CHAPTER 1
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION
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When you have read and understood this chapter, you should be able to answer
the following learning objectives:
Describe the engineering department
. Explain the use of directives in Navy
organization.
organization.
Describe the engineering department watch
organization.
Organization is the orderly arrangement of
materials and personnel by functions. Sound
organization is a requisite for good shipboard
administration.
A shipboard organization is designed to carry out
the objectives of its command. It is based on the
assignment of responsibilities and authority to
individuals within the organization. It includes essential
functions, specific responsibilities of organizational
units, and their duties, responsibilities, and authority.
The Standard Organization and Regulations of the U.S.
Navy, OPNAVINST 3120.32B, prescribes the
administration organization for all Navy ships.
STANDARD SHIP ORGANIZATION
U.S. Navy Regulations, 1990, assign the
commanding officer (CO) the responsibility to organize
the officers and crew of a ship. The executive officer
(XO) is responsible for the organization of the
command as a whole. The heads of departments assign
individuals to stations and duties within their
departments.
The requirements for battle form the basis for the
organization of combat ships and, as appropriate, for
noncombat ships. Key officers head functional groups,
such as those shown in figure 1-1, that make up the
battle organization of such ships. The officers man
specified stations and control the activities of personnel
under their direction. Functional group control adds
flexibility to the battle organization. That flexibility
increases the organization’s effectiveness when the ship
executes the plan for battle or variations made
necessary by the tactical situation.
The CO is head of the battle organization. He
exercises command control and engages the enemy to
the best of his ability. The following officers help the
CO in his tasks: the navigator, operations officer,
weapons officer (or first lieutenant), engineer officer,
damage control assistant, air officer (aircraft carriers),
and the combat cargo officer (amphibious operations).
Each of these officers controls one or more of the major
control functions of the ship in battle. Those functions
(fig. 1-1) include ship control, operations control,
weapons control, engineering control, damage control,
air base control, and debarkation control. When
embarked, the air group commander is responsible to
the commanding officer in matters affecting the air
group’s readiness.
In many departments, the division of personnel
(fig. 1-2) is similar to that in the shipboard battle
organization. However, to meet the requirements of
sound organization principles, the administrative
organization structure must allow for certain functions
that have no place in battle. Day-to-day routines
emphasize training and maintenance, and certain
support measures are necessary for administrative
reasons. The five basic departments found in all ships
are the navigation department, operations department,
weapons department (deck department in some ships),
engineering department, and supply department. An
officer may head more than one department in ships that
do not have enough officers to go around.
1-1
