Page 139 - NAVAL SCIENCE 3 TEXTBOOK

144 NAVAL SKILLS

Sailors man Damage Control Central (DCC) on the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) under direction of the ship's damage control
assistant (center) during a general quarters drill. Note the protective hoods and gloves worn by all, and the schematic diagrams of the ship's decks
posted on the bulkhead to the right. (Aaron Burden)

In addition to repair parties, each ship also has an auxiliary Condition X-RAY ofters the least protcction.It is set when the
at-sea and in-port fire party organization, consisting of enough ship is in no danger of attack, such as when at anchor in <l well-
on-duty repair party personnel to handle a moderate-sized fire. A protected harbor or secured at home port during regular working
large fire requires the crew to go to general quarters (GQ) and aU hours. During this condition, any closure (door, hatch, valve, and
repair parties to be fully manned to fight il. so on) with a black X on it will be secured. X-RAY fittings are also
Battle dressing stations are first aid stations equipped to han- closed for conditions YOKE and ZEBRA.
dle casualties and are manned by medicli department personnel. Condition YOKE provides for a bit more protection than
Stretcher cases may be brought directly to a station by the repair X-RAY. YOKE is set and maintained at sea. In port, it is maintained
party stretcher-bearers. Emergency supplies of medical equipment at all times during war, and outside of regular working hours dur-
are placed in first aid boxes at various places throughout the ship ing peacetime. YOKE closures are marked with a black Y; they are
in addition to those stored at the battle dressing stations. also closed during condition ZEBRA.
Condition ZEBRA provides the highest level of protection
possible without securing ventilation. It is set before going to sea or
Material Readiness Conditions when cntering port during W,lr. It is set il1lmediately, without fur-

The success of damage control depends partly on the maintc- ther orders, when general quarters stations are manned. Condition
nance of watertight integrity. As discllssed in the last chapter, each ZEBRA is also set to localize and control firc and flooding when
ship is divided into compartments to control noDding, withstand not at C;Q. \Vhen condition ZEBRA is set, illl closurcs marked with
CBR attacks, protcct and strengthen the structure of the ship, and a red Z are secured.
maintain buoyancy and stability. The watertight integrity of a ship Once a material condition is set, no fitting marked only with
may be reduced or destroyed by enemy action, storms, collisions, that or lower condition symbols may be opened without pcrmis-
or ncgligcnce. sian from the cOlllmanding officer, givcn through the DCA or
NJ\')' ships have three basic material conditions of readiness, Officer of the deck (OOD). However, to allow for access to criti-
each representing a different degree of "tightness" and protection. Cill Sp,lCCS, ccrtain fittings baving a circle around the basic mark-
These are conditions: X-RAY, YOKE, and ZEBRA. ing; (or ex,lmple, a circle X-RAY may be temporarily opened for