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WEAPONS, DECK, OR COMBAT
SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT
Ships whose mission is to attack using
ordnance (gun batteries, torpedoes, missiles, and
so forth) have a weapons department headed by
a weapons officer. Some surface combatants with
complete combat systems and some classes of
submarines have a combat systems department
headed by a combat systems officer. Ships whose
offensive capabilities are not primarily related to
ordnance have a deck department headed by a
first lieutenant. Aircraft carriers and some other
ships have a weapons or combat systems depart-
ment in addition to a deck department.
The weapons or combat systems officer is
responsible for the operation, care, and
maintenance of the ship’s armament and the
weapons fire-control equipment. The department
head is also responsible for the care, handling,
stowage, accountability, and issue of ammunition
and pyrotechnics; the maintenance of magazines;
and the external security of the ship.
If the ship does not have an air department,
the weapons or combat systems department is
responsible for the launching and recovery of
assigned aircraft.
If the ship does not have a deck department,
the weapons department is responsible for the
preservation and cleanliness of the external areas
of the ship not assigned to other departments. It
is also responsible for the operations of the paint,
sail, and boatswains’ lockers; the inspection and
maintenance of survival equipment; all deck
seamanship operations; and the care and use of
deck equipment.
If the ship has a deck department but not a
weapons or combat systems department, the first
lieutenant (head of the deck department) is
responsible for the functions just described. For
ships that have a combat systems department but
not a deck department, the deck functions
described are the responsibility of the operations
department.
OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT
The operations department is made up of the
divisions needed to carry out various tasks. These
tasks include collecting and evaluating combat and
operational information, conducting electronic
warfare, gathering and analyzing intelligence
information, repairing electronic equipment,
controlling aircraft, and forecasting weather. The
operations department is usually in charge of all
the radar, sonar, and communications equipment
on the ship. The combat information center (CIC)
is part of the operations department.
On some larger ships, the communications
functions, equipment, and systems may be a
separate department.
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
The engineer officer is responsible for the
operation, care,
and maintenance of all
propulsion and auxiliary machinery. The
department head is also responsible for the control
of damage resulting from fire, explosion,
collision,
and so forth. The engineering
department provides power, lights, ventilation,
heat, refrigeration, compressed air, and fresh
water throughout the ship.
The engineer officer may be assigned several
assistants, such as the main propulsion assistant,
damage control assistant, and electrical officer.
SUPPLY DEPARTMENT
Among other responsibilities, the supply
department is charged with the proper operation
of the general mess, including preparing and
serving food. The supply department operates the
ship’s store, which provides personal articles for
the well-being of the ship’s crew, and the clothing
and small stores issue room, which provides
uniform items. The supply department includes
the disbursing officer, who maintains the pay
records of the crew. The supply department also
is responsible for all the ordering and receiving
of general stores, supplies, spare parts, and
equipment for the ship; that is, just about
everything that comes aboard the ship.
NAVIGATION DEPARTMENT
The navigator is responsible for the safe
navigation and piloting of the ship. The navigator
is also responsible for the operation, care, and
maintenance of navigation equipment, charts,
publications, and records.
MEDICAL/DENTAL DEPARTMENT
The medical department is responsible for
maintaining the health of personnel of the
command.
In addition to furnishing medical care and
treatment to ship’s personnel, the medical
department conducts routine inspections to
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