. Damage Control Party (Deck) x - x - -
    22. Repair Party -- Forward x - x - -
    23. Repair Party -- Aft x - x - -
    24. Reserve and Replacement x - x - -
    25. Emergency Generator x - x - -
    26. Engine Room x x x x x
    27. Fire Room x x x x x
    28. Ice Machine Room x - x - -
    29. Engine Repair Party x x x - -
    30. Engineer Reserve and Replacement x - x - -
    31. Evaporator Room x x x x -
    32. I.C. and Gyro Compass x - x - -
    33. Electrical Repair Party x x x - -
    34. Damage Control Party (Engineer) x x x - -
    35. Main Battle Dressing Station x x x - -
    36. Forward Battle Dressing Station x x x - -
    37. After Battle Dressing Station x x x - -
    38. Boat Division - x - - -
    39. Radar Rooms x x x x x

»XXIV-3«

    Notes:--* Submarine and aircraft lookouts whose duties are performed by 20mm guns crews.
    Remaining guns are manned by hatch crews during an air alert on condition 1-A.
    Hatch crews and boat signal stations personnel must be provided during condition 1-A.
    A commissary detail is necessary during Condition 1-A.

Section 5. Troop Battery and Gun Crews

  1. When troops are embarked on vessels of this force, the Commanding Officer of the ship may request that Army personnel man a portion of the ship's battery during Condition 2 or 3. Proper instruction on the use of Navy guns should be given to these personnel before stations are assigned.

  2. The Commanding Officer of the ship may request that the Army mount light weapons in certain designated spaces for the purpose of augmenting the ship's anti-aircraft battery. If so mounted, the firing of these guns will be controlled by a troop officer who will in turn receive his orders from the Commanding Officer of the ship via the Gunnery or Fire Control Officer.

  3. The fire of Army guns mounted on deck to supplement the fire of the ship's battery will be controlled by a troop officer who will in turn receive his orders from the Commanding Officer of the ship, via the Gunnery or Fire Control Officer.

»XXIII-4«

Section 6. Type Division and Battle Station Assignment Sheets

  1. TYPE DIVISION ASSIGNMENT SHEET FOR CONDITION 1A

    1st DIVISION

    Battle Station CBM BM1c BM2c Cox S1c S2c CGM GM1c GM2c GM3c FC2c TOTAL
    Submarine Lookouts         1 2           3
    Primary Fire Control Sta.               1       1
    Landing Boats       1 3 3           7
    Beach Party       1 1 5           7
    20mm AA         1 1     1 2    
    #1 Cargo Hatch Crew   1 1   3 3           8
    #2 Cargo Hatch Crew 1       3 3           7
    #3 Cargo Hatch Crew         4 3           7

      1 1 1 2 16 20   1 1 2   45

  2. TYPE BATTLE STATION ASSIGNMENT SHEET FOR CONDITION 1A.

    Battle Station No. 1 -- Primary Ship Control -- Navigation Bridge.

      Rank or Rate
    Station Name Div Allow. Actual
      WATCH ONE      
    Conn   Comdg Captain  
    O.O.D.   Nav. Lt.Comdr.  
    Helmsman   "N" QM2c  
    QM of Watch   "N" CQM  
    Talker JL-Phone
    War Diary
      "N" CY  
    Talker 2 JY-Phone   "N" Y2c  
    Messenger   "R" S2c  
    BM of Watch   "R" CBM  
      WATCH TWO      
    Conn   Comdg. Ex. Officer  
    O.O.D.   Eng. Lt. Cdr.  
    Helmsman   "N" QM3c  
    QM of Watch   "N" QM1c  
    Talker JL-Phone
    War Diary
      "N" Y1c  
    Talker JY-Phone   A&B Y3c  
    Messenger   "R" Y3c  
    BM of Watch   "R" BM2c  
             
             
             

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