Chapter 2—ADMINISTRATION, SUPERVISION, AND TRAININGOPERATIONAL READINESSINSPECTIONBattle ProblemsThe operational readiness inspection is con-ducted to ensure that the ship is ready and ableto perform the operations which might be requiredof it in time of war.This inspection consists of the conduct of abattle problem and of other operational exercises.A great deal of emphasis is placed on AA and sur-face gunnery, damage control, engineering casu-alty control, and other appropriate exercises.Various drills are held and observed, and the shipis operated at full power for a brief period of time.In this discussion we will consider the battleproblem from the viewpoint of the observer, andpresent some general information on therequirements and duties of a member of theengineering department observing party. Theknowledge of the viewpoint and duties of anobserver should help you prepare yourself andyour personnel for a battle problem and otherappropriate exercises.The overall criteria of performance include:1. Can the ship as a whole carry out her opera-tional functions?P R E P A R A T I O N O F A B A T T L EPROBLEM.—The degree of perfection achievedin any battle problem is reflected in the skills andapplications of those who prepare it. A great dealdepends upon the experience of officers and chiefpetty officers.2. Is the ship’s company well trained, well in-structed, competent, and skillful in all phases ofthe evolutions?3. Is the ship’s company stationed in accord-ance with the ship’s Battle Bill, and does the BattleBill meet wartime requirements?*Observing PartyThe primary purpose of a shipboard battleproblem is to provide a medium for testing andevaluating the ability of all divisions of theengineering department to function together asa team in simulated combat operations.Battle problems are the most profitable andsignificant of all peacetime training experience,since they demonstrate a department’s readinessfor combat. The degree of realism of this testdetermines their value: the more nearly it approx-imates actual battle conditions, the more valuableit is.The personnel and organization of the opera-tional readiness observing party are similar tothose of the administrative inspection party.However, more personnel are usually required forthe operational readiness observing party. Theseadditional personnel are very often chiefs and firstclass petty officers.Another element in the conduct of a battleproblem which significantly increases the valueof these tests to the ship’s company is the elementof surprise.CONDUCT OF A BATTLE PROBLEM.—Before a battle problem is to be conducted, theship is furnished specific information such as thatlisted below:The observing party members are briefed inadvance of the scheduled exercises and about thedrills that are to be conducted. They must havesufficient training and experience so that they canproperly evaluate the exercises and drills that areto be held. Each observer is usually assigned toa specific station, and should be well qualified inthe procedure of conducting drills and exercisesfor that station. That each observer be familiarwith the type of ship to be inspected is also highlydesirable.1. Authority for conducting the inspection.2. Time of boarding of the inspecting party.3. Time the ship is to get underway.4. Time for setting the first material readinesscondition.5. Time for conducting the inspection to zeroproblem time conditions.6. Zero problem time.7. End of problem time.8. Time of critique.2-43
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