OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT
OI Division OC Division OE Division
The Operations Department is the ship's information gathering department. The information is acquired through several channels, organized, and directed to our Combat Information Center (CIC), which is located directly behind the bridge. CIC is the brain network of the ship and all information is gathered in this area, evaluated, and from it a tactical decision is made. The CIC team. which could also be considered the "eyes and ears" of the ship, searches twenty-four hours a day by surface and air radars for enemy ships and aircraft. These radars are also used to determine whether a contact is friendly or not and what course and speed it is on. All information obtained is plotted on various status boards so an accurate picture of all activity around the ship may be shown.
"Pollard teaches the fine arts of Pinochle"
Evaluated information is continually sent to the bridge so that safe navigation may be conducted and that the current status of all other vessels is known. LTJG Van Voast, RDC Hilliard, and other competent personnel such as RD1 Pollard and Swarts and RD2 Nivus, Shacklett, and Carlson are responsible for supervising the efficient operation of CIC. Personnel who assist the radar gang while in WESTPAC are: YN3 Fonte and Ishee, PN3 Capers and Byron, SN Eborall, PC3 Dunn and his assistant, SN Brown. Their assistance on watch has been in addition to their regular duties such as maintenance of the ship's office and post office and has been a key to the sharpness of CIC operations. This administrative effort is spearheaded by PNC Tortone. Assisting the CIC team is the Gurke's crack Electronic Warfare Team, the "rachet squad". RD2 Gimarelli leads the team, consisting of RD3 Davis and RDSN Scheele and Wathen. These men stand port and starboard watches on Gurke's sophisticated system of electronic counter measures equipment. This small but professional team of men has been often praised by members of other electronic warfare organizations in the navy for their efforts.
Gurke's communications, both visual and radio, are also an important part of the Operations Department. Communications is Gurke's vital link with the outside world. Numerous messages are sent and received by Gurke's radiomen and signalmen every hour of the day. In charge of the Communications Division is ENS Wells, the Communications Officer. The ship's radiomen, led by RDC Clarke and RD2 Womack and Copeland, are continuously processing incoming and outgoing traffic over the navy's world-wide radio communication system.
