USCGC DALLAS (WHEC 716)
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENTS
Engineering
The Engineering Department aboard DALLAS is solely responsible for the maintenance, repair, and operation of all shipboard machinery; including propulsion and ship's services. Engineering Department contains five divisions; Main Propulsion, Auxiliary, Repair, Electrical, and Food Services. The department is headed by the Engineering Officer (EO).
Main Prop
The Main Propulsion Division is responsible for the operation, maintenance,
and care of the vessel's propulsion machinery and auxiliaries connected to
the propulsion machinery, with the exception of electrical equipment. Main
Propulsion Division is also responsible for the vessel's evaporator, starting
air compressors, and the auxiliary salt water system located in the engine
room.
Machinery Technicians in the Main Propulsion
Division ensure the vessel can meet its operational commitments by providing
power and propulsion under demanding and changing conditions, through a variety
of missions. Well trained, professional, and dedicated MKs make up the Main
Propulsion Division in DALLAS.
Aux
Auxiliary Division in Dallas is responsible for the proper maintenance of
all mechanical equipment outside the engine room from bow to stern. These
items include, but are not limited to: anchor windlasses, bow propulsion unit,
hydraulic boat davits, both of Dallas' small boats, washers and dryers, air
conditioning and refrigeration units, cooling water and heating systems, potable
water, steering gear, fuel and ballast systems.
Overall, Auxiliary Division offers a very time consuming, demanding, but rewarding job. The result of most of our work is felt by all members of the crew.
Repair
The Repair Division is composed of Damage Controlmen (DC). Repair Division
provides a wide range of services to DALLAS. The primary purpose of the division
is to maintain the cutter's damage control readiness through teaching damage
control techniques, maintaining damage control equipment, and training damage
control petty officers to perform maintenance on their equipment.
Day to day tasks include performing scheduled maintenance, responding to requests for specialized work from other divisions, standing engineering watches, and training.
Electrical
The Electrical Division is responsible for the maintenance and repair of all
electrical equipment installed on the vessel with the exception of electrical
equipment assigned to the Gunnery or Electronics Divisions.
Food Service
The primary job of the Food Service Specialist (cooks, to most of us) is to
work in the food service areas of our afloat Coast Guard Dining Facility.
Food Service Specialists know food preparation; the operation of utensils and food service equipment, sanitation and safety; procurement procedures of food items, equipment and utensils; receiving and storing subsistence items; menu-planning, inventory management; paperwork management and overall knowledge of food service operations.
OPS
The Operations Department is concerned with the execution of the Coast Guard mission being undergone. The Operations Department Head (OPS) is responsible for the command and control of the ship. This involves the ships weapons and communications systems division and the supporting elements.
Comms
The primary job of the Communications Division is to process all incoming
and outgoing message traffic for the command.
Normal day to day tasks underway include keeping up with all radio related equipment ensuring operations run smoothly for all circuits.
CIC
The Combat Information Center (CIC) is the operational center of the ship.
The primary job of CIC and all Radarmen (RDs) is to monitor all sensors and
communications essential to mission tasking.
Electronics
The primary mission of the Electronics Division is to have all assigned electronics
equipment operating at the designed standards of performance at all times
and to take immediate action to correct any deficiencies that may occur. The
Electronics Division also provides for the upkeep and preservation of all
assigned spaces.
Supply
Home for the Storekeepers, the primary job of the Supply Division is to conduct
all procurements for the vessel, manage the financial assets and property,
and control the receipt, inventory, and issue of all repair parts.
Admin
Personnel in the Yeoman rating staff the Administrative Division, or Ship's
Office. Yeomen are principally tasked with ensuring paperwork and
administrative duties are in order.
The Medical Division aboard Dallas consists of one independent duty Chief HS. The HSC is responsible for the myriad of medical related duties for the entire ship and its crew.
Weapons
The primary job of the Gunnery Division is to maintain and operate all shipboard
weapons systems.
Deck
The Deck Department is lead by the Seamanship and Navigation Officer (SNO). This officer is responsible for the overall maintenance of deck division responsibilities. In addition the successful navigation of the ship falls within the responsibly of this department.
Deck (Deck Division)
First Division, or Deck Division, has a multifaceted
mission in DALLAS. Deck is responsible for the operation of the small boats,
we complete all hull maintenance, participate in all flight operations, are
the experts in marlinespike and seamanship, and stand underway helm, lookout,
and Boatswain's Mate of the Watch.
Navigation
The Navigation Division is responsible for the safe navigation of Cutter Dallas.
A lot of hard work goes in to ensure this happens before we even get underway.
Charts have to be corrected and tracklines laid down for all of our transits.
This usually takes time and patience. On board Dallas, we have over 850 charts
that we maintain. Thank goodness we do not use all for each patrol. After
charts are prepared for a patrol, they are sent up to the Navigator and Commanding
Officer for approval.
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