CHAPTER 9ENGINEERING CASUALTY CONTROLThis chapter provides general information onengineering casualty control, a phase of damagecontrol. If a review of damage control principlesand related information is necessary, see BasicMilitary Requirements, NAVEDTRA 10054 (cur-rent edition), Military Requirements for Petty Of-ficer 3 & 2, NAVEDTRA 10056 (current edition),Fireman, NAVEDTRA 10520 (current edition),and Naval Ships’ Technical Manual, chapter 079.The mission of engineering casualty control is tomaintain all engineering services in a state of max-imum readiness and reliability. To carry out thismission, it is necessary for all personnel concernedto know what actions are necessary to prevent,minimize, and correct any effects of operationaland battle casualties on the machinery and theelectrical and piping installations of their ship.The primary objective of casualty control isto maintain a ship in such a condition that it willfunction effectively as a fighting unit. This re-quires effective maintenance of propulsionmachinery, electrical systems, interior and exteriorcommunications, fire control, electronic services,ship control, fire main supply, and of suchmiscellaneous services as heating, air condition-ing, and compressed air. Failure of any of theseservices will affect a ship’s ability to fulfill itsprimary objective, either directly, by reducing itspower, or indirectly, by creating conditions whichwould lower personnel morale and efficiency.A secondary objective of casualty control isto minimize personnel casualties and secondarydamage to vital machinery.You can find detailed information on casu-alty control in the Engineering Casualty ControlManual, the Damage Control Book, the Ship’sOrganization Book, and the Ship’s Repair PartyManual. Although these publications vary fromship to ship, they explain the organization and theprocedures that must be followed when engineer-ing casualties, damage to the ship, or otheremergency conditions occur.FACTORS INFLUENCINGCASUALTY CONTROLThe basic factors influencing the effectivenessof engineering casualty control are much broaderthan the immediate actions taken at the time ofthe casualty. Engineering casualty control effi-ciency is obtained through a combination ofsound design, careful inspection, thorough plantmaintenance (including preventive maintenance),and effective personnel organization and train-ing. CASUALTY PREVENTION IS THE MOSTEFFECTIVE FORM OF CASUALTY CON-TROL.DESIGNDesign influences the effectiveness of casu-alty control in two ways: (1) the elimination ofweaknesses which may lead to material failure and(2) the installation of alternate or standby equip-ment for supplying vital services in the event ofa casualty to the primary equipment. Both of thesefactors are considered in the design of naval ships.Each individual plant aboard ship is equippedwith duplicate vital auxiliaries, loop systems, andcross connections. All complete propulsion plantsare designed to operate as isolated units (split-plant design).CASUALTY CONTROLCOMMUNICATIONSCasualty control communications is extremelyimportant to the operation and organization of9-1
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