A special general degree of readiness applies onlyto certain ships. It provides for maintaining armamentready for immediate action for prolonged periods oftime such as extended periods of shore bombardment.Condition watch II provides for the special degree ofreadiness.The third and fourth general degrees of readinessare similar. The third requires a part of the armament tobe ready for immediate action and the remainder onshort notice. The fourth requires apart of the armamentto be ready for immediate action and the remainder onprolonged notice. Condition watch III provides foreither the third or fourth general degree of readiness.The fifth general degree of readiness is generallyreferred to as peacetime cruising and requires nomanning of armament. Condition watch IV provides forthe fifth degree of readiness.The sixth general degree of readiness applies to theship in port under peacetime conditions and requires nomanning of armament. Condition watch V provides forthe sixth degree of readiness.The administration of condition watches III, IV, andV requires the particular attention of the engineerofficer and his division officers. The watch station ofthe other condition watches are prescribed, by billets, inthe ship’s battle bill. The engineering departmentrequirements are the same for condition watch III(wartime cruising) and condition IV (peacetimecruising) in most ships. Therefore, only condition watchIV and condition watch V are discussed in detail in thispublication.To ensure a smooth transition from one of the threewatch conditions (III, IV, and V) to another, each watchis divided into three sections. Each section is trained tofulfill all the duties for wartime cruising and peacetimeconditions in port. With a properly trained crew, the shipmay, as a matter of routine, enter port or put to seawithout special adjustments in watches and withoutrequiring abnormally long watches for key personnel.The three sections become watches 1, 2, and 3during condition watch III. Such watches normallyrotate duties underway in successive 4-hour periods.Where practical, personnel should be assigned the samewatch stations for condition watch III that they will manfor condition watch I.In port at anchor where condition watch V ispermitted, each section in succession assumes thewatches and duties for a period of 24 hours. Eachsection, where practical, may be divided into threewatch units.The three-section watch is easily modified toconform with special or local conditions. For example,if 50 percent of the ship’s crew is required to remain onboard at all times in a certain port, one of the sectionscan be split. Personnel of that section can be evenlyassigned by rates and numbers to the remaining twosections. When modifications are necessary, divisionofficers should maintain as much of the original threesections as possible.UNDERWAY WATCHESThe watch organization for condition watch IVmust provide qualified personnel for the normalunderway operation of the ship in peacetime whileensuring the best economy of personnel in assignmentto watches. Condition IV calls for the followingconditions:llllllNo weapon batteries are manned.The engineering plant is ready for power andspeeds when they are ordered.Material condition Yoke is set and may bemodified for access during daylight hours.Complete surface and horizon lookout coverageis provided. Air lookouts are stationed whenflight operations are in progress in the vicinity.The combat information center (CIC) is mannedfor routine purposes. Interior communicationsare manned as necessary. Exterior communica-tions are manned as required to cover thecommunication plan in effect.Aircraft are in the condition of readiness requiredby the flight schedules.Figure 1-6 shows the condition watch IV watchorganization of a typical ship. The XO may relieve theOOD in times of danger or emergency as prescribed inthe U.S. Navy Regulations, 1990. The navigator mayrelieve the OOD when authorized or directed by theCO. The lookouts and CIC watches reportsimultaneously to the CIC watch officer and the OOD.The steering aft watch is under operational control ofthe OOD but under the technical control of theengineering officer of the watch (EOOW).Watch officers are in charge of the watch to whichthey are assigned. The watch officer supervises andcontrols the performance of those on watch under him1-16
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